'I will not be intimidated’ says defiant Israeli ambassador

Angry crowds outside the London School of Economics (LSE) called Ms Hotovely a “fascist”, chanted the Hamas rallying cry, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, and waved flags of the Iraqi militia Kata’ib Hezbollah, whose leader was killed by a US missile alongside Iranian general Qasem Soleimani last year.

Israeli ambassador rushed out of event at LSE as protesters swarm her carhttps://t.co/iZ5E0kg4x8

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— The Jewish Chronicle (@JewishChron) November 10, 2021

Writing exclusively for the JC following her ordeal, Ms Hotovely said that the vile abuse would not stop her from attending future events.

She added that the LSE mob had been influenced by the same radical ideology that had motivated extremists to march past her family home bellowing anti-Israel slogans in May.

Ahead of the LSE event, which went ahead as planned and did not need to be cut short, rabble-rousers had set the stage for violence by calling for attacks against the ambassador online.

One post from an account called ‘LSEclasswar’ said: “Whoever smashes the Ambassador car window (Lincoln’s Inn Field) gets pints. Let’s f**king frighten her.”

Jewish students told the JC they were terrified that they would come under attack, adding that some wore hats to conceal their kippot as they walked past the baying crowd.

The shocking events were condemned by senior British politicians.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “Last night the Israeli Ambassador was subjected to unacceptable intimidation. This is not disagreement or free speech – it is harassment that will have deeply shaken Jewish students both at LSE and across the country.”

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss described the scenes as “unacceptable” and Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was “disgusted” by the incident.

The crowd was addressed by Massoud Shadjereh, of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, organiser of the annual Quds Day demonstration in London and a self-professed admirer of assassinated Iranian terrorist Qasem Soleimani.

He told protesters: “Zionism will never be a legitimate ideal in our spaces.”

He added: “This type of person is very dangerous, this is almost, almost the same concert as Holocaust denial, denying the atrocities that are taking place right now…”

Demonstrating students being interviewed during the protest claimed Ms Hotovely “doesn’t deserve the right to speak” and branded the ambassador a “fascist”.

Ms Hotovely told the JC she would not back down from attending student events.

“In Israel, just as in Britain, freedom of speech is seen as a precious and fragile thing. It is enshrined in both of our systems and is a pillar of our democracies,” she said.

“I believe in dialogue. This is how we can all work together, whatever our different views, to promote understanding and peace. I will not be intimidated into letting these extremists decide what happens.”

The Israeli Embassy said: “It was a successful, open and fruitful discussion that went ahead as planned. Outside the venue, there was a demonstration organised by Palestinian and Islamic societies across London universities. British police maintained order at the scene.

“The violence we witnessed when the Ambassador left the premises after the talk will not deter Israeli diplomats from engaging in meaningful dialogue with all parts of the British society.”

The event at LSE was part of a series of debates on the future of the Middle East, with the head of the Palestinian mission to the UK Husam Said Zomlot to speak at LSE on November 11.

The co-chairs of LSE Jewish Society told the JC they were available to support Jewish students. They said, however, neither the university nor the student union had contacted the society before the event despite the potential for protests.

The Education Secretary has extended an invitation to the LSE’s Jewish students to hear their concerns and “offer any support”.

In a statement on Wednesday, LSE called threats of violence “completely unacceptable”.

It warned: “Any students identified as being involved in making such threats will face disciplinary action.”

The Board of Deputies of British Jews called for those “who exceeded the bounds of peaceful protest” to be disciplined by LSE and prosecuted by the police if necessary.

They also praised Ms Hotovely for “facing down intimidation”.

“The bullies will not win,” the BoD declared in its Twitter post.

The Community Security Trust said: “The protestors who were outside the building included extremist chanting and created an atmosphere of unacceptable intimidation but failed to disrupt or prevent the event from going ahead. We condemn violent threats made in some online posts regarding the event and the intimidation as the Ambassador left the building.”

Before the event last night, LSE’s Palestinian Society said: “We are outraged by both the invitation extended towards a figure with a track record of anti-Palestinian racism and war crimes, as well as the LSESU’s approval of this event in the first place.”