Women's rights activists protest during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Britain, London, March 24, 2023.
© Toby Melville, Reuters
Issued on: 24/03/2023 -
Text by: NEWS WIRES
Hundreds of protesters rallied Friday outside Downing Street in central London to heckle the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a meeting with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak.
Netanyahu has faced weeks of escalating protests in Israel over his government’s judicial reform programme, which would increase politicians’ power over the courts and critics argue is a threat to democracy.
Demonstrators in the UK capital, many holding Israeli flags and placards critical of the country’s veteran leader, shouted “shame” in Hebrew as he greeted Sunak at the door of 10 Downing Street.
They erected the letters of the word “democracy” on Whitehall opposite the entrance to the gated street, while wielding signs accusing Netanyahu of dragging Israel towards “dictatorship”.
“It’s important to be here because maybe at some point they won’t have the right to protest in Israel,” Dana Drori, a mother-of-two in her 30s, told AFP at the protest, alongside her young daughters.
“It’s anger, it’s sadness,” she said of her emotions. “It’s just hard to believe it’s becoming a dictatorship.”
In a televised address hours before departing for London, Netanyahu pledged to restore unity within his increasingly fractured country, but gave little away about how he would do that while still pursuing the reforms.
‘Strategic ties’
Some of Israel’s allies abroad, including the leaders in the United States and Germany, have raised concerns about the controversial overhaul.
However, Sunak and his ministers have not commented on it.
The UK government released few details about the two-day visit, but Netanyahu’s office said in a statement his meeting with the British leader will “focus on the Iranian issue”.
The pair will discuss “the need to formulate a united international front against Iran in order to stop its nuclear program”, it added.
They are also expected to talk about strengthening bilateral “strategic ties” as well as issues including the war in Ukraine and developments in the Middle East, the statement noted.
Netanyahu is also set to meet hardline interior minister Suella Braverman—who has herself faced stinging criticism over contentious UK plans to deter asylum-seekers—to discuss countering global terrorism.
Further protests by pro-Palestinian groups are expected in central London later Friday, with some Palestinians attending the morning rally.
“As Palestinians from the diaspora we see ourselves at the front line of the fight for a free Palestine and when Netanyahu comes to visit in our backyard we have to protest it,” said one 24-year-old protester, who gave her name only as Yasmine.
(AFP)
Text by: NEWS WIRES
Hundreds of protesters rallied Friday outside Downing Street in central London to heckle the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a meeting with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak.
Netanyahu has faced weeks of escalating protests in Israel over his government’s judicial reform programme, which would increase politicians’ power over the courts and critics argue is a threat to democracy.
Demonstrators in the UK capital, many holding Israeli flags and placards critical of the country’s veteran leader, shouted “shame” in Hebrew as he greeted Sunak at the door of 10 Downing Street.
They erected the letters of the word “democracy” on Whitehall opposite the entrance to the gated street, while wielding signs accusing Netanyahu of dragging Israel towards “dictatorship”.
“It’s important to be here because maybe at some point they won’t have the right to protest in Israel,” Dana Drori, a mother-of-two in her 30s, told AFP at the protest, alongside her young daughters.
“It’s anger, it’s sadness,” she said of her emotions. “It’s just hard to believe it’s becoming a dictatorship.”
In a televised address hours before departing for London, Netanyahu pledged to restore unity within his increasingly fractured country, but gave little away about how he would do that while still pursuing the reforms.
‘Strategic ties’
Some of Israel’s allies abroad, including the leaders in the United States and Germany, have raised concerns about the controversial overhaul.
However, Sunak and his ministers have not commented on it.
The UK government released few details about the two-day visit, but Netanyahu’s office said in a statement his meeting with the British leader will “focus on the Iranian issue”.
The pair will discuss “the need to formulate a united international front against Iran in order to stop its nuclear program”, it added.
They are also expected to talk about strengthening bilateral “strategic ties” as well as issues including the war in Ukraine and developments in the Middle East, the statement noted.
Netanyahu is also set to meet hardline interior minister Suella Braverman—who has herself faced stinging criticism over contentious UK plans to deter asylum-seekers—to discuss countering global terrorism.
Further protests by pro-Palestinian groups are expected in central London later Friday, with some Palestinians attending the morning rally.
“As Palestinians from the diaspora we see ourselves at the front line of the fight for a free Palestine and when Netanyahu comes to visit in our backyard we have to protest it,” said one 24-year-old protester, who gave her name only as Yasmine.
(AFP)
Hundreds gather in London to protest Netanyahu's visit to the UK
Groups of people have gathered in the streets of London to protest Netanyahu’s visit to the UK
March 24, 2023
Hundreds of people gathered outside Downing Street today in the British capital, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak.
The protest was called for by the Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB), Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Stop the War Coalition, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Muslim Association of Britain (MAB).
Since the start of the year, 90 Palestinians – including 17 children and one woman – have been killed across the Occupied Palestinian Territories. With this year being one of the bloodiest for Palestinians in decades, state-sponsored terrorism – such as the recent pogrom in the Palestinian village of Huwara – symbolise a reality whereby thesecurity of Palestinians is increasingly coming under threat.
With Netanyahu at the helm of these developments, the PFB said it was "shocked that he is being welcomed with open arms to the United Kingdom. Netanyahu not only has a long history of human rights violations against Palestinians – including the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, the bombing of Gaza, and the construction of a Separation Wall – but has also been singled out for criticism by Israelis themselves."
There have been calls for the UK to cancel Netanyahu's visit on the basis of his move towards growing authoritarianism and anti-Palestine racism.
"Amidst these developments, the UK – rather than welcome Netanyahu with open arms – should be issuing an arrest warrant for him for the war crimes he has committed against the Palestinian people." said Zaher Birawi, chairman of the PFB.
READ: Israelis and Jews protest against Netanyahu's visit to London
Groups of people have gathered in the streets of London to protest Netanyahu’s visit to the UK
March 24, 2023
Hundreds of people gathered outside Downing Street today in the British capital, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak.
The protest was called for by the Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB), Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Stop the War Coalition, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Muslim Association of Britain (MAB).
Since the start of the year, 90 Palestinians – including 17 children and one woman – have been killed across the Occupied Palestinian Territories. With this year being one of the bloodiest for Palestinians in decades, state-sponsored terrorism – such as the recent pogrom in the Palestinian village of Huwara – symbolise a reality whereby thesecurity of Palestinians is increasingly coming under threat.
With Netanyahu at the helm of these developments, the PFB said it was "shocked that he is being welcomed with open arms to the United Kingdom. Netanyahu not only has a long history of human rights violations against Palestinians – including the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, the bombing of Gaza, and the construction of a Separation Wall – but has also been singled out for criticism by Israelis themselves."
There have been calls for the UK to cancel Netanyahu's visit on the basis of his move towards growing authoritarianism and anti-Palestine racism.
"Amidst these developments, the UK – rather than welcome Netanyahu with open arms – should be issuing an arrest warrant for him for the war crimes he has committed against the Palestinian people." said Zaher Birawi, chairman of the PFB.
READ: Israelis and Jews protest against Netanyahu's visit to London
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