Around 30 pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered for the protest organised by London for a Free Palestine; a similarly sized counter demonstration featuring Israeli and Iranian flags took place across the road.
The counter demonstration outside the Shaw Theatre (credit: Ben Conway)[Missing Credit]
The protests took place outside the Shaw Theatre in Euston, which hosted the event marking 78 years since the founding of the state of Israel.
Opening the evening, Technion UK chairman Paul Charney thanked the Shaw Theatre, and the neighbouring Pullman Hotel, which owns it, for hosting the event despite external pressure to call it off.
The evening was hosted by criminal barrister and TV personality Rob Rinder, who described Technion’s students as “young people trained not just to succeed but above all else to solve”.
Charney concurred, telling the 450 guests in the theatre: “it used to be said that the definition of a Technion student is an optimist who believes the glass is half-full and will work to fill the other half”.
The audience inside the Shaw Theatre (credit: Technion UK)[Missing Credit]
Technion students have been behind several pioneering developments, including the systems for drip irrigation and desalination, and technological inventions like the PillCam and the USB flash drive.
Some were also responsible for developing the technology behind the Iron Dome, the IDF’s air defence system.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a video message, commending Technion’s legacy of “dreamers who boldly challenge reality”.
“We will thrive and survive on what has always been a substance of our people – the unwavering pursuit of knowledge”, he said.
The evening was punctuated by parts of a video taking the audience through Technion’s story, from its founding in the 1920s to its position as one of the world’s most pioneering universities today.
In between video segments were powerful performances from singers Noa Bodner and Israel Ernest – the former accompanied by her harmonica – and a tailored comedy set by Mark Maier.
Israel Ernest singing (credit: Ben Conway)[Missing Credit]
There were also several energetic displays from a sextet from the Beit Zvi School of Performing Arts, featuring singing, choreography, and acrobatics.
The evening concluded with moving renditions of the British and Israeli national anthems.
Alan Aziz, CEO of Technion UK, said that “this evening was a celebration not just of Israel’s independence, but of the ideas, innovation, and people who continue to shape its future. It has never been more important than now to commemorate Israel’s anniversary and achievements”.
Proceeds from the event will go to Technion’s campus security and student support fund, helping the university to continue to protect its students.
