Officially, London Mayor Boris Johnson is in Israel on a trade mission to boost business and technology partnerships. But he’s also having a ton of fun.
“Both London and Tel Aviv share the values of innovation and tolerance, and it is no surprise that so many tech startups choose Tel Aviv as their home. We look forward to working together to enhance both of our tech communities,” Johnson said.
The London mayor was accompanied by 15 London tech firm representatives on his three-day tour here, and got to ring the opening bell at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
At the Google Campus in Tel Aviv – a lively hub for entrepreneurs – Johnson outfitted himself with Oculus Rift virtual reality goggles and barked at journalists as he demonstrated dog simulation.
He scooted around the streets of Tel Aviv on an Inu, a foldable two-wheeled electric and battery-operated scooter made by Haifa company Green Ride. Watch him in this video by Ayelet Noff, head of Blonde 2.0 public-relations firm.
Johnson joined Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai for a bike ride – on the city’s rentable Tel-O-Fun bikes — along Rothschild Boulevard, the city’s most famous startup thoroughfare.
Actually, a photographer trying to capture the moment ended up creating the moment when he tripped and fell just as Johnson and Huldai were passing by. Caught on video, Johnson can be heard asking Huldai if the photographer was okay.
Johnson definitely played here but also took matters seriously.
He said a trade embargo on Israel would be “completely crazy” and noted that only “corduroy-jacketed, snaggletoothed, lefty academics” in the UK support such a notion.
“London is the natural tech partner for Israeli firms looking to expand,” Johnson declared. “With access to a world-class talent pool and a booming digital economy, it is no surprise that Israeli tech companies are making London their home and choosing the London Stock Exchange as their international market for expansion.”
Johnson met with former president Shimon Peres and with current President Reuven Rivlin, laid a wreath at Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem and also planned to visit Ramallah before heading back to London.
This isn’t Johnson’s first visit to Tel Aviv. In his last visit around 10 years ago, he recalls how he ended up dancing on tables, according to an article in the British newspaper, The Guardian, on Monday.
“It was such a riotous occasion,” he said. “That I am afraid we ended up dancing on the tables and singing karaoke and generally misbehaving… but I can say whatever took place that evening was entirely kosher.”