The NextTech conference, scheduled for May 27–28 at Warsaw’s Hotel Presidental, faces public protests and boycott calls from student activists due to the participation of high-ranking Israeli military and defense representatives.
Defense and Technology Focus
The NextTech conference will take place at the Hotel Presidental in Warsaw, focusing on defense and internal security issues. The event is set to host policymakers and government officials from Europe, the United States, and Israel.
Invited speakers include U.S. Ambassador to Poland Thomas Rose, former SACEUR Gen. (ret.) Wesley K. Clark, and Ohio House of Representatives member Ty Mathews.
Controversy Surrounding Israeli Participants
The presence of Israeli delegates has sparked significant controversy. Attendees include Israeli Ambassador to Poland Jakow Finkelstein and Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yoav Har-Even, representing Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
Other notable figures include IDF veteran Jonathan Barkat, soldier Nir Goldstein, Brig. Gen. (res.) Pinchas (Pini) Yungman, TSG president Eran Kochavi, and a former head of the Anti-Terrorism Department at the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet).
Boycott Campaign and Public Protest
The student group “Academy for Palestine” has called for a boycott of the conference, accusing the organizers of hosting “war criminals” and representatives of an “genocidal army.” The group urged the public to disrupt the hotel’s phone lines.
The organization has announced a protest outside the Hotel Presidental for Wednesday, May 27, at 6:30 PM, demanding that the venue cancel the event.
Context of the Conflict
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has led to a humanitarian catastrophe. Palestinian authorities report at least 72,000 deaths since the conflict began following the October 2023 Hamas attack, which resulted in 1,200 casualties.
Recent tensions have been further escalated by the interception of the “Freedom Flotilla” by Israeli forces, an attempt to break the maritime blockade of Gaza, and subsequent calls by leaders like Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro for partial suspensions of EU-Israel trade agreements.
