Israel has always had a weakness with PR; it is one of the perpetual down-sides of a nation having more serious issues to think about whilst also being faced with an enemy with a far larger population. Even back when the existential threat was on every border, Israel wasn’t always an easy sell, and there is no point pretending that Western Nations have only just … Continue reading Israel’s right to live in peace – BDS and the big lie
This was hardly the first article in Counterpunch I read that brazenly claimed Israel should not exist; in fact Counterpunch runs that line more frequently than the Daily Express headlines the British weather. It is undoubtedly Counterpunch’s ‘thing’. I often wonder what goes through someone’s minds as they write a sentence that denies Israel’s right to exist, a sentence that carries the implication of the … Continue reading Israel – don’t give up an inch of the truth
There is nothing personal in this letter. I am putting aside your history and ignoring the relationship I have had with your music; I have simply read your recent public comments and felt a need to respond. I am a Zionist, which simply means that I believe the Jews have the right and need to control their own destiny just like every other nation does. … Continue reading BDS : An open letter to Roger Waters
The horrific truth is that the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) plays on the naivety, innocence and good intentions of students across the UK and cons them (there can be no better description) into actually calling for the destruction of a democracy. That this democracy is the Jewish State and the movement specifically targets only the goods of Jewish business (the boycott does not … Continue reading The vile monster that is BDS
As I was there today at the High Court, I thought I’d write just a few points about today’s High Court Judicial Review hearing on the University of Southampton conference. University of Southampton were given a clean bill of health. There was no criticism whatsoever about their behaviour. They strictly followed procedure and engaged in deep discussion with all relevant stakeholders There were … Continue reading The judicial review hearing – Southampton conference – some notes.
“But to argue – as an academic or in an academic setting – that the state of Israel should be destroyed seems, to me, to amount to an incitement to genocide. That is where free speech becomes hate speech.” – Geoffrey Alderman – Guardian – 30-April 2010 Dear Geoffrey I read your recent opinion piece on the ‘own goal’ at Southampton ( last week’s Jewish … Continue reading An open response to Geoffrey Alderman
Palestinians are dying and there is an eerie silence; the streets are empty, social media is calm and even the mainstream media, devoid of the usual pressures from the pro-Palestinian campaign, are dealing with the matter with an odd distant glaze. The most rabid anti-Israeli Facebook pages, the most active Twitter users are not posting anything on the subject at all. I’ve been told the … Continue reading Palestinians are dying and there is an eerie silence
Dear Professor Nutbeam, As it is now likely the anti-Israeli hate-fest will not go ahead, I would like to suggest one to have in its place. Conference proposal – preamble: After the fall of the Ottoman Empire and against the backdrop of the Sykes–Picot Agreement, the League of Nations handed Britain and France several Mandates. This proposed conference will focus on the Mandates for the … Continue reading An alternative conference for the University of Southampton
Dear Gavin Re: Withdrawal of University of Southampton from the Anti-Israel Conference, 17-19 April 2015 I have not received any reply to you so write further drawing your attention to my correspondence with Ben Dor and the extensive research and writing of David Collier in addition to my own open letter and article unpacking the negative discursive position. The analysis revealed how Israel had been … Continue reading Withdrawal of Planned Anti-Semitic Anti-Zionist Hatefest at University of Southampton
So much talk, so many arguments. Unsurprisingly, many of the people who favour boycotting Israeli academics, shouting down anyone speaking in favour of Israel, taking kosher products of shop shelves and verbally abusing Jews in the street are all suddenly worried about the importance of freedoms. The word ‘hypocritical’ comes to mind. But this is not about the freedom to criticise the only nation in … Continue reading University of Southampton – say no to anti-Semitism
