TORY ministers have begun talks on a trade deal with Israel, prompting accusations that the government is willing to overlook human rights abuses to secure new agreements. 

Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan was due to meet Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely today to negotiate “upgrading” the current Britain-Israel deal to include services, such as those in the insurance, computer and technology sectors. 

The Department for International Trade said the deal would “seek to establish a modern, revamped trading relationship between two of the world’s services superpowers.”