JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said he hoped British opposition Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbin would lose in the next British election.
"I do not interfere in national elections, but I personally hope he will not be elected," the minister told Israel Army Radio on Thursday. "Amid this wave of anti-Semitism, I hope the other side will win."
In the same dialogue, the minister said that security relations with Britain - which includes the exchange of intelligence on military activity of what he called Islamic groups - will necessarily deteriorate if Corbin becomes prime minister.
"Leaders are not hurting their country's interests so quickly, but of course we will discuss these things if they happen," he said.
Corbin had refused to apologize to Jews two days ago after being accused by UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Murphys of failing to prevent the spread of "anti-Semitism poison" within his party.
Labor has been accused of spreading anti-Semitism among its members since Corbin, known for supporting the rights of the Palestinian people, took office in 2015.
It is noteworthy that Britain will witness parliamentary elections next week on 12 December.
A recent poll predicted that the Conservative Party led by Boris Johnson to 42% of the vote, an increase of one percentage point from the previous poll, while Labor got 33%, up three points.
The poll, conducted by telephone between November 26 and 30, last November, the pro-European Liberal Democrats dropped four points to 11%, and the Brexit party by two points to 3%.