There is a growing campaign against the proscription of Palestine Action, the group that used organised criminality to pursue its anti-Israel politics until they were banned as a terrorist group by the Home Secretary last month.
Dave you are, as always, spot on. I can't disagree with a word, and I hesitate to bring up this point as it is not strictly about Antisemitism, or indeed actions taken by groups in response to the Israel/Gaza conflict, and as you hint at it, here goes.
I have read reports of Palestine Actions reaction to their proscription which essentially claim that as they disagree with the law, they are entitled to break it. In other words, 'the law doesn't apply to me if I don't agree with it'. This is nonsense. We may, or may not agree with a specific law (it could be anything - not just this particular proscription), but as citizens of the country we have no option but to obey it, or take the consequences. We may, of course, campaign against it, as long as that is lawful, lobby the lawmakers and even campaign against the government that passed the law, but we can't just ignore it because it suits us.
I write about this at length as it is, I feel, an increasing trend in many, areas and is a threat to the underpinnings of our liberal, democratic society.
Oppose laws you disagree with by all means, but without breaking them.
The proposed mass law break by PA this coming weekend is a deliberate attempt to break the law and provoke a reaction from the authorities. they must be strong in its application.
Palestine Action and other violent protest groups fancy themselves as the heirs of protesters from the US civil rights era in the 1950s-60s who protested genuinely and grossly unfair laws using acts of civil disobedience, which were non-violent, and were willing to go to jail in order to move public opinion.
Thanks, Dave. I’m not sure whether I’m sensing a shift in your energy from this post, or whether I’m projecting my own unease. I’ve become aware of an increasing number of messages circulating in professional WhatsApp groups within my field, encouraging support for Palestine Action — often without consideration for the Jewish psychotherapists who are also part of those groups.
As someone who works to remain grounded and attuned to the impact of intergenerational trauma, I find it concerning that the violence associated with PA is being minimised or overlooked. I had hoped for a more thoughtful and inclusive response from within the therapeutic community, and I find myself feeling repeatedly let down.
I will continue to hold onto hope. With warmth, Debbie
I'm sorry to hear that Debbie - if there's anything CST can help with, please get in touch. I do think the violence of PA is being played down and I'm worried about what that means.
Thank you. I’m currently in the process of setting up a small circle of Jewish therapists, with our first meeting planned for September. One of our aims is to approach our professional bodies who, astonishingly, have remained silent throughout. If needed, I will certainly keep CST in mind too. Warmly, Debbie
The Guardian, which admittedly can have some of the best journalism in the U.K., has a hate fest for anything Israel. It does its utmost to dish the dirt on Israel, which is why I stopped my subscription.
It is just like Guru Murthy of Channel 4 who suffers from the same hate fest, together with much of U.K. main stream media.
I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. Doubtless he was, at a minimum, onside with the British government's bizarre announcement that it plans to recognize the State of Palestine this September unless Israel meets certain demands, if not involved in the decision-making process.
The authors of this letter seem to be suggesting that the rule of law does not apply where it’s ‘Israel’. This is an argument applied to harm done to anyone or anything that may or may not be associated with Israel. Thus people, buildings, property, companies, may all be subject to violence destruction and conceivably far worse.
This argument uniquely applied to ‘Israel’, is pure anti semitism on steroids. So many incidents have taken place without action by the state. The destruction of Lord Balfour’s portrait produced no suspects because apparently they couldnt be identified. That’s hard to accept given the photos and the identifying factors, and its cost a fortune to repair. There are of course other incidents far worse.
‘Israel’ as a defence is now becoming a challenge to the entire operation of the rule of law in this country. Overwhelming the system. Make it inoperable.
That is what I meant by what has been unleashed. Ironically while the Justice system has clamped down hard and many would argue excessively for a single tweet - others have been allowed to act with virtual impunity, cause millions of pounds of damage and this is the result:- ‘But Israel’.
We are not in Israel. We are UK citizens.
Lord Hermer and the government have been looking the wrong way and the chickens are coming home to roost.
Dave you are, as always, spot on. I can't disagree with a word, and I hesitate to bring up this point as it is not strictly about Antisemitism, or indeed actions taken by groups in response to the Israel/Gaza conflict, and as you hint at it, here goes.
I have read reports of Palestine Actions reaction to their proscription which essentially claim that as they disagree with the law, they are entitled to break it. In other words, 'the law doesn't apply to me if I don't agree with it'. This is nonsense. We may, or may not agree with a specific law (it could be anything - not just this particular proscription), but as citizens of the country we have no option but to obey it, or take the consequences. We may, of course, campaign against it, as long as that is lawful, lobby the lawmakers and even campaign against the government that passed the law, but we can't just ignore it because it suits us.
I write about this at length as it is, I feel, an increasing trend in many, areas and is a threat to the underpinnings of our liberal, democratic society.
Oppose laws you disagree with by all means, but without breaking them.
The proposed mass law break by PA this coming weekend is a deliberate attempt to break the law and provoke a reaction from the authorities. they must be strong in its application.
Palestine Action and other violent protest groups fancy themselves as the heirs of protesters from the US civil rights era in the 1950s-60s who protested genuinely and grossly unfair laws using acts of civil disobedience, which were non-violent, and were willing to go to jail in order to move public opinion.
Indeed. Look Trump!
Thanks, Dave. I’m not sure whether I’m sensing a shift in your energy from this post, or whether I’m projecting my own unease. I’ve become aware of an increasing number of messages circulating in professional WhatsApp groups within my field, encouraging support for Palestine Action — often without consideration for the Jewish psychotherapists who are also part of those groups.
As someone who works to remain grounded and attuned to the impact of intergenerational trauma, I find it concerning that the violence associated with PA is being minimised or overlooked. I had hoped for a more thoughtful and inclusive response from within the therapeutic community, and I find myself feeling repeatedly let down.
I will continue to hold onto hope. With warmth, Debbie
I'm sorry to hear that Debbie - if there's anything CST can help with, please get in touch. I do think the violence of PA is being played down and I'm worried about what that means.
Thank you. I’m currently in the process of setting up a small circle of Jewish therapists, with our first meeting planned for September. One of our aims is to approach our professional bodies who, astonishingly, have remained silent throughout. If needed, I will certainly keep CST in mind too. Warmly, Debbie
The Guardian, which admittedly can have some of the best journalism in the U.K., has a hate fest for anything Israel. It does its utmost to dish the dirt on Israel, which is why I stopped my subscription.
It is just like Guru Murthy of Channel 4 who suffers from the same hate fest, together with much of U.K. main stream media.
When will Lord Hermer finally understand what has been unleashed?
I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. Doubtless he was, at a minimum, onside with the British government's bizarre announcement that it plans to recognize the State of Palestine this September unless Israel meets certain demands, if not involved in the decision-making process.
The authors of this letter seem to be suggesting that the rule of law does not apply where it’s ‘Israel’. This is an argument applied to harm done to anyone or anything that may or may not be associated with Israel. Thus people, buildings, property, companies, may all be subject to violence destruction and conceivably far worse.
This argument uniquely applied to ‘Israel’, is pure anti semitism on steroids. So many incidents have taken place without action by the state. The destruction of Lord Balfour’s portrait produced no suspects because apparently they couldnt be identified. That’s hard to accept given the photos and the identifying factors, and its cost a fortune to repair. There are of course other incidents far worse.
‘Israel’ as a defence is now becoming a challenge to the entire operation of the rule of law in this country. Overwhelming the system. Make it inoperable.
That is what I meant by what has been unleashed. Ironically while the Justice system has clamped down hard and many would argue excessively for a single tweet - others have been allowed to act with virtual impunity, cause millions of pounds of damage and this is the result:- ‘But Israel’.
We are not in Israel. We are UK citizens.
Lord Hermer and the government have been looking the wrong way and the chickens are coming home to roost.
Would there be any support, let alone growing support, for a group calling itself 'Action Against 'Palestine''??