University of Sussex, Palestine as Paradigm

The conference at the University of Sussex; a gathering of (mostly) idiots

I have just returned from a fascinating two-day conference at the University of Sussex. As someone who researches anti-Zionist forces in the UK, watching these people operate inside an arena so fraught with internal disagreement, made for a fascinating and educational outing. It spanned two full days and included around 50 speakers. The Sussex conference programme is available online. The framing of the University of … Continue reading The conference at the University of Sussex; a gathering of (mostly) idiots

antisemitism at UCC

The UCC, racism against Jews, and antisemitic conspiracy theories.

It is Sunday 2/4/2017. It is the third and last day of the Cork anti-Israel conference. A meeting of people who have chosen to spend their lives fighting against the Jewish State. The most liberal, most free, and most democratic nation in the entire region. Today saw the conference move from Cork City Hall onto the University College Cork (UCC) Campus. Despite the UCC publicly … Continue reading The UCC, racism against Jews, and antisemitic conspiracy theories.

cork

Cork day two – breeding Zionist monsters and untermenschen

Today, 01st April 2017 was the second day in the three day anti-Israel conference in Cork.  As I arrived in the morning, I was still feeling somewhat bitter over the events of the day before. This the central difference between the usual anti-Israel events and a conference such as this. There is simply no recovery time. Speech after speech, panel after panel, and then day … Continue reading Cork day two – breeding Zionist monsters and untermenschen

Atzmon, falk at the LSE

A sickness at the heart of Academia, blindness at the LSE

20th March 2017. The London School of Economics (LSE) in Holborn. I am at a book launch for Richard Falk’s latest collection of essays titled ‘Palestine’s Horizon’. Falk has been invited to the LSE as part of a larger promotional tour of the UK. Last week he was in Scotland. Today sees two events, at the LSE and the P21 Gallery in Euston. On Wednesday … Continue reading A sickness at the heart of Academia, blindness at the LSE

Zoabi hypocrisy

Haneen Zoabi and 180 of the adoring faithful in Richmond

22 January 2017. I am at an event organised by the Richmond Palestine Solidarity Campaign. A big crowd, perhaps 180, have gathered to hear Israeli Arab member of the Knesset Haneen Zoabi speak. The room is full, but the demographic breakdown is simple. A large majority are white, British and over 55. It is the typical PSC crowd. Haneen Zoabi had received a standing ovation … Continue reading Haneen Zoabi and 180 of the adoring faithful in Richmond

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera brings Middle Eastern antisemitism to the UK

Today was the fourth and final installment of the Al Jazeera ‘documentary’ called ‘The Lobby’. The “undercover report exposing how the Israel lobby influences British politics”. For those that haven’t seen it. The show came in four, 25 minute videos (1, 2, 3, 4). Highly repetitive, extremely drawn out, with about 5-8 minutes of content in each one. The sinister music and hidden footage feel, … Continue reading Al Jazeera brings Middle Eastern antisemitism to the UK

UCC CORK

Corked. Ben Dor’s anti-Israel ‘circus of hate’ comes to UCC in Ireland

Corked is a word that defines something special turning rotten. A wine that is flawed due to a damaged or broken cork. In this case, it is perhaps fitting that Oren Ben Dor chose UCC, or University College Cork, as the new site for the failed academic hate-fest from two years ago. The hate fest, the venom, the anti-Israel activism posing as academic thought, the … Continue reading Corked. Ben Dor’s anti-Israel ‘circus of hate’ comes to UCC in Ireland

British Jews

UN resolution 2334, British Jews and Yachad

Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you will be aware that United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 was adopted on 23 December 2016. The resolution was adopted in part, because the United States abstained rather than used their veto. Further, on 28th December, Secretary of State John Kerry spoke in detail of the reasoning behind the US decision. Oddly, considering the UK had … Continue reading UN resolution 2334, British Jews and Yachad

Why is there no State of Palestine?

100 years since Balfour, , 70 years since partition. Why is there no State of Palestine? There is no State of Palestine because after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, when the League of Nations used the Mandate system to facilitate the creation of Nation States, the Arabs living in the British Mandate of Palestine didn’t want one. There is no State of Palestine because … Continue reading Why is there no State of Palestine?

BDS SOAS

BDS open the season at SOAS, back into the snake pit

Its 27th September 2016. Summer is over and the new academic year begins. Across the country, political activists such as those in the SOAS Palestinian society hold ‘freshmen’ sessions to attract new recruits to their cause. Everyone knows SOAS is important to BDS and Palestinian activism. When you walk into SOAS you enter the BDS UK student stronghold. But I am used to being inside … Continue reading BDS open the season at SOAS, back into the snake pit