London : Parliament is set to debate allegations of “pro-Israel influence on politics and democracy” next month, following confirmation that a petition—accused of containing “conspiratorial tropes”—has attracted 115,000 signatures.
Jewish News previously reported that the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) called on parliamentary authorities to remove the petition calling for a public inquiry into lobbying.
This request was rejected, with officials citing precedent for similar probes into foreign influence on UK politics.
The official parliamentary website has now confirmed that Parliament will debate e-petition 752646, titled “Call a public inquiry into pro-Israel influence on politics & democracy,” on 22 June 2026.
The petition, launched in February by Andy Kalil, has been supported by various organisations and individuals, some of whom interpret it as a call for a probe into “the Zionist lobby.”
In a letter to parliamentary authorities earlier this year, Russell Langer, the JLC’s director of public affairs, noted that the petition alleges the existence of “Israeli state-linked” and “pro-Israel” influence campaigns shaping government decision-making, party policy, and public debate, but “provides no credible evidence to substantiate these claims.”
He added that the petition is “defamatory, contains false or unproven statements, and draws upon conspiratorial tropes that are widely recognised as antisemitic.”
However, in a response sent on March 3, Jamie Stone MP said he had discussed the concerns with the committee, referencing earlier petitions calling for public inquiries into Russia and China, which he argued had set a precedent.
Stone wrote: “Additional time and care were taken to consider the wording of e-petition 752646 due to the sensitivity of the topic and the context of recent attacks against the Jewish community.”
The Cabinet Office has since responded, stating that the government “does not support a public inquiry,” but emphasised that foreign influence from any country is already taken very seriously.
The statement added: “Going further, the Prime Minister has asked the Ethics and Integrity Commission to carry out a review into lobbying, disclosure, and access to government.”
