Cambridge protestors against envoy urged not to ‘repeat disgraceful scenes’ of LSE incident
Tzipi Hotovely is due to address the Cambridge Union as more than 1,500 signed an open letter opposing her visit to the prestigious university and a protest is planned
Protesters against Israel’s Ambassador have been urged not to “repeat the disgraceful scenes” of last November’s incident at LSE, when she speaks in Cambridge later today.
Tzipi Hotovely will address the prestigious debating hall, the Cambridge Union, with a large demonstration expected to greet the diplomat upon her arrival.
This comes after shocking footage emerged of the envoy being rushed into a car as protesters opposed her speaking at an event in LSE in November.
Home Secretary Priti Patel was among those to condemn the “appalling” incident, despite police saying it was not under investigation.
A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust said: “We hope that any demonstrations pass peacefully and that the right of Jewish and other students to hear the Ambassador speak is fully respected.
“There should not be a repeat of the disgraceful scenes we saw outside the LSE when the Ambassador spoke there in November”.
Ahead of the event, which is not linked to the Jewish society, more than 1,500 academics, students and student societies signed a letter saying she was “not welcome”, accusing her of being a “far-right representative of an apartheid regime”.
The Cambridge University Palestine Society said on Facebook: “We will be demonstrating outside the Cambridge Union ..to protest the coinciding event with Israeli Ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely, and express our solidarity with the Palestinians.”
Event organisers said that “while the protest is open to the public, there are some guidelines which we expect every participant to follow”, including a “zero tolerance policy for any form of racism, discrimination, harassment, intimidation or abuse.”
Hotovely has drawn criticism for her support of settlements, links to far-right groups and comments about Palestinians.
At the end of last year, activists from anti-occupation group Na’amod were removed from Zionist Federation event she addressed, holding signs saying “racism isn’t kosher.”
A spokeswoman for Cambridgeshire Constabulary: “We are aware of the planned action due to take place in Cambridge later today and will seek to work with the event organisers and protestors to facilitate peaceful protest, whilst dealing with any criminal or anti-social behaviour.”
Cambridge Jewish Society declined to comment. The Cambridge Union has been approached for comment on the event.
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