Pathetic response from Foreign and Commonwealth Office to my complaint about Britain's Consul-General in Jerusalem

McPhail (left) wearing his 'death to Israel' scarf; antisemitism at the heart of the Foreign Office

In August I wrote to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about the actions of Britain's most senior diplomat in Israel - the Consul-General in Jerusalem Alastair McPhail, questions.asking some very specific questions. I have finally had a response, which not only completely ignores my complaint, but is a template letter about "Gaza". Presumably every letter about Israel is assumed to be about Gaza and all such letters are classified as 'pro' or 'anti' Israel so that one of just two standard responses can be sent. Clearly the Foreign Office is not just institutionally anti-Semitic but it is also totally incompetent:

Our reference: EMOP/1151/2014

Subject: Gaza

16 October 2014

Dear Mr Davidson,

Thank you for your email of 24 August about Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).  I have been asked to reply.  I apologise for the delay in replying to your email, but the Near East Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office receives an exceptionally large volume of correspondence.

I would like to assure you that the UK Government’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has not changed. The UK’s longstanding position is that we support a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a just, fair and agreed settlement for refugees. The UK will continue to do all it can to support and advance efforts to resolve the conflict.

On behalf of

Near East Department

Foreign and Commonwealth Office