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

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

Hinde Street

Stupidity, The Hinde Street Methodist Church and Israel

It’s the 19th September 2016. My attention was drawn this week to an exhibit in London at the Hinde Street Methodist Church. An exhibition that seeks to enlighten Londoners about ‘what it is like to cross a checkpoint everyday’.  It is called “You cannot pass today”. It is based on ‘checkpoint 300’, a crossing between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Odd really. Even internal European travel can … Continue reading Stupidity, The Hinde Street Methodist Church and Israel

Nicola Sturgeon, how welcome are Jews in Scotland?

August is festival month in Edinburgh. A massive celebration, delivered through a collective of independent arts and cultural festivals. Just one of these, the ‘Edinburgh Festival Fringe’, is the largest arts festival in the world. At the ‘Fringe’ event this year, scheduled for August 17, is the ‘International Shalom Festival’. Described as a one-day celebration bringing together Jews, Arabs, Christians and other minorities, that all … Continue reading Nicola Sturgeon, how welcome are Jews in Scotland?

PSC hate

From Hezbollah to Hamas. The PSC rally at Downing Street

After the events of last weekend, when the Hezbollah flag was raised in London, spending an evening at a rally with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) seemed positively benign. How wrong I was. 08 July 2016. Richmond Terrace, London SW1A. An area directly opposite Downing Street that is used for demonstrations. It is two years since the 2014 Israel–Hamas conflict, and today the PSC dusted … Continue reading From Hezbollah to Hamas. The PSC rally at Downing Street

Fighting BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions)

For much of the last 2 years I have spent my time within the BDS camps. I go to their events, I network with their delegates, talk to their speakers and socialise with them on Facebook. I’ve sat next to some of the leading lights of BDS and discussed strategy 1:1. When I am there, they think I am one of them, a BDS activist. … Continue reading Fighting BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions)

PSC antisemitism

Hey PSC, no antisemitism? you are having a laugh!

On Monday night (23/5), I went to a PSC event held at the P21 Gallery in Euston. Miko Peled was speaking at a book launch for the latest edition of his book ‘The General’s son’. Peled outdid himself; nastier than Blumenthal, more distortion than Pappe, more unhinged than Barkan. Miko Peled is lost. I am not a great believer in generalisations, so dislike the all-inclusive … Continue reading Hey PSC, no antisemitism? you are having a laugh!

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) – giving in to the extremists

Recent events within the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) suggest that the movement is losing the fight to keep its internal extremists at bay and has begun a descent towards civil war that may see the movement entirely overrun by antisemites and supporters of terror organisations. The PSC was formed in 1982 in the UK. It has been referenced as the major proponent in the UK, … Continue reading The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) – giving in to the extremists