Do you recall the recent speculation about Israeli President Shimon Peres being knighted?
How is it going, I hear you ask?
About as well as his Club Med Gaza idea. But thanks for asking.
The Queen has been drawn into an embarrassing diplomatic wrangle with Israel after Britain snubbed efforts to have the Jewish state’s President Shimon Peres knighted.
She will meet Mr Peres, the architect of several stalled Middle East peace plans, when he begins a three-day official visit to Britain on November 18.
But the Queen, on the advice of ministers, has rejected efforts by Israeli diplomats to secure an honorary knighthood for Mr Peres.
“It’s not going to happen. There is no knighthood,” a British official told the Express.co.uk, only hours after Israeli diplomats indicated it was something that was still under discussion.
The 82-year-old monarch was dragged into the controversy after Israeli officials breached protocol by leaking early discussions about the knighthood to their media, perhaps in an attempt to force the issue.
Reports in Israel said the Queen would make Mr Peres an honorary knight commander of the Order of St Michael and St George for his contribution to the Middle East peace process and to improve British-Israeli ties. Foreigners can be made knights but are not allowed to use the prefix Sir.
Israeli officials breaching official protocol and leaking discussions to the media? I couldn’t see that coming.
But seriously, there seems something wrong about having the President of the Jewish state an honorary knight commander of the Order of some saints.
Perhaps the British can think of bestowing on Peres some other kind of knighthood. Like honorary knight commander of the Order of Big Ears or honorary knight commander of the Order of Lord Tampon.
(hat tip: Jameel)
