By IRNA,
London : Israeli Ambassador to Britain, Ron Prosor, was reported Friday to have cancelled his appearance at the UK’s most famous literature and arts festival in the latest backlash against the commando attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.
“Obviously because of developing events and other pressing demands on the ambassador’s time, we had many other obligations to fulfil,” a spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in London said.
“Sadly that meant we had no choice but to cancel the talk at the Hay Festival” in Wales,” the spokesman was quoted as saying by the Jewish Chronicle on Friday.
Many prominent speakers used their appearance at the annual festival to condemn Israel for killing and injuring passengers aboard the humanitarian mission in international waters.
One of the most outspoken was human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield, who said he was “volcanic” about the Israeli massacres even though they were “utterly predictable.”
“The Israeli government is now a pariah state. They aren’t remotely interested in international law and never have been. They commit murder with impunity,” Mansfield said.
The festival, which is sponsored by the Guardian newspaper, has a reputation for attracting the biggest names in literature, as well as political figures, cultural commentators, musicians and comedians.