Prosor. Won't be deterred
Photo: John Rifkind
National Assembly for Wales vs. Israeli ambassador
Ron Prosor, Jewish state's envoy to Britain, sparks political row during visit to semi-autonomous region to take part in open discussion on Israeli policy; three anti-Israel protestors arrested
LONDON - A recent visit to Wales by the Israeli envoy to Britain included an anti-Israel
demonstration and boycott call.
On Tuesday, Prosor arrived for a two-day visit in the Welsh capital of Cardiff and sparked a political row. He was invited to take part in an open discussion on Israel and its policy, initiated by Mohammad Asghar, a Muslim member of the National Assembly for Wales.
Ambassador Ron Prosor says he was not frightened by the incident, insisting that "this clearly illustrates the importance of Israeli PR. We wont be deterred."
UK Academia
'Attempts by academics to boycott Israeli universities are against British values,' Ron Prosor writes in comment piece for the Daily Telegraph, 'I implore the British public to prevent the radical fringe from monopolizing British-Israeli discourse'
About two weeks ago, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, the assembly's presiding officer, called on its members to boycott the discussion. Rodney Berman, a Liberal-Democrat assembly member expressed his objection to the boycott call, but eventually only 15 out of the 60 members attended the meeting.
The discussion was a stormy one, and the assembly members confronted the ambassador over Israel's policy in Gaza and the West Bank. Most of them criticized the Jewish state, claiming the settlement construction and the siege imposed on Gaza violate international law.
Prosor was faced with questions on the economic situation in the territories, the settlement expansion, the blockade on Gaza, Israel's policy against Hamas and its response during the Second Lebanon War.
'Dialogue cannot be silenced'
Earlier, the ambassador was met by some 30 anti-Israel protestors on the stairs of the assembly building. A spokesman for the South Wales Police told Ynet that three demonstrators – two women and a man – were arrested for disturbing peace and later released on bail.
"The calls to boycott the meeting with me are undignified, despite the fact they were made by a lord," said Prosor.
Before the discussion, the ambassador met with First Minister for Wales Rhodri Morgan, and the two discussed ways to advance the cooperation between Israel and Wales.
"We received a warm reception and took part in an open and free dialogue, in which each side expressed his stance and listened to the other side's views," Prosor said.
Addressing the demonstrations he was welcomed with, the ambassador said, "The protestors clearly illustrate the importance of Israeli PR in Britain. We are determined not to let those calling for a boycott of Israel to take control of the discussion and silence the dialogue between Britain and Israel."
