Latest news with #JewishVoiceForLabour
Al Jazeera
7 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Jewish Britons decry ban on Palestine Action as ‘illegitimate, unethical'
Leading Jewish figures in Britain have signed a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper denouncing the government's decision to proscribe the activist group Palestine Action as a 'terrorist' organisation. The delivery of the letter on Tuesday coincides with a protest organised under the slogan Proscribe Genocide, Not Protest. The rally outside Downing Street is expected to draw hundreds of participants, including figures from Britain's Jewish community. The letter, signed by about 300 Jewish British citizens, condemns the ban as 'illegitimate and unethical' and calls for urgent government action against Israel over its conduct of the war in the besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip and over escalating violence engulfing the occupied West Bank. Among the signatories are human rights lawyer Geoffrey Bindman, filmmaker Mike Leigh, author Michael Rosen and writer Gillian Slovo. Jenny Manson, chairperson of Jewish Voice for Labour and one of the lead organisers, said the group was acting both as human beings and as Jews with a moral obligation to oppose genocide. 'We are Jews horrified by the genocide being carried out by Israel against the Palestinian people,' Manson said in a statement. 'For us, 'Never again' does not mean only crimes against Jews but never again by anyone to anyone.' Speakers at the rally include Andrew Feinstein, son of a Holocaust survivor and former South African MP; historian Joseph Finlay; documentary filmmaker Gillian Mosely; and comedian and author Alexei Sayle. Hundreds of thousands of people in the United Kingdom have been protesting weekly against Israel's genocidal war since October 2023, making it clear they feel their voices aren't being heard. Protest despite police warning The rally comes as the rights group Defend Our Juries confirmed that more than 500 people have committed to 'risking arrest' by participating in a related demonstration on Saturday aimed at overturning the ban on Palestine Action. Those taking part are expected to hold placards reading, 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' The Metropolitan Police Service has warned that expressing support for Palestine Action could lead to arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000. 'Anyone showing support for the group can expect to be arrested,' a police spokesperson said. Defend Our Juries, which coordinated the campaign, rejected claims that the demonstration is intended to overwhelm law enforcement or the courts. 'If we are allowed to protest peacefully and freely, then that is no bother to anyone,' a spokesperson said. More than 200 people were arrested in protests across the UK last month for displaying the same message. The letter being delivered on Tuesday urges the UK government to move beyond 'handwringing' over the situation in Gaza and take meaningful action. It calls for the immediate recognition of the State of Palestine and the imposition of sanctions on Israel, including suspension of the UK-Israel trade agreement, an end to all exports used by the Israeli military and the termination of UK military and intelligence collaboration with Israel. It also calls for a ban on all Israeli imports, legal accountability for UK citizens serving in the Israeli military and the summoning of Israel's ambassador to the UK for her public support of military actions. The letter states that opposing genocide, apartheid and ethnic cleansing in Palestine is not anti-Semitic and should not be criminalised. 'Criticising Israel and opposing the brutality … including taking direct action, are not terrorism,' it reads. Palestine Action was banned in July after a high-profile incident in which the group claimed responsibility for damaging two Voyager aircraft at the Brize Norton air force base, causing an estimated 7 million pounds ($9.3m) of damage. Last week, the High Court ruled that a legal challenge against the ban by Palestine Action cofounder Huda Ammori could proceed, citing several 'reasonably arguable' grounds for review. However, the court declined to pause the ban before a three-day hearing set for November. If upheld, the proscription means membership in or support for Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Telegraph
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Children's author Michael Rosen attacks Palestine Action ban
Michael Rosen is among a group of 300 Jewish figures who have condemned the ban on Palestine Action as 'illegitimate and unethical'. The children's author has signed a letter which will be delivered to Sir Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper on Tuesday, calling for them to 'proscribe genocide, not protest'. The delegation, organised by Jewish Voice for Labour and also made up of Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC, director Mike Leigh and playwright Gillian Slovo, is calling for the state of Palestine to be recognised immediately as well as a trade embargo with Israel. The move comes after Palestine Action was proscribed by Ms Cooper, the Home Secretary, on July 5 after a group of its members allegedly entered RAF Brize Norton and damaged two military aircraft. The Metropolitan Police said it would arrest anyone who protested in support of the now-banned group. However, in the letter to be delivered to No 10, the group said: 'Opposing the brutality of genocide, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing taking place in Gaza and the West Bank, including taking direct action, is not anti-Semitic. Nor is it terrorism. 'We consider the proscription of Palestine Action to be illegitimate and unethical. 'It is time to end the Government's hand-wringing over the level of slaughter and suffering in Gaza and the West Bank, mixed with tacit support to the Israeli state. 'We oppose genocide as human beings. We oppose it because we are Jews who have learnt from our history to be vigilant against injustice and stand up for justice for all people, everywhere.' They continued: 'The actions of the UK Government expand on a disturbing trend of attempts by successive governments to restrict peaceful protests intended to save lives. 'Lengthy prison sentences have been given to climate protesters as well as those opposed to arms sales to Israel. It has made the UK among the most repressive countries in Europe according to UN representatives, especially since the proscription of Palestine Action.' Publicly declaring support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000, punishable by up to 14-years in prison. However, under plans revealed by the Telegraph, organisers are seeking to challenge the Government's proscription of Palestine Action by gathering on such a scale that it overwhelms the police and renders the law unenforceable. The events, which are being coordinated by the campaign group Defend Our Juries, are expected to see at least 500 people gather in London and other cities on Saturday, with the intention of deliberately flouting terror laws by publicly declaring their support for the group. Those taking part have been asked to hold up signs saying: 'I Oppose Genocide, I Support Palestine Action.' The Metropolitan Police said it was 'aware' of the planned protest, in which organisers were 'encouraging hundreds of people to turn out with the intention of placing a strain on the police and the wider criminal justice system'. The force warned that anyone showing support for the group 'can expect to be arrested'. The police have also been urged to investigate a former Guantanamo Bay detainee after he called on Muslims to attend protests to declare their support for Palestine Action. Speaking at a meeting in Birmingham, Moazzam Begg urged members of the Muslim community to take part in the planned mass demonstration this weekend. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said that 'without a doubt' the police should launch a probe into the comments made by Mr Begg. He told The Telegraph: 'Given the threats we are facing from Palestine Action, if the state does not impose its authority now, it will lose it completely.' He added: 'This is a proscribed organisation, a virtual terrorist organisation. Without a doubt, the police should investigate him [Begg]. 'This sort of organisation with its Islamist agenda is one of the most frightening things I have seen in my life.' Last week the co-founder of the group won the right to bring a legal challenge against proscription, arguing that the ban breached the right to freedom of expression and protest. A judicial review over the legality of the group is due to be heard in the autumn and could see the ban lifted.
