I understand that many people, including many university students, will want to debate with me in my capacity as a representative of the State of Israel. Some will disagree with me. I welcome this. It is an essential part of my role as ambassador to engage with their views and answer their questions in forums such as the one provided to me this week by the LSE debating society. On the whole, the university was very welcoming.

This was a very positive event at which a constructive discussion took place, and I was even presented with a bunch of flowers at the end. There was not any hint of restriction on freedom of speech. Sadly, this fact has been overshadowed by footage of the protest that raged outside and targeted me as I left the building. Far from wishing to take part in the debate that the college had provided, the activists were calling for me to be “no-platformed”, holding up banners proclaiming lies about Israel such as the pernicious smear that it is an “apartheid state”. Such behaviour will help no one.

I will continue to take part in student events and other public forums to which I have been invited, engaging with everyone present. I believe in dialogue. This is how we can all work together, whatever our different views, to promote understanding and peace. I will not be intimidated into letting these extremists decide what happens. They will never dictate what I do or how Israel conducts its diplomacy. The unfortunate events of Tuesday night echo another recent moment in the history of hatred targeted towards the Jewish people and Israel. Just a few months ago, in May, here on the streets of London, we saw people burning Israeli flags and chanting “death to Jews” as Israel defended itself from missile attacks on civilians. My own family was shocked to experience the hatred that was spouted out by these extremists as one convoy drove past our house. The people who were burning flags in London then were influenced by the same radical ideology that was parroted by the protestors outside LSE.

I know that these extremists represent the views of only a tiny minority of the people of this country. Britain is a tremendous friend of Israel, and I have enjoyed great warmth and hospitality from the British people ever since I have taken up my position as ambassador.

The Government has made clear its shock and disgust with the protestors, and I am thankful to Liz Truss, Priti Patel, Nadim Zahawi and James Cleverly, as well as Lisa Nandy and other opposition politicians, for expressing their unequivocal condemnation of what took place. I know that I have the full support of the authorities here and I am thankful that the Metropolitan Police and the other forces wherever I go across the country can always be depended upon to provide me with world-class security. Yet it is sad that the ambassador of Israel – or indeed the diplomat of any democracy – should require this amount of protection simply to visit campuses, meet students and enjoy a normal, peaceful discussion.