British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday signed a coalition agreement between her party, the Conservative Party, and the Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which is considered to be a pro-Israel party.
Under the agreement the DUP will support bills and initiatives put forth by May's minority Conservative government, giving her an effective majority in Parliament. In exchange the government will increase funding to Northern Ireland by at least 1 billion pounds ($1.3 billion) over the next two years.
"The Conservative Party has recognized the case for higher funding in Northern Ireland given our unique history and circumstances over recent decades," DUP leader Arlene Foster told reporters after the deal was signed.
In 2012, the DUP strongly condemned the Irish boycott movement against Israeli products from Judea and Samaria. In early 2014, asked the Northern Ireland Police to investigate the legality of anti-Israel demonstrations, and on June 11, 2014, the party established a special Friends of Israel Association.
On October 13, 2014, the British Parliament held a non-binding vote on recognition of a Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel, even before reaching an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians on this issue. The result was 12-274 in favor of supporters of the Palestinian state. Five of the eight DUP MPs were among the twelve who voted against the resolution, while the other three MPs were absent.