Lecturer Who Labeled Israel as a “Terrorist State” Retains Plaid Cymru Candidacy

A university instructor who characterized Israel as a “terrorist state” on social media has been confirmed as a Plaid Cymru candidate for the upcoming Senedd election. Vivek Thuppil, listed on the party’s ballot in Bangor Conwy Mon, made the statement on Bluesky, asserting that Israel should be classified as a terrorist entity in the same manner as other such organizations.

Support for Hywel Also Unaffected

Plaid Cymru also defended the candidacy of Elin Hywel, who is on the party’s list in Gwynedd Maldwyn. Hywel’s past posts on X, now archived, included a message praising someone who opposed the notion that Israel has a right to exist. Additionally, she shared a post branding Kemi Badenoch as “a key figure in white supremacy’s Black collaborator class.” Both messages were published in November 2024, according to the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.

Reform UK Accuses Plaid of Deflection

Reform UK, which disseminated the social media content to journalists, criticized Plaid Cymru for diverting attention from its own campaign struggles. The party claimed that the statements were not impulsive but reflected the candidates’ genuine beliefs. Reform highlighted the controversy surrounding their own candidates, including a former member who appeared to perform a Nazi salute in a photograph, and noted three others who had withdrawn.

Thuppil previously responded to a Bluesky post 10 months ago, citing Gaza officials’ claims that Israeli forces had killed civilians at food distribution sites. He stated, “The state of Israel is a terrorist state. Any support for Israel should be legally proscribed like for any other terrorist entity.”

Plaid Cymru Stands by Its Position

A Plaid Cymru spokesperson emphasized the party’s commitment to peace in the Middle East, noting that Israel’s actions have caused significant humanitarian impact. “We believe those responsible for war crimes, including acts that constitute genocide, must be held fully accountable under international law,” the statement added. The spokesperson also urged the UK government to enforce decisions by the International Criminal Court, including arrest warrants.

Furthermore, the party pledged ongoing support for Jewish and Muslim communities in Wales, stating, “We will continue to offer our support to ensure governments elsewhere do not foster intolerance or disrupt community harmony here.”

When questioned about the label, Thuppil directed the BBC to Plaid’s public relations team. Hywel was similarly asked for comment but did not respond directly.

“These quotes are not some misguided musings of a teenager, but are the sincerely held beliefs of someone who should know better,” Reform UK said. “This raises significant questions for Plaid Cymru about their attitudes towards Israel, but most importantly their attitude towards Wales and its people.”

Plaid Cymru reaffirmed that both candidates would remain on the electoral list, dismissing Reform’s criticism as an attempt to shift focus from their campaign’s challenges.