November 2nd to November 29, Twenty-eight stepping stones to partition

On 2 November 2017 we celebrated the Balfour Declaration centenary. On the 29th November, we celebrate seventy years since UN resolution 181 – the United Nations ‘partition plan’. Looking at much of the discussion over Balfour, there is still clearly misunderstanding over the process that led to the creation of Israel. The Balfour Declaration was a stepping stone, an important point of recognition. Yet the … Continue reading November 2nd to November 29, Twenty-eight stepping stones to partition

Yevsektsiya AND JVL antisemitic boycotts

History repeating: Jewish Voice for Labour, today’s Yevsektsiya

How is this for a fun fact: A small group of anti-Zionist Jews set out to oppose Habima theatre, discredit them, have them boycotted, and remove any official support they received. These people wanted Habima, and their ‘Zionism’ sent packing. Does it sound familiar? It shouldn’t, because those responsible were not ‘Jews for Boycotting Jewish Goods’, they were the communist ‘Yevsektsiya’ and these actions were … Continue reading History repeating: Jewish Voice for Labour, today’s Yevsektsiya

Thomas Suarez antisemitic fraud

Exposing an antisemitic fraud: The case of ‘State of Terror’ by Thomas Suarez

As each page of the Thomas Suarez book, State of Terror, is turned, another horrific statement against Zionists appears. The book was called a ‘tour de force‘ by Ilan Pappé. Jenny Tonge referred to its central ‘truth‘. Publishers Weekly suggested it is ‘an impressive display of historical excavation’. So we (David Collier and Jonathan Hoffman), went digging to see if the Thomas Suarez story ‘held … Continue reading Exposing an antisemitic fraud: The case of ‘State of Terror’ by Thomas Suarez

mandate

The Mandate: From 1919 to civil war, antisemitism and Bergen-Belsen

I have been spending time recently in the British Archives at Kew. I am working on a project (with Jonathan Hoffman) that is due to be published on Sep 4th. It has meant spending time, inside the files that recorded the British view of the events of the Mandate. Engaging with the mindset of those that wrote the documents. This ‘perspective’, and the bias behind … Continue reading The Mandate: From 1919 to civil war, antisemitism and Bergen-Belsen

The myth of Balad al-Shaykh. A massacre that never happened

This is the story of how a small engagement at Balad al-Shaykh, at the start of the 1947/1948 civil war in the British Mandate of Palestine, became the story of a full blown massacre with its own wiki page. I have uncovered documents that reveal the Balad al-Shaykh massacre is little more than part of the bubble of anti-Israel distortion. Here is the report: It … Continue reading The myth of Balad al-Shaykh. A massacre that never happened

West Dumbartonshire supports antisemitism

Scottish antisemites in Dumbarton get to throw a public party

From London to Dumbarton, we have to stop the spread of antisemitism. The Barbara Stanwyck smoking advert is probably from the late 1940’s or early 50’s. When I was growing up in the 1970’s, despite a growing understanding of the dangers, you would still see images of the connection between status and smoking. It was still seen as ‘cool’. Non-smokers who avoided the intense peer … Continue reading Scottish antisemites in Dumbarton get to throw a public party

Avi Shlaim, the foolish old man and the adoring church goers

It is the 27th June 2017. I have just returned from an event at St James’s Church, an Anglican church in Piccadilly, London. It has a history of anti-Israel activism. Tonight Avi Shlaim was speaking at the ‘Embrace Annual Lecture’.  The official subject was to ‘explore Britain’s historical and current relationship with Palestine’. The main drumbeat provided another anti-Israel festival. This one was delivered with … Continue reading Avi Shlaim, the foolish old man and the adoring church goers

Marching with (and stopping!) terrorist supporters in London in 2017

It is 3pm on June 18th 2017.  I am in disguise, wearing a keffiyeh that is necessary to cover my face. I want to infiltrate the Al Quds Day march and the only way I can participate is to remain unrecognised.  I stand next to the terrorist flag of Hezbollah. The stewards are on the lookout for people like me, and although I am quickly … Continue reading Marching with (and stopping!) terrorist supporters in London in 2017

Suarez Barkan

‘The only good Jew is a dead Jew’ (the Suarez – Barkan threshold)

‘The only good Jew is a dead Jew’. A horrific statement not so openly suggested in Europe or the USA in 2017.  In reality, this line is actually being propagated in almost every university campus in the west. Yes, it is camouflaged, but do not let that distract us from the sickening message underneath. Let me explain. Thomas Suarez recently published a work of revisionist … Continue reading ‘The only good Jew is a dead Jew’ (the Suarez – Barkan threshold)

The ‘Nakba’: The ongoing catastrophe of bad Palestinian decisions

Today is the 15th May, one day after the Gregorian calendar date for Israel’s Independence Day. Today, Palestinians and anti-Israel activists will commemorate the ‘Nakba’, or Catastrophe. Why the 15th May? Let me take a brief journey through history to find out if there are more suitable dates that should have been chosen. For example, just 11 days after the handshake between Arafat and Rabin … Continue reading The ‘Nakba’: The ongoing catastrophe of bad Palestinian decisions