UK aid minister quits

British aid minister Priti Patel has resigned amid a controversy over undisclosed meetings with Israeli officials.

The International development secretary was summoned to Downing Street to answer questions on unsanctioned meetings that breach diplomatic protocol.

Patel is said to have held meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nettanyahu and other top Israelis without government officials present while she was on holiday earlier this year.

Under British protocol a cabinet minister would normally balance such meetings with Palestinian representatives.

Patel also visited an Israeli military field hospital set up in the Golan Heights but like much of the international community, the British government does not recognize Israel’s control of the region captured from Syria in 1967.

It’s the second resignation from Prime Minister Theresa May’s cabinet within seven days. Her resignation from the cabinet is the second in seven days, after Sir Michael Fallon quit as defence secretary on Wednesday last week amid allegations about his behaviour. the loss of a second minister comes at a time when she is trying to reassert her authority after an election which back-fired and as she guides a divided country and party through Brexit negotiations.