Anti-Edelstein writing projected on British Parliament wall
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein is visiting the UK, and was met with some protests by anti-Israeli organizations when he arrived at the Parliament building in London.
Other projections called for a boycott of Israel, referring to Edelstein as a participant in an apartheid regime.
Edelstein arrived in the UK on Tuesday, meeting with Foreign Minister Philip Hammond, thanking him for the UK's friendship towards Israel, and its resistance to boycott efforts. Of the projected writings Edelstein said that "Those who hate us don't deter me, and I will speak in front of Parliament members. I will find both supporters and detractors there, and it's an opportunity for me to unwaveringly sound the Israeli position."
Edelstein told Hammond that boycotts, ironically, would achieve a result opposed to boycotters' intentions, as a lack revenue for business in the West Bank area would chiefly result in harm to the many Palestinians working for Israeli businesses in the settlements. When Hammond said that Israeli settlements violate international law, Edelstein responded by claiming Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 and the subsequent rise of Hamas as evidence that removing settlements causes terrorism.
Edelstein also spoke about Iran, saying he had no faith in a country whose leaders have desired the destruction of Israel for years. He expressed worries that some of the money flowing into Iran due to the removal of sanctions may go to Hezbollah and Hamas.
Edelstein is set to speak at the Parliament on Wednesday, and is expected to discourage Britain from participating in the BDS movement, as well as against marking Israeli products made in settlements. Edelstein is expected to mention Labour Party Leader MP Jeremy Corbyn in his speech, saying that Corbyn must decide whether he's on the good guys' or bad guys' side, as he cannot claim to be a friend to both the Palestinian people and terror organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.
