BICOM

Yuli Edelstein MK has become the first Knesset Speaker to conduct an official visit to London, where he will address a joint session of both MPs and peers in Westminster.

Edelstein, who has been the Knesset Speaker since 2013, was invited by House of Commons Speaker John Bercow MP. He is being accompanied on his visit by fellow Knesset members, Likud MK Yoav Kisch and Zionist Union MKs Revital Sweid and Hilik Bar.

Edelstein said ahead of his visit that he is “proud to represent the Knesset and the State of Israel.” Edelstein is set to meet Prime Minister David Cameron, Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond, Bercow and other dignitaries, as well as Jewish community leaders. He stressed that “In all of my meetings and speeches, I will emphasise the truth about Israel and I will fight with all my might against the lies embedded in the boycotts.” The official Palestinian Authority representative in London has publicly objected to Edelstein’s visit on the grounds that he lives in the Gush Etzion region of the West Bank.

Edelstein contended that “peace will not be attained through boycotts which … encourage the rejection of Israel’s existence. Peace will come only by investing in our region and encouraging cooperation with our neighbours, in order to turn the Middle East into a better place for all of us.”

Commenting on UK-Israel relations, Edelstein said “we have ongoing relations with Britain, less so with the British Parliament. And I think that we have to improve the bilateral cooperation with the British Parliament.” He will address both MPs and peers today in Westminster, in what is likely to be one of the highest profile parliamentary events involving an Israeli leader. Edelstein told the Telegraph that “Governments come and go but parliaments stay,” and as such he hopes to encourage a strong bipartisan relationship with Israel in Westminster.