Activists campaigned against Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein's meeting with members of Parliament in London this week.
The speaker - who lives in the West Bank settlement of Neve Daniel, south of Jerusalem - met British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on Tuesday and will address MPs at Westminster Palace on Wednesday, at the invitation of his counterpart in the House of Commons, John Bercow.
However his visit was marred by anti-Israel protests and calls for his arrest outside Westminster Palace today. Activists called for Britain to “arrest illegal occupation Edelstein” and said “Israel’s racist leader Edelstein [is] not welcome”.
“Our enemies will not deter me,” he said in response to the protests, telling reporters he anticipated encountering both supporters and opponents on his first diplomatic visit to London.
During the meeting at the Foreign Office on Tuesday, Mr Edelstein and Mr Hammond discussed the situation in Gaza and Iran. The Knesset Speaker expressed his gratitude for Britain's friendship, calling it one of Israel's closest allies in Europe and the entire world.
Mr Hammond argued that Israel was violating international law. Earlier this year he said that “the UK’s long-held position on Israeli settlements, and that of our international partners, is clear: they are illegal under international law, are an obstacle to peace and undermine the prospects for a two-state solution.”
Mr Edelstein responded saying: "Eleven years ago we left Gaza while evacuating thousands from their homes, and what we got was not peace, but terror.”
Ahead of the meeting Mr Edelstein had said he would use his visit to London to “represent the Knesset, the state of Israel and the West Bank with pride” during his visit to Britain, which will include a speech to both houses of Parliament.
News of the visit had been met with protests from pro-Palestinian activists, including the Palestinian envoy to Britain, Manuel Hassassian, who told the Independent he was “incredulous that Mr Edelstein is being given a platform in Parliament itself - the self-same Parliament that only a short time ago voted to recognise the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.”
But on his Facebook page on Tuesday morning, Mr Edelstein wrote that he had flown into Britain “in defiance of the protesters.”
He added that he would meet leaders including Prime Minister David Cameron, with whom he intended to “discuss the issues of the Palestinians, antisemitism and xenophobia,” and promised to “emphasise the truth of Israel” during his speech in Westminster.
Speaking on Monday to Israeli TV channel i24news, Mr Edelstein, who has held the position of speaker since 2013, had said that Israel could not “leave Britain as hostages of BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions)”.
According to the Israeli embassy in London, as well as politicians, Mr Edelstein is scheduled to meet representatives from the Jewish community. He is also due to host an event for prominent young activists from a cross-section of British society, including political activists, students, journalists and young entrepreneurs.
Edelstein is a prominent Likud politician who presides over the Knesset’s activities. In March 2015, he was elected to his second term as Speaker of the 20th Knesset by a large majority.
