An MP has apologised after meeting with Israeli politicians during a family holiday.

Priti Patel, MP for Witham, faced criticism after she met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other politicians without telling the Foreign Office in advance.

Ms Patel was accompanied to most of the meetings with Israeli ministers, charities and non-governmental organisations by honorary president of the Conservative Friends of Israel lobbying group, Lord Polak.

In a statement Ms Patel said: “This summer I travelled to Israel, on a family holiday paid for myself.

“While away I had the opportunity to meet a number of people and organisations. I am publishing a list of who I met.‎ The Foreign and Commonwealth Office was aware of my visit while it was underway‎.

“In hindsight, I can see how my enthusiasm to engage in this way could be misread, and how meetings were set up and reported in a way which did not accord with the usual procedures. I am sorry for this and I apologise for it.

“My first and only aim as the Secretary of State for International Development is to put the interests of British taxpayers and the world’s poor at the front of our development work.”

The meetings took place between August 13 and 15 during a holiday paid for by herself.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office was aware of the visit while it was underway, but were not informed about it in advance.

On her return from Israel, Ms Patel commissioned departmental work on humanitarian and development partnership between Israel and the UK, and on disability.

The FCO said UK interests were not damaged or affected by the meetings on this visit.