Benjamin Netanyahu to be greeted by new Israeli-organised demo during UK visit

Hundreds of protesters are expected to join another demonstration being staged to show opposition to the policies of Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, when the Israeli Prime Minister arrives in London later this week.

The demo, organised by the Defend Israeli Democracy London group, will take place from 8am until 6pm on Friday in central London in a location near the expected meeting between Netanyahu and the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.

It is anticipated to attract both Israeli expats and members of the British Jewish community who have been left incensed by the Netanyahu government’s planned overhaul of the country’s judicial system.

Netanyahu’s visit is expected to begin on Thursday afternoon and end after Shabbat on Saturday evening.

The Israeli PM is not expected to meet with UK communal groups, including the Board of Deputies or Jewish Leadership Council, mainly due to time constraints ahead of Shabbat.

One of the UK protest’s organisers, Sharon Shochat, said ”Netanyahu should know that wherever he goes in the world, Israelis and Jews will let him know he isn’t welcome.

He will be greeted in London just as he was in Berlin – like the criminal that he is who is attempting to take down Israel with him.”

A Board spokesperson offered Netanyahu the opportunity of a meeting with the communal organisation.

They said:”Given the British Jewish community’s extremely close emotional, spiritual and familial connection to Israel, we would appreciate the opportunity to meet him to discuss the ongoing situation in the country, although we understand that given the brief nature of his visit, such a meeting may not be possible.”

Jewish News understands that the Friday anti-Netanyahu protest outside the meeting with PM Sunak will include a succession of presentations and performances, including a ‘Speaker’s Corner’ hour with speakers from across the political and religious spectrum, including the Orthodox community voice Sheldon Stone.

Stone said: ”In Israel, many Orthodox and religious Zionists have expressed concern on religious grounds and we ask the Orthodox community here in the UK to reach out and support them.”

Those at the protests will also be invited to join a Kabbalat Shabbat ceremony at 5pm, to be performed by Liberal Judaism rabbi Lea Muhlstein.

In similar fashion to demos staged across Israel, and elsewhere across the globe, including one in Parliament Square earlier last Sunday, the protest will also feature a group dressed as handmaids from Margaret Atwood’s book “The Handmaid’s Tale” at 12pm.

The stunt is meant to warn of the dangers of a future dark society in Israel as a result of the planned assault on the judicial system and other anchors of democracy in the country.

Defend Israel Democracy London organisers have staged two previous protests in London. Around 1500 people attended the Parliament Square event, at which Dame Margaret Hodge was amongst the speakers.

An earlier event, staged in February near to the Israeli embassy in the UK, in Kensington, west London, attracted around 300 mainly Israeli expats.

The Israeli PM had previously met with ex-PM Boris Johnson in London in September 2019.