The official launch of TLV in LDN, a four-day festival taking place across London that celebrates different aspects of Tel Aviv’s vibrant culture, kicked off Thursday night at the Roundhouse in Camden.

Israeli Public Security and Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan was joined by the United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox and Minister for the Middle East, Alastair Burt at the launch of the cultural event. Liam Fox spoke about the strong trade relationship between Israel and the UK, saying that the UK is Israel’s second largest trading partner and the primary destination for Israeli investment in Europe, with more than 300 Israeli companies operating in the UK

TLV in LDN will be the largest Israeli cultural festival ever held in Europe. Fifty Israeli artists and chefs, including Dana International, musical duo Infected Mushroom, and acclaimed chef Shaul Ben Aderet, will appear on the main stages in a series of events and performances.

The festival will also include a digital art exhibition, a showcase of current and past collections by Maskit, a Tel Aviv based fashion house and a business conference focusing on Israeli innovation attended by Israeli and British business leaders.

Earlier in the day, Erdan meet with a number of UK Government cabinet ministers, including the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid, they discussed steps to counter campaigns to delegitimise Israel and all forms of antisemitism. Erdan tweeted: “Thank you @sajidjavid for standing up for what is right and against hate, & for being a true friend of Israel.”

Erdan also met with the Secretary of State for International Development Priti Patel. He wrote in a tweet that it was “wonderful meeting my friend Sec. of State Priti … a woman of great courage and leadership. We are taking concrete action to advance UK-Israel development cooperation, & counter attempts to delegitimise Israel in international institutions”.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan met with the Mayor of Tel Aviv Ron Huldai yesterday afternoon. Khan said the two mayors discussed “our two cities’ flourishing tech start-ups and innovation sectors”.

The four-day celebration opens Friday and will take place across the city, including a “beach party” which will convert the Cadogan Hall concert venue into the sands of the Israeli coastal city.

(via BICOM)
[Photo: BICOM ]