Yair Netanyahu hopes UK diplomats ‘kicked out’ for using term ‘occupied’
Son of long-standing Israeli PM took aim at the British consulate in Jerusalem on Twitter, asking if he should visit 'the occupied lands of Scotland or Wales'
Benjamin Netanyahu’s son has said he hopes British diplomats are expelled from Israel because the British government refers to the Palestinian territories as “occupied”.
Yair Netanyahu, 28, walked into his latest controversy in response to London’s official communications regarding Prince Charles’ upcoming Royal Visit next month.
“God willing you guys will be kicked out of Israel soon,” he tweeted. “Until then I’m thinking of visiting the occupied lands of Scotland or Wales, which do you recommend?”
The British Government has referred to the West Bank, Gaza, the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem as “occupied” for decades, and maintains an embassy in Tel Aviv because both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital.
Referring to the British consulate in East Jerusalem, he said this “pretends to be the embassy to the non-existing country of ‘Palestine,’” adding that “Northern Ireland is recognised as part of Britain by the entire world” and “nobody disputes Britain sovereignty there and claims it belong to the Republic of Ireland”.
The prime minister’s son has made a habit of posting controversial statements online and was recently banned from Facebook temporarily after he said he would “prefer it” if Muslims were kicked out of Israel.
In 2018, Israeli media outlets published recordings of Yair making disparaging comments about women, claiming to have solicited sex from prostitutes, and arguing for cash from a companion, saying it was only fair given the $20 billion gas deal “my father got you”.
God willing you guys will be kicked out of Israel soon. Until then I’m thinking of visiting the occupied lands of Scotland or Wales, which do you recommend?
— Yair Netanyahu ???????? (@YairNetanyahu) December 27, 2019
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.