THE Scottish Government prepared an emergency response in case efforts to keep secret a meeting between a minister and an Israeli diplomat should fail, The National can reveal.
Officials were worried that details of the hushed-up meeting between External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson and Israeli deputy ambassador Daniela Grudsky Ekstein (below) may have leaked, correspondence obtained by this paper shows.
The Scottish Government had agreed with the Israeli embassy in London to keep the meeting secret for four days.
Robertson has faced intense criticism from his own party for the meeting at the beginning of August and rivals have accused him of cosying up to a government “engaged in war crimes and genocide”.
Emails between officials obtained by The National through a Freedom of Information request show how a statement was drafted before the Scottish Government made details of the meeting public in case the news leaked.
In one email, an official asks for a proposed statement and Twitter/X thread to be approved. The Scottish Government employee writes: “Following the [Robertson’s] meeting with the deputy ambassador of Israel to the UK, please see a proposed statement and tweet (agreed with [special advisers] and officials) for the [Cabinet Secretary’s] consideration.
“Note that for security reasons, the Israeli embassy has asked for all comms to be held until Monday, August 12, so we do not intend to post these until next week.
“There is however, a small chance that news of the deputy ambassador’s presence in Scotland may leak in the meantime. For that reason, I’d be grateful if the [Cabinet Secretary] was able to clear by [close of play] tonight, just so that duty colleagues have something if needed over the weekend.”
Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie (above) said: “It’s clear the Scottish Government knew this meeting would appal people, and that just makes their stonewalling since it was revealed all the more shocking.
“We can’t afford to mince words here: Israel is a state engaged in war crimes and genocide.
“Frankly there’s no good reason for the Scottish Government to agree to meet them to talk about issues like culture or domestic policing in Scotland, which couldn't possibly be considered any of Israel’s business. But now that the meeting has happened the public have the right to see what was discussed and what the Scottish Government’s priorities were.
“The SNP have often condemned the actions of Israel in Gaza and the West bank, but these condemnations haven’t been reflected in their actions. Whether it’s this meeting or their continued funding for the companies arming Israel, serious questions need to be asked about their judgement.”
The Scottish Government is also under pressure to release the minutes of the meeting, which it insists are being kept secret because it could “prejudice substantially relations” between the UK and Israel.
A spokesperson said: “The meeting request from the Israeli UK deputy ambassador was accepted on the basis it would provide an opportunity to convey the Scottish Government’s consistent and unwavering position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. This position was made clear by the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs during the meeting.
“The Scottish Government remains committed to an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, an end to UK arms sales to Israel and will continue to press the UK Government to recognise a sovereign Palestinian state, as part of a two-state solution to secure lasting peace in the region.
“It is a requirement of international relations that confidentiality is not breached. That is why the Freedom of Information legislation includes provisions to exempt material that would prejudice substantially relations between the UK and any other State. This is the case in relation to this minute.”
