Aussie Dave wrote about Boris Johnson’s trip to Israel here and RealJ wrote even more about the Mayor of London’s trip to the Holy Land, including his prior history as a kibbutznik, here. Israel is just loving the guy. And of course, the entire ‘net is abuzz with corduroy jacket memes (!).
But some people weren’t so happy with Johnson’s remarks about the sort of people who are pro-BDS. In fact, according to the Guardian, an Arab youth group disinvited the mayor from meeting with them; a businesswoman cancelled on him; and he was asked not to come to an affordable housing fair. Lucky for Johnson, he still gets to meet with PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah.
According to the Guardian piece, Johnson told reporters that Hamdallah was concerned for his safety should he attend those three meetings.
Here is what Boris Johnson actually said that landed him in such deep doo doo with the “Palestinians” (to see the clip, go here):
“I cannot think of anything more foolish than to say you want to have any kind of divestment or sanctions or boycott against a country that, when all is said and done, is the only democracy in the region, is the only place that has, in my view, a pluralist open society.
“Why boycott Israel? And by the way I think there is some misunderstanding over here about it. The supporters of this so-called boycott are really a bunch of, you know, corduroy-jacketed academics. They are by and large lefty academics who have no real standing in the matter and I think are highly unlikely to be influential on Britain. This is a very, very small minority in our country who are calling for this.”
Naturally, the Guardian, being the bastion of good journalism that it is, could not resist editorializing in its piece about Johnson, bashing Johnson; and by proxy, bashing Israel; while turning terrorists into victims:
“An upsurge in violence between Israelis and Palestinians in the last month has claimed 90 lives, including Palestinians involved in attacks on Jews.
Other remarks made by Johnson during his visit combined his usual flippancy with hyperbolic enthusiasm for Israel and patronising comments about ‘Arabs'”
Johnson is flippant and patronizing, and over-enthusiastic about (of all things!) Israel?
The horror.
Palestinians have died attacking Jews? Good job, Guardian. Next, you’ll turn water into wine.
