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Labour Friends of Israel is a UK Parliament based campaign group promoting support within the British Labour Party for a strong bilateral relationship between Britain and Israel. It also seeks to strengthen ties between the British and the Israeli Labour party. Labour Friends of Israel supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Israel recognised and secure within its borders and the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.

Founded in 1956, it has developed into one of the largest interest groups in the Labour Party, drawing wide support from Members of Parliament and Government Ministers. Labour Friends of Israel has a large membership, organised into local branches. It seeks to strengthen the bond between the British Labour Party and the Israeli Labor Party, organising meetings in both the UK and Israel between senior figures. In 2003 it described itself as "a Westminster based lobby group working within the British Labour Party to promote the State of Israel".[1]

As of 22 June 2006 its Chair was Iain Wright MP and President was Rt Hon Gwyneth Dunwoody MP. Vice Chairs were Mike Gapes MP, Andrew Dismore MP, Barbara Keeley MP and Gary Titley MP. Members of the Labour Friends of Israel Policy Council were Rt Hon Stephen Byers MP, Rt Hon Derek Foster MP, Rt Hon George Foulkes MP, Jane Kennedy MP and Denis MacShane MP. House of Lords Chair was Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale.

The Labour Friends of Israel is a distinct organisation to the Jewish Labour Movement, the affiliated socialist society and successor to the UK Poale Zion.

In alphabetical order, members of Labour Friends of Israel include:

• Lord Archer of Sandwell[2]
• Stuart Bell MP [3]
• Chris Bryant MP[4]
• Stephen Byers MP[5]
• Ivor Caplin MP - former Vice Chair[6]
• Wayne David MP[7]
• Andrew Dismore MP[8]
• Gwyneth Dunwoody MP[9]
• Louise Ellman MP[10]
• Derek Foster MP[11]
• George Foulkes MP[12]
• Mike Gapes MP - former Chairman (2004)[13]
• Fabian Hamilton MP[14]
• Kim Howells MP - former Chairman[15]
• Joan Humble MP[16]
• Baroness Hayman[17]
• Barbara Keeley MP[18]
• Jane Kennedy MP[19]
• Ashok Kumar MP[20]
• Ivan Lewis MP[21]
• Lord Macdonald of Tradeston[22]
• Denis MacShane MP[23]
• Andrew Miller MP[24]
• Jim Murphy MP - former Chairman (2001)[25]
• Dan Norris MP[26]
• Nick Palmer MP[27]
• James Purnell MP - former Chairman[28]
• Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale[29]
• John Reid MP[30]
• Terry Rooney MP[31]
• Siôn Simon MP[32]
• Dari Taylor MP[33]
• Gary Titley MP[34]
• Stephen Twigg MP - former Chair[35]
• Lord Winston[36]
• Iain Wright MP - Chairman (2006)[37]
• Baron Anthony Young of Norwood Green[38]

• Conservative Friends of Israel
• Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel

• Labour Friends of Israel - How does it affect UK foreign policy?
• Official website
• Labour Friends of Israel, 1997 General Election information,1 May 1997
• Labour Friends of Israel event speech, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, 2 November 2005