By James Roberts
Despite the war in Gaza having become an enduring concern for many people in Cardiff over the last two years, it is probable that not one in a thousand Cardiffians know that Israel has an active diplomatic presence in the city.
For over a decade, Mr Phillip Stephen Kaye, a Roath businessman and “honorary consul of Israel” has been lobbying Welsh politicians on Israel’s behalf. Kaye is participant to a scheme devised in 2010 aimed at increasing Israel’s influence through more hybrid and unofficial channels: via people both connected to their community, but also aligned to the Israeli state, as he said himself: “I was born and bred in Wales, I work and act for Israel.”
Whilst “honorary” would suggest a more ceremonial role, Gair Rhydd has identified that on a least four occasions Mr Kaye has accompanied Israeli Officials on visits to the Senedd. In November last year, Mr Kaye was photographed with Deputy Ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom Daniela Grudsky in a private meeting with then leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies.
It would appear that this was part of a trip that included meeting a cross-party group of Senedd members chaired by Alun Davies and Darren Millar, where Grudsky engaged in “constructive dialogue on the situation in the middle east”.
In April this year, Grudsky, along with Hoyada Avzada, also from the embassy, visited the Senedd again, with Kaye photographed welcoming them from their train at Central Station wearing a train driver’s hat. Despite Grudsky posting a picture showing a view of the Senedd out of window in Tŷ Hwyel, Gair Rhydd has not been able to determine who met with the delegation or what was discussed, beyond Grudsky’s mention of “having imporant discussions with friends across the aisles”. Yet, still present was Kaye, presumably as a bridge between the Israelis and Welsh parliamentarians.
Private meetings, even those on the Senedd estate, are not subject to the same transparency as other activities. When Gair Rhydd asked the Senedd last October if Mr Kaye would be returning in the future, we were told that, whilst no public event was scheduled, this did not preclude the possibility of a private meeting, of which they would have no record.
The lack of transparency around foreign, and specifically Israeli, lobbying in the Senedd makes it impossible to know for certain how many times Grudsky, assisted by Kaye, has met with elected officials. Nonetheless, her X profile bears testament to her active engagement with British politicians, from the prime minister, to Kemi Badenoch, Richard Tice, Nigel Farage, and Andrea Ledsome.
Her X profile likewise attests to her views on the Gaza conflict, such as her denial of both food shortages and Israel’s well-attested war crimes, such as the shooting of nine unarmed civilian in June of this year. Whilst last month she reposted an AI-generated picture claiming to depict a wounded Israeli soldier. It may concern some to learn someone with her views has been welcome discreetly into the halls of Welsh politics.
As for Kaye’s other activities as consul, far less is known, and he maintains a scant presence online. Thus, beyond a vague mention of offering “consular assistance”, Gair Rhydd has not be able to determine whether he conducts Visa services or assists in the recruitment of Soldiers into the IDF, nor whether he engages in diplomatic efforts from his shop in Roath. We contacted Mr Kaye for comment, but received no reply.