Gaydamak tells Tel Aviv student 'Go to hell!'
Business mogul and Chairman of Social Justice party loses calm after discussion with politically active students veers into his contested past in Angola
Gaydamak and activists from his party were taking part in a conference aimed at boosting political involvement amongst students and was organized by the university's Student Union.
During the session a verbal confrontation erupted between the Gaydamak and a student after the latter asked him about the nature of his business endeavors in Angola.
The student, named only as Or, asked Gaydamak if he believed it was acceptable for a man suspected of numerous wrongdoings to be a prominent public figure in Israel. Gaydamak approached the student and began berating him, yelling "Go to hell!" and calling the student "impertinent and stupid.”
The session also included representatives from Labor, Meretz, the Green Party and Ale Yarok. Students told Ynet that brawls took place between Meretz activists demonstrating there and Gaydamak’s people.
Meretz activists held signs and banners proclaiming “Meretz is against corruption.” Social Justice activists started to take the signs down and, after the Meretz activists stepped in, the argument quickly turned physical and the sides began quarreling.
Gaydamak also took time to address political issues. When asked if his organization supports negotiations with Hamas, he said yes and added that he believed that the prime minister "should conduct negotiations with Hamas.”
'Arcadi believes in listening'
Another question asked dealt with his connection with the ultra-Orthodox sector, and Gaydamak answered, “We need to give them a position so that they will be satisfied.”
Gaydamak's office said in response to the events of the day: “Arcadi Gaydamak came to the campus because he believes in listening. However, there was a group of provocateurs at the conference who stood behind him with political signs. One of the students burst out in the middle when everyone else was waiting in line.
“Gaydamak told him that he is insolent and suggested that he take the microphone so that he will be able to ask his question in front of the audience. However, since they are provocateurs, he refused, posing the question to Gaydamak in front of the crowd. Properly asked questions were answered.”
The Tel Aviv University’s Student Union Chairman, Gil Goldenberg referred to the campus incidents saying, “I am happy that Gaydamak came to speak in front of the students, despite the fact that his answers and responses were not to the liking of those present.
"Gaydamak is a controversial figure and so was the discussion with him,” said Goldenberg.
