First they came for the Jews

What if they were ‘coming for the Jews’. What would you do?

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?

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

Law, streets, jews Zionists

Fighting through law, fighting in the streets. Both may fail the Jews

From songs that ridicule the Holocaust to blaming Jews for the Grenfell fire on Al Quds Day. From a battle in law to a wider societal struggle. It would be foolish to understate or ignore the signals we are receiving from the current UK landscape. Law and Alison Chabloz 23rd June 2017. I have just left the Marylebone Magistrates Court, where the Alison Chabloz case … Continue reading Fighting through law, fighting in the streets. Both may fail the Jews

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)

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

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?

ben white psc

A three day nightmare, living within an industry of hate

50 years since the 1967 war. 100 Years since Balfour. 70 years since partition. A launch of another anti-Israel campaign. And breathe. This week I have been busy, Friends of Al-Aqsa, suspect academia and Ben White. It is going to be a long year. What was notable about the 3 events, was that they came from different spheres of the anti-Israel movement. The first from … Continue reading A three day nightmare, living within an industry of hate

goldsmiths antisemitism

Dropping the antisemitic rugby ball at Goldsmiths University

It was a few days ago whilst conducting a regular sweep of recent campus activity, that I noticed Goldsmiths RFC (Rugby club), have become deployed as a political weapon of the anti-Israel movement. As announced by the Palestinian Society: “We’ve teamed up with Goldsmiths RFC to put our logo and the Palestine flag on their new shirts!” I had been to Goldsmiths only a few … Continue reading Dropping the antisemitic rugby ball at Goldsmiths University

The story of a Jewish boy called Haim

Many years ago, I had a frantic evening visit from two very old, and very close Jewish friends. They suggested there was something urgent they needed to discuss, and just a short while later, Anna and Martin were sitting opposite from me, sipping some strong exotic alcoholic concoction. I remember, just before they spoke, wondering which one of them had been diagnosed with the terminal … Continue reading The story of a Jewish boy called Haim

Yachad UK

So this is Yachad (UK) – part two: a borrowed ideology

For those who missed the first part of this research into Yachad UK, you can catch up with it here. In the second part of the series, I will look at the core politics and activities of Yachad, and analyse the reason for the frustration and hostility the group generates amongst mainstream British Zionists. In many ways attacking Yachad is exactly what Yachad want you … Continue reading So this is Yachad (UK) – part two: a borrowed ideology