Without Israelis, with a 'Palestine booth' and a hug for China - the tech conference in Portugal that is causing a stir
The Web Summit in Lisbon opened without Israeli participation, following the boycott that began after its founder's statements against Israel. This year, a significant Chinese presence stood out, along with public support for the Palestinian delegation and a booth dedicated to Palestinian companies. Google, Meta, and Apple returned as sponsors.
The Web Summit technology conference in Lisbon opened this year without an Israeli presence, following the boycott that began after its founder Paddy Cosgrave's statements against Israel after October 7. This year, the conference featured a significant Chinese presence, public support for the Palestinian delegation, and a booth dedicated to Palestinian companies. Cosgrave opened the conference by stating that "the future of technology is primarily Chinese," noting over 50 talents from Chinese AI labs. The conference's East Asia director, Casey Lau, called out "Palestine" on stage and received applause. Alongside this, tech giants Google, Meta, and Apple returned as sponsors, after being removed following the previous boycott. The article details several companies displayed at the Palestinian booth, some with a loose connection to the Palestinian Authority.