London Mayor Scorns ‘Foolish’ Israel Boycotters

TEL AVIV (AP) —

The mayor of London has spoken scornfully of boycotters of Israel as “lefty academics” who wield no real influence.

Boris Johnson made the comments in Tel Aviv during a visit on Monday to attract Israeli tech businesses to London.

Israeli businesses are increasingly concerned as the anti-Israel campaign known as BDS — an acronym for boycott, divestment and sanctions — appears to be gaining steam. They argue that pro-Palestinian activists are not out to promote peace, but instead aim to delegitimize the country’s very existence.

Johnson said, “I cannot think of anything more foolish” than to boycott “a country that when all is said and done is the only democracy in the region, the only place that has in my view a pluralist open society.”

He dismissed the boycotters are “a very small minority.”

To Read The Full Story

Are you already a subscriber?
Click to log in!