Building friendship between
the UK and Israel since 1974.

Photo: Lord Polak with Prime Minister John Major at CFI Dinner, 1992.

Following the 1973 Yom Kippur War, a period during which UK-Israel relations hit a historic low, Michael Fidler – former MP for Bury and Radcliffe (1970–1974) – founded Conservative Friends of Israel in 1974. He sought to build meaningful and lasting support for Israel within the Conservative Party at a time when Britain’s arms embargo and refusal to support US efforts on behalf of Israel caused concern among a number of Conservative MPs.

From the outset, CFI became a vital forum for engagement and understanding within the Conservative Party. After Fidler’s passing in 1989, Stuart Polak took over as Director and was later awarded a CBE and life peerage by David Cameron. He now serves as CFI’s Honorary President.  

1981
CFI Director Michael Fidler and National Projects Director Sylvia Sheff with Ariel Sharon.
1982
Letter from Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to Michael Fidler.
Circa 1989
CFI Newsletter.
1992
CFI Dinner, with CFI Chairman Sir Robert Rhodes James MP, Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, and Prime Minister John Major.
Circa 1994
Lord Polak CBE leads CFI Delegation to Israel.
Circa 1995
Conservative Party Conference with Nathan Meron – Deputy Ambassador of Israel.
Circa 1996
Conservatives Abroad pamphlet.
2004
CFI Delegation to Israel, Delegates included Theresa Villers MP, Boris Johnson MP, Mark Francois MP, George Osborne MP.
2007
Conservative Party Leader David Cameron addresses CFI Annual Business Lunch.
2010
CFI Informed Magazine Cover.
2014
Prime Minister David Cameron speaks at the Knesset, Jerusalem.
2015
Lord Pickles and Lord Arbuthnot celebrate Lord Polak’s elevation to the House of Lords.
2017
Prime Minister Theresa May addresses CFI Annual Business Lunch.
2021
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid receive Chanukiot from Lord Polak at CFI Annual Business Lunch.
2024
At CFI Annual Business Lunch, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets families of hostages in Hamas captivity.
2025
Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch and Lord Polak at CFI Annual Business Lunch.
2025
CFI Annual Business Lunch, CFI Leadership Team including Directors Jeremy Brier KC, Julia Bekhor, Adam Cannon and Lord Polak CBE.