A Jewish Agency official has defended his decision to appear in a Katie Hopkins documentary on Israel, saying he “preferred to talk to her rather than let her gather some wild statements from dubious characters”.
The controversial media figure – who has compared migrants to “cockroaches” and called for a “final solution” to Islamist terror – is currently in Israel for a series on Aliyah from Europe.
Ms Hopkins tweeted an image of her alongside Yigal Palmor, the Jewish Agency’s communications director, on Wednesday, thanking him for taking part in a documentary.
In this room, the State of Istael held its first ever Knesset meeting. My grateful thanks to the @JewishAgency for a fascinating interview - and for helping Jews around the world explore their dreams to return home. pic.twitter.com/38GI1obkJA
— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) February 6, 2019
Mr Palmor told the JC that he was approached by Ms Hopkins and her producers this week. They had requested the interview on Aliyah for “a documentary she's preparing in cooperation with a British MEP… which is to be screened at the European Parliament”.
He added: “I saw she was highly controversial, but preferred to talk to her rather than let her gather some wild statements from dubious characters on a subject on which the Jewish Agency is the authority.
“She came with her cameraman to my office, we recorded the interview on Aliyah from Europe. On the way out I showed them the historical room where the first government sessions were held, back when the State was proclaimed. She took the picture which appears in the tweet.
“That's it. I'm the only person at the Agency she's been in touch with, besides my secretary. And we did not discuss immigration to Europe, Muslim or otherwise.”
I wish to make clear that I chose to grant an interview to Katie Hopkins following her request to talk about Aliyah. The decision was taken by me personally, without any involvement of the Jewish Agency's management.
— Yigal Palmor (@YigalPalmor) February 7, 2019
Ms Hopkins attracted opprobrium from the Jewish community in October after appearing to blame the “Chief Rabbi and his support for mass migration” into Europe for the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, in which 11 people died.
Last year, the Zionist Federation (ZF) “unreservedly apologised” after it was revealed she attended its gala dinner celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel.
In a tweet posted on Thursday morning, Ms Hopkins said she travelled to Israel to understand “the situation in the UK and France and why so many Jews are now choosing to leave those countries”.
She added: “One thing that’s really been striking me – I don’t know if it’s jealousy or if it’s some kind of realisation – but for so many Jews, Israel is the answer.
“It’s where they find their place to belong. It’s where they find a new place to come home.
“But for British people – especially white Brits like myself, who are outnumbered in London, in Leicester, in Birmingham, in Luton – I wonder just where is it we’re planning to run to when we need to leave?”
