Before I talk of a divided cloth, let me address the antisemitic events. Last September I was turned away at the door of a fringe event at the Labour conference because I was a ‘known Zionist’. Last summer as I sat to eat a meal with my wife and eleven-year-old son during a day out at the PalestineExpo I was approached by security and asked … Continue reading Antisemitism, anti-Zionism and the principle of the divided cloth
I watched it, saw it live. The young girls who went scrambling for the ‘free Palestine’ stickers’. “I have to get one dad”, one of them squealed, as she dragged her father over towards a table that she believed was giving these stickers away. That was my welcome to the ‘anti-Trump demonstration’, London, 13 July 2018. She wasn’t disappointed. There were people manning several such … Continue reading The anti-Trump demonstration, spreading poison on London’s streets
The Hezbollah flag is a symbol of murderous hate. The flag drips with the blood of its innocent victims, is etched with the tales of numerous terror attacks and is washed in the untold misery inflicted on those that disagree with the radical Islamic Shi’a ideology of the group it represents. The flag carries the image of a weapon, an ‘in your face’ statement of … Continue reading Hezbollah flags in London again, as antisemitic hate meets Jewish resistance
Let us imagine that a group of radical Islamic terrorists from Northern Iraq had managed to enter Europe and were shot as they tried to engage in an terrorist attack on civilians in London. Now imagine a circle of Muslims in Parliament Square saying prayers for them. What would be the reaction? Okay, I get that if a few Muslims were saying prayers for Islamic … Continue reading We must not accept the normalisation of extremism
Three days ago, on 6th Feb, the University of Warwick held another anti-Israel meeting. The third such event in a month. Rather than directly discuss Israel, they wanted to focus on antisemitism. Or as it turned out to focus on how there isn’t really much of it about. Antisemitism is apparently rare these days, and the only reason it is in the news, is because … Continue reading Antisemitism is denied at the University of Warwick, it’s a Jewish plot to silence criticism
Last night, at the University of Warwick, Faculty arranged a public talk that accused Israel of eugenics. Let us digest a simple truth. Like with most medical or technological innovations, Israel is a global powerhouse in fertility treatment. Every Israeli citizen, regardless of race, religion or colour, receives equal treatment. If you are Muslim and in need of IVF then no citizenship in the world, guarantees … Continue reading Jews denied entry to eugenics libel event at the University of Warwick
Jerusalem – the capital of Israel Before discussing London, first a quick note about Jerusalem. It is where Israel’s Government sits and is inside Israel’s internationally recognised borders. Israel, as a sovereign state, has every right to name its own capital. So what is the problem here? The responsible nations on the planet should have recognised Jerusalem as the capital decades ago. Unofficially they all … Continue reading Islamic war cries heard, as antisemitism runs free on the streets of London
There is an oft repeated poem that begins ‘first they came for the socialists’. It was refined over several years by German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemölle as he described the general cowardice of German intellectuals during the rise to power of the Nazis. The central message is clear and it can be adapted easily to suit the person who wishes to use it. Given the … Continue reading What if they were ‘coming for the Jews’. What would you do?
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
‘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)
As I researched for an article about the demonstration and counter demonstration at SOAS on 27 April, I came across an essay on antisemitism by Stephen Sedley. Sedley is a former appeal court judge and the essay was just published in the London Review of Books. The essay dealt critically with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. The building block for the IHRA … Continue reading Stephen Sedley, FSOI and the PSC, getting antisemitism all mixed up
On 27/4/2017, Mark Regev, the current Israeli Ambassador to London, came to speak at SOAS. Ever since the news of this event became public knowledge, several groups of students on SOAS have been actively trying to have the talk cancelled. SOAS academics also issued a public plea, the student union issued a statement, and eventually, when it became clear it would go ahead, student groups … Continue reading The day Israeli Ambassador Mark Regev went to SOAS campus
Today I am in Cork, Southern Ireland. This is a story that began two years ago, with a failed attempt by a twisted academic at Southampton, to place a fake academic veneer on part of the delegitimise Israel campaign. Those that suggest this is not true are simply not listening to the organisers, the speakers or even the delegates. Activism as a central theme was … Continue reading Cork, Ireland. Politely wishing the Jews to a nasty death
Last night 9/3/2017, I had an invite to two very different events. The first, an event at UCL hosted by the UCL Israel Society, with Mohammed Zoabi. The second, part of the SOAS centenary lecture series, with a talk by ‘renowned human rights lawyer’ Raja Shehadeh. As it was, I chose to see both, an upside to the new trend of live streaming. This a … Continue reading Bare faced lies, distortion and propaganda at the SOAS centenary talk
Last night at UCL there was an event hosted by the UCLU Friends of Palestine Society (UCLUFOP). The speaker was Ilan Pappe and the title for the talk was ‘am I an antisemite’? The event was set up as part of a general trend in anti-Israel activism: To find extremist Jews who are willing to deflect accusations of antisemitism and provide an umbrella for all … Continue reading UCLUFOP, witch hunts, intimidation and antisemitism
