Dozens of Arab students rioted and burnt Israeli and British flags during the course of a lecture delivered by Shimon Peres in the British city of Blackpool today. Peres had been invited to address the 1,500 students participating in a National Student Union convention in the city. Some 100 students - mostly Arabs - held a demonstration outside, which included flag-burning and clashing with police. Most of them were then allowed to enter the auditorium on condition that they maintain quiet. When Peres began speaking, however, they unfurled PLO flags and signs against the Iraq war, and called out "Murderer! Traitor!" over a megaphone. Some students even tried to crash the stage, but security personnel stopped them.
Peres did not lose his cool, and told his hecklers, "If the U.S. hadn't intervened in World War II, another few million people might have been killed." The former Israeli Prime Minister, who also served as Minister of Defense, Foreign Affairs, and more, continued his speech peacefully, and later returned to London for meetings.
Peres did not lose his cool, and told his hecklers, "If the U.S. hadn't intervened in World War II, another few million people might have been killed." The former Israeli Prime Minister, who also served as Minister of Defense, Foreign Affairs, and more, continued his speech peacefully, and later returned to London for meetings.