Violent extremism will not stop Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely from telling Israel’s story, the embassy said on Wednesday, after she was evacuated from the London School of Economics as students and other pro-Palestinian activists tried to attack her following a speaking engagement.
Video posted online shows Hotovely leaving the event on Tuesday night, with security guards leading her past the protest, when a man rushed at her. The guards pushed her into her car.
שגרירת ישראל בבריטניה ציפי חוטובלי פונתה תחת אבטחה כבדה מבית הספר לכלכלה של לונדון. זאת לאחר שפעילים פרו-פלסטינים בקמפוס וסטודנטים נוספים מנעו ממנה להשתתף באירוע דיבייט במקום@BenYaniv1 pic.twitter.com/FpwaiJ530J— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) November 10, 2021
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“We will not give in to bullying and violence,” Hotovely stated. “The State of Israel will send its representatives to every platform.”
Israeli Ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely is seen speaking at the London School of Economics, on Tuesday, November 9, 2021. (credit: ISRAELI EMBASSY IN LONDON)
Hotovely said she was able to give her full talk for an hour and a half to an audience of 200 students “who wanted to hear Israel’s story in one of the leading universities in the world.”
The embassy’s spokesperson Ohad Zemet characterized the discussion at LSE as “open and deep,” while a protest organized by the Palestinian Student Union and the Islamic Society took place outside, with police keeping order.
“Violence by extremist elements will not deter us, and the Embassy of Israel, as part of its diplomatic work, will continue to represent Israel and promote an open dialogue with people of all kinds in British society. The extremists will continue to protest outside and the embassy will continue to talk to students inside,” Zemet stated.
Ahead of the event with Hotovely, an Instagram account called “LSE Class War” posted ahead of the event: “Whoever smashes the Ambassador [sic] car window…gets pints. Let’s fuckin frighten her.”
View this post on Instagram
The LSE Student Union’s Palestine Society argued that Hotovely violated the university’s external speakers policy, because she supports settlements and called the Palestinian-Israeli conflict a religious one, among other reasons. They also called her a racist.
Videos the society posted on Instagram showed activists shouting “shame on you” and “free, free Palestine,” calling Hotovely a war criminal.
Another video showed protesters chanting “no borders, no nations, no settler occupations.” It did not explain how one can support Palestinian statehood while opposing borders and nations.
UK Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi tweeted after the incident: “This is deeply disturbing, I am so sorry Ambassador Hotovely.”
— Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) November 9, 2021
Minister for the Middle East and North Africa James Cleverly tweeted: “We value open debate and peaceful protest. The aggressive and threatening behavior directed at Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely last night was unacceptable.”
We value open debate and peaceful protest.
The aggressive and threatening behaviour directed at Israeli Ambassador @TzipiHotovely last night was unacceptable.— James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) November 10, 2021
Most Israeli ambassadors to the UK and many pro-Israel speakers in recent years have been faced with protests outside their events.
Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, will be hosted by the LSE’s debating society next week, according to the Telegraph.
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