Robert Jenrick refused to meet with the chief border inspector. Photo: JUSTIN TULLIS/AFP
Immigration Secretary Robert Jenrick refused to meet with the chief border inspector after he presented a draft report alleging Israel was engaged in «ethnic cleansing», The Telegraph reports.
A row with David Neil, the independent chief inspector of border and immigration enforcement, erupted over the inclusion of a link from an academic article which the Home Office feared could be anti-Semitic.
However, Mr. Neal said he did not write the part of the report that contained the link and agreed to remove it at a meeting with government officials last month.
Mr. Neal is a former military police officer. appointed Chief Border Inspector in March 2021. He is responsible for monitoring the UK's immigration, asylum, citizenship and customs operations.
He has clashed with the Home Office on numerous occasions since his appointment and earlier this month said in an interview that he had not met Jenrick from March 21.
David Neil has repeatedly clashed with the Home Office since his appointment
However, The Telegraph understands the Immigration Minister is refusing to meet with him from -over a dispute over language about Israel in the official's draft report submitted by Mr. Neal.
The unpublished report on stateless persons includes an excerpt from a scholarly article on stateless Palestinians written by another author.
The excerpt on the history of Palestinian refugees includes a claim that Israel exploited a 1970s ruling. strip some Arabs in Jerusalem of their identity cards and residency rights, in what the scholar calls «administrative 'ethnic cleansing.'»
The Telegraph understands that the link in the draft report was seen on the personal account of Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who had concerns that it was inappropriate and potentially anti-Semitic.
The US-based Anti-Defamation League, which campaigns against anti-Semitism, said the claim that Israel is carrying out ethnic cleansing against Palestinians is a “fundamentally inaccurate accusation” that is “sensationalist and demonizing.”
According to The Telegraph, the Home Office asked Mr Neil to remove the tire and Mr Jenrick refused to meet him until he reviewed the situation. decided.
However, in a statement to The Telegraph, Mr Neil said he had already complied with the request.
He said: “The Home Office initially expressed its concerns about the report.< /p>
July 6, 2023
“After seeking clarification on the specific departmental concerns, I was informed on 4 August 2023 that the Government was concerned about the international relations implications” of the drafted language.
“At an urgent meeting, having telephoned the Second Permanent Secretary, Simon Ridley, at my request between 13 :30 and 14:00 on 15 August 2023 at 2 Marsham Street, I informed the Second Permanent Secretary that I agreed to remove the link.
“My agreement to remove the link was based on my respect for the government's concerns about diplomatic sensitivity, and I was satisfied that agreeing to the request would not impinge on my independence or have a material impact on the substance of my report.”
Mr Neal added: “As important context, I should note that the quotation in question does not appear in the part of the report that I wrote as Chief Inspector.”
“Rather, it is included in a peer review of the coverage of statelessness in the Home Office Country of Origin Information (internal guidance documents used by officials when making asylum and other immigration decisions), which was commissioned by the Independent Country Information Advisory Group and prepared by recognized authority on the issue of statelessness.»
Israeli soldiers observe near the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip on September 23 Photo: AMIR COHEN/Reuters
Mr Neil said the application was more than 100 pages long and covered the issue of statelessness in Kuwait, Myanmar, Syria and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
“The quote, taken from an academic article, appears to be part of a recommendation. To be absolutely clear, this recommendation has already been accepted by the Home Office,” he said. “The request came after the recommendation had been accepted and before the Home Office had published the report tabled in Parliament.”
He added: “I have always acted lawfully and responsibly in this matter.” and in an honorable manner consistent with my duties as a government appointee. I have considered the Home Office's request carefully, diligently and quickly. In making the decision to remove the link, I have balanced my statutory independence with the reasonable representation of the Home Office.»
A Home Office spokesperson said: «We carefully consider all reports and recommendations made by ICIBI.< /p>< p>“The ICIBI Thematic Review Report on Statelessness will be presented to Parliament in due course.”
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