UPDATED: 1000+ Jews reject Met Police ban on BBC Palestine protest
UPDATED 8 PM FRIDAY JANUARY 17
- Signatures to the Jewish statement now top one thousand
- Numbers rose markedly in response to the Met Police refusal to accept PSC’s altered march plan.
- Demonstration will go ahead in Whitehall at noon Saturday January 18
Prominent legal, cultural and academic figures are among more than 1000 British Jews calling on the Metropolitan Police to reverse a ban on a pro-Palestine protest assembling at the BBC in London next Saturday.
The statement below, signed by senior lawyers Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC and Sir Stephen Sedley KC, author Gillian Slovo, film director Mike Leigh, actress Miriam Margolyes and singer/songwriter Leon Rosselson, criticises the ban as bowing to “partisan campaigning aimed at preventing peaceful and lawful assembly.”
The Met had faced strong pressure from pro-Israel organisations opposed to demonstrations against the genocide going on in Gaza, claiming that Palestine solidarity protests pose a threat to synagogue congregations. This evidence-free claim is robustly contradicted by the large Jewish Bloc visible on every major demonstration since the genocide began in October 2023.
Other members of the Jewish community opposing the police decision include Rabbi Jeffrey Newman, writer and director Adam Gantz, Professors Avi Shlaim, Moshe Machover and Jacqueline Rose, writer/comedian Alexei Sayle, Stephen Kapos and other Holocaust survivors and descendants.
The full statement appears below with the list of signatories updated on Friday evening. The list remains open for those who identify as Jewish to add their names by completing this online form.
Published
by
Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi
The Palestine Solidarity Marches Are No Threat to Jews
A Jewish statement against police restrictions
The Metropolitan Police have taken it upon themselves to prevent the national demonstration planned for Saturday January 18th from following its planned route from a starting point at the BBC.
The march organisers requested well in advance, and had been granted, approval for the demonstration to start at the BBC. This location was chosen so that protestors would be able to express their dissatisfaction with the coverage of the Gaza genocide by Britain’s major public broadcaster. In February 2024 a similar demonstration took place without police opposition.
The difference this time has been an orchestrated attempt to portray the marches as a threat to those attending synagogues. There is no doubt that the ultimate aim of this chorus of pro-Israel voices is to get the marches banned completely. As Jews we are shocked at this brazen attempt to interfere with hard-won political freedoms by conjuring up an imaginary threat to Jewish freedom of worship.
We know that
- in Britain the overwhelming majority are shocked by the brutality and undiscriminating violence being rained down on Palestinians in Gaza and also in the West Bank
- our government is complicit because it has refused to take the sanctions against Israel that international law requires
- these marches are a legitimate expression of solidarity, from Jews, Muslims, Christians and people of no faith, with those suffering in Palestine
- there are no substantiated cases of synagogues or worshippers having been targeted in any way by march participants
- Jewish participants, especially in the Jewish Bloc numbering hundreds and into the thousands, have not felt threatened but rather warmly welcomed by fellow demonstrators.
The Met exists to protect citizens from danger, not bow to partisan campaigning aimed at preventing peaceful and lawful assembly. We call on the police to drop their objections and permit the demonstration on January 18 to assemble at the BBC as originally agreed.
To sign the Jewish Statement please click here
LIST OF SIGNATORIES UPDATED 8PM FRIDAY JANUARY 17, IN THE ORDER RECEIVED
Ruth Lukom Nicky Freeling Leah Levane Dr Marion Roberts David Rosenberg Kate Colley Daniel Machover Diana Neslen Tony Greenstein Gillian Slovo Heather Mendick Eva Turner Sonja Linden Prof Tony Booth Daniel Selwyn Prof Lynne Segal Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi Polly Gifford Ilana Machover Dr Ian Saville Prof John S Yudkin MD FRCP Monash Kessler Amanda Sebestyen Deborah Maccoby Sylvia Finzi Brian Warshaw Ruth Pearson René Gimpel Dorothy Macedo Prof Diana Kornbrot Alice Bondi Graham Bash Elleanne Green Prof Mica Nava Robert Cohen Ann Kramer Deborah Fink Frank Fisher Sue Shaw Paul Goldman Esther Saraga Marian Sedley Sol Picciotto Mike Scott Pam Laurance Dr Jonathan Fluxman Ros Edwards Rosalind Clayton Angie Mindel Linda Edmondson Jackie Walker Dr Malcolm Segall Raoul Fishman Steve Roman Julia Bard Ruth Kaufman OBE Robert Lizar Vicky Marks Dr Chana Morgenstern Katy Marks John Keidan Joanna Leigh Paul Wildish Yassin Idrissi Tony Graham Alison Harris Bernie Holland Alexei Sayle Graham Mendick Nicholas Weaver Helen Lentell Vicki Gilbert Richard Kuper Kenny Fryde Stephen Kapos Stephen Marks Dr Agnes Kory Andrew Makoff David Duchin John Maizels Brian Shade Robin de Brea Linda Meehan Les Levidow Sue Coatman Leon Jevons Simon Wolfers Jeanette Abendstern Simon Lynn Michael Newbold Pete Sacker Michelle Schneider Ellie Kavner Debbie Friedman Daniel Vulliamy Athony Fusco Nina Lyndon Helen Martins Shirley Franklin Liz Amiel Deborah Asher Richard Saffron John Lipetz Nira Yuval-Davis Prof Moshe Machover Martin Golding Adam Hurst Jeremy Weinstein Godfrey King Angie Kotler Dr P Sheridan Peter Bloch Jenny Lewet Hagit Borer Emma Tait Anne Marr Adam Sach Jonathan Gore Russell Caplan Sue Katz Dr Tricia Barnett Judith Page Naomi Wayne Prof David Mond Adam Hinden Raphael Salkie Jenny Richardson Norma Cohen Tim Florey Paul Seligman Elizabeth Dresner Rajan Naidu Robert Harris Anthony Stoll Joe Korner M. Simonot Sue Levi-Hughes David Mizrachi Louisa Kaplin William Johnston Ms Judith Kramer Dr Paul Robeson Fletcher Yarden Gur Martine Miel Jon Kurta Mike Simons Louise Spitz Joel Samuel Efrat Danon Terence McGinity Ms J Curtis Harry Smith Lauren Bourque Claire Jackson Miriam Margolyes, Actress Michele Benn Simon Goodman Margaret Wayne Prof Haim Bresheeth Madeline Landauer Dr Marsha Levine Michelle Laufer Jonathan Bloch Stuart Markless Mike Layward Inbar Tamari Roger Haydon Stuart Goodman Judith Cravitz Roland Rance Miranda Pinch Frank Black Caroline Raine David Goldberg Ann Jungman Robert Kornreich John Rubinstein Anna Pollert Harriet Yudkin Judith Kramer Arthur Goodman Paula Goodman Alma Toiber Kent Anna Liddle George Wilmers Jonathan Feuilhade Jenny Kassman Erika Adler Alan Wright Marge Berer Professor Ben Rogaly Susan Pashkoff Kay Manasseh Michael Wright Paul Kaufman Leon Rosselson Arthur Neslen Stefan Povolotsky Jacqie Levin Carmel Dersch Nathan Asher Ilana Cravitz Bernard Spiegal Jacob Heringman Ruth Teddern Mario G. Rivera Geraldine Glaser Suzanne Senior Hilary De Santos Prof Adam Ganz Wendy Saloman Rabbi Jeffrey Newman Yael Kahn Dr Alan Tuckman Dr Ruth Smith Dr M Greenwood Prof Jacqueline Rose Ashley Reed Grahame Gross Hemdat Lerman Ruth Mendick Naomi Junnor Harvey Gillman Sue Bard Richard Solomons J.Mazouzi Glyn Secker Malcolm Peltu Fiona Waller Jo Bissonnet Andrew Hornung Jenny King Dr Raymond Brown Erika Fox Michael Simons Kate Adams David Kramer David Keys Pam Page Linda Bernhardt Vicky Grandon Lauren Waterman Prof Janet Sayers Kayla Dawes Joern Jannsen Esther Neslen Simon Glynn Rosalind Levy Prof Sean Sayers Prof Richard Werbner Prof Miriam E. David Peter Lewis Libby Kerr Douglas Jessop Ruth Jessop Dr Brian Robinson Mark Elf Marsha Sanders Karen Adler Prof Gene Feder OBE Prof Donald Sassoon Matthew Scott Louise Bloom Marion Adler Dr Rebekah Gronovski Larry Sanders Allison Koh Prof Graeme Segal Oliver Itkin Anne Lee Carla Bloom Eve Cina Judy Farrar Denise Robson Rita Craft Michael Albu John Abraham Colin Purkey Bob Brecher Charlotte Monro Carrie Gaye James Zacune Ronald Mendel Denis Herbstein Cath Senker Moshe Mankoff Donatella Soldi Jake Roney Naomi Marks Gill McCall Charlotte Prager Williams David Nissenbaum Mrs Sandi Beecher Alan Alexander Sylvia Cohen Jane Macintosh Frances Bernstein Adrian Litvinoff Ariela Cravitz Dr Simon Winner Alex Seymour Abraham A. van Kempen Gail Chester Prof Philip Wadler Margaret Spector Mark Findlay Helen Banks Sonya Levene Ben Young Lesley Alterman Peter Brown Dr Sapphire Allard Dr Laura Miller Dr Felicity Laurence Naomi Roberts Vivienne Brown Prof Rachel Rosen Aviva Sarah Pels Looijen Peter Godfrey Abe Hayeem Liz Elkind John Goodman Steve Barnett Prof Richard Wistreich Eli Machover Oona Ellis Bernice Laschinger Chel Hylott Pamela Blakelock Sabby Sagall David Nathan Jeffrey Vernon Jeremy Fox Claude Scortariu Rosa Sauerteig Marc Neal Danny Friedman Bev Krell Dr Rodney Watts Alan Bernstein Nancy Elan Ilona Aronovsky FHA Neil Rogall Helen Rosen Sandra Harris Ramini Lee Robinson Simon Cohen Elizabeth Morley Margaret Owen OBE Julia Stone Prof Julia Steinberger Dr Jane Henriques Tony Ambrose Dr S Miller Mike Dixon Zoe Rosenfeld Nicola Avery Merav Devere Ruth Nathan Mike Cushman Elana Dallas Sarah Mercer Dr David Goldberg Jenny Manson Philipa Bragman Dan Judelson Dr Ruben Leberman Jacqueline Bentley Marcus Armstrong Bob Phillips Ron Cohen John Lynes Judith Hirson Philip Appleby Minna Daum Mark Krantz Dr Phillipa Winkler Scilla Alvarado Ms Susan Egert Dr Robert Rosenthal Maddy Smith Soreh Levy Peter Spickett Katrina Mayer Michelle Baruch Baron Naomi Cole Laura Skorupa Dr Peter Levin Jane Makower Mather Meir Shabat Jane Gatrell Jeffrey Frankel Judith Emanuel Bob Walker Mila Caley Jonathan Feldman Ivan Wels Trilby Harrison Susanna Chenery Dr Sarah Glynn Janet Simon Dr John Lagnado Reginald Lee Prof Anne Karpf Phil Sansom Prof Rebecca Earle David Cannon Dr Gil Maulem-Doron L Ellerker Dr Brian Silk Ian Chard Lisa Stampnitzky Beatrice Hoffman Shlomo Dowen Prof Ludi Simpson Ruth Williams Jane Charlesworth Jill Daniels Prof J C P Raban Claire Rosen Leni Solinger Ruth Appleton Dave Redman Dr Naomi Pfeffer Mr David Hammond Annie Levy Miriam Levin Peter Buckman April Beynon Stephen Linton Christopher Martin Felicity Martin Jo Sedley Apostolos Gioulis Helen Abeles Brian Chinnery Alan Deadman Nadeem Ashraf Helen Stollar David Burke Prof Ruth Levitas Ruth Lass Angelika Golz Talya Stitcher Elly Page Donna Poppy Max Hammer Barbara Cohen Hannah Schling Bernard Davies Tamar Singer Mrs. Sandra Y. Yehya Nimi Hoffmann Isaac Mond Lily Moghadam Rifke Sadleir Miriam Sedacca Emili Stevenson Sally Davies AC Baker Tamara Micner Louise Glatt Mai Omer Hannah Churchill Noam Harris Rachel Leah Hosker Anna Lowenstein Polly Bindman Jack Klein Angela Royston Anna Howitt Rayah Feldman Gabriel Mond Carolyn Gelenter Chris Kaufman Michael Glasser Francesca Ter-Berg Prof Paul Robinson Joanna Phillips L Mezaks Amy Wilson Margaret Pitt Aidan Pettitt Lucy Freedman Beatrice Loft Schulz Benny Ross Stephen Solley KC K M Schling Sarah Stacey Jenny Weinstein Joshua Gottlieb Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC Jean Brown Jacob Wills Jeanne Heal Dave Lukes Abi Stacey J P Glaser Julia Shapiro Annabel Gottfried Cohen Alison Waugh Torr Fischman Nadia Edmond Leelou Gordon-Fod Maddy Miller Merle Gering Sam Weinstein Helen Marks Thomas O’Connor Tim Levine Dr Naomi Elton Tony Barnett Mr. Hani Risheq Gillian Hundt Michel Trainer Aries Moross Prof Bridget Fowler Rachel Barrett Dr Craig Parr Ian Kemp Katherina Kohler Noah Moses Prof Rajmil Fischman Nina Milns E Predota Ben Geiger Mark Barnes-Guttefidge Sonia Hussain Archie Wolfman Irris Singer Jeff Jerome Cathy Green Dr Howie Rechavia-Taylor Raha Khan Clara Leon-Brown Ewan Forrest Ella Parry-Davies Julia Corwin Dave Weinbren Maggie Foyer Beverley Levy Ruth Fishman Malcolm Hecks Hannah Raffin Cany Ash Nathalie Tolmie-Thomson Rica Bird David Landau Rt. Hon. Sir Stephen Sedley Katy Rubin Sandy Lieberson CBE Joanna Jellinek Ms. K Panama Gillian Mosely Jade Isaacs Maia Filler Prof Adam Suttcliffe Rosanne Rabinowitz Robin Attfield Prof Malcolm H Levitt FRS Maurice Davies Stephanie Krayer Charlie Phillips Vanessa Stilwell John Rogers Miles Litvinoff Viqui Rosenberg Bibi Khalifah Lars Gideon Petersson Helen Grisdale Dona van Bloemen Margaret Ling Dr Simon Sandberg Gary Griffiths Prof Yosefa Loshitzky Jerrold Ezekiel Ms Ruth Cohen Larri Murdoch Em Brener Lucy Baxandall Prof David Epstein Rob Ferguson Susanne Levin Lesley Grahame Prof Catherine Rottenberg Simon Korner Ms Alice Gray Ms Poppy Gray Felix Wilk Mrs Ilse Gray Ms Jemima Hoadley Siri Benzimra John Mitchell Mor Ezri Yahel. Daphne Hunter Erica Burman Lorraine Phillips Alan Chapman Deborah Windley Dr Katherine Lebow Dai Morgan Malcolm Bradstock Helen Green Deri Cronin Orna Rifkin Jessica Leschnikoff Peter Kent-Baguley Michael Levine Livvy Murdoch David McDade Jen Mundy Bob Maltz Ray Filar John Shinebourne Juliet Sampson Dr Lauren Ackerman Miriam Moss Michael Robins Karen Merkel C.E.Mohr Dr Paul Kelemen Robert Weiss Karim Secker Daisy Jacobs Joanna Woodd Tom Franklin Fiona Factor Jeffrey Doorn Zoe Rubenstein Mike Lerner Claudia Mernick Simon Roth Ms B. Yeates Amy Kershenbaum Tessa van Gelderen Prof Jonathan Rosenhead Neve Gordon Amanda Hopkinson Katie Clarke Clarisa Rakos Ben Samuel Nicki Barclay Lily Watson Rabbi Jacob Weisz Sonia Routledge Janet Weitz Gary Ostrolenk John Dennis Izzi Valentine Avi Shlaim Yvonne Gordon Sue Pentel Michael Kalmanovitz Ivor Dembina Mx Rita Hayes Lizzie Lowenstein Judy Sherwood D M Mills Dr Jon Berry Isabelle Gore Lisa Baraitser Gilat Levy Stephen Fox Kathleen ODonnell Ella Asheri Dr Anne Caldwell Alon Lischinsky Rivkah Churchill Dvora Liberman Golda Gardham Stephanie Schwartz Bailey Dinman Irene Sedler Rachel Solnick jessica wolfson Sojourner Mayer Matt Spitz Mahon Esther Woolfson Chantal Morgenbesser Sue Lewis Henry Hyatt Murray Glickman Lily Hinden Hannah-Phoebe Bowen Sue Simmonds Mike Leigh Barbara White Selma James Jane Shackman David Gilbert Ian Sharp Elizabeth Price Diana Shelley Lisa Barcan Dave Sternberg Oscar Leyens Councillor Martin Abrams Tal Reed Astrid French Talitha Kearey Teresa Thornhill Bess Spencer Judy Rabinowitz Price Judith Hemming Maytaal Angel Y Witkon Isabelle Darmon Melanie Teff Charles Lewsen Dr. Lynn Maddern Anton Smith Judy Brown Orna Meir-Stacey B Levene Ian Fulton Ruth Young M Gelb Ehud Sivosh Liz Silver Samuel Sweek Julia West Martin Berman Bill Kaye Adam Rose Ruth Finar Erica Smith Debbie Krantz Prof Robert Reiner Anna Gluckstein Beth Frieden Alex Mayer JC Meyer Phil Roth Edward Paul Szekely Trevor Goodfield Prof Amanda Hopkinson Walter Difilippo Rita Mendelson Linda Carey M Herson Daniel Power Dr Brian Parkin Martin Vegoda Prof Henry Maitles David Denison Hamish Kallin Saira Weiner Angela Schatzberger Noah Berman Myra Sands Noel Hamel Dr Donny Gluckstein Dora Frankel Dr David Leibel Raphael Lehmann Sue Lieberman Somerset Bean Mickey Keller Daniel Wernberg Aaron Paull Daniel Katz Stephen Tiller Dan Fox Judith Makoff Mark Haworth-Booth Sonia Sampson Elena Silverstein D Eatock Alex Goldhill Mark Symonds Mor Kandlik Eltanani Ivan Clark Eliana Dunlap Ellen Galford Dick Scoones Durah Ashton Jimmy Sayle Ben Janoff Matthew Corr Mike Cohen Tamara Stanton Nicola Lairdon Sophie Williamson Julie Odell Joanne Limburg Ruth Ewald Archer Jan Aram Karen Whiteson Oscar Davis Dr Paul Oestreicher OBE Steve Cedar Max Gerber Prof Ellie Palmer Nadia Valman Eve Turner Nat Harding John McArdle Caroline Lever Sammy Lewis Dr Gillian Yudkin Dr Tony Seymour Dr Alan Goldberg David Shonfield Jack Goldstein Aviel Lewis Stasa Morgan-Appel Elana Binysh Antony Lerman Fiona Yaron- Field Jade Eckhaus Zoe Wulfsohn-Dunkley Da’ad de Gunzbourg Hon Miranda Rothschild Akua Rugg Haim Bresheeth-Zabner Sue Einhorn Ellie Armon Azoulay Samuel Berlin Julian Bild Julietta Schoenmann Ray Sirotkin J. Steyn Rachel Goodman Prof Judith Glynn Barbara Rosenbaum Zoe Kai Brooks Beca Montenegro Miriam Yagud Mike Gerber Cleo Serra Felicity De Motta Tirza Waisel Ellie Bloom Svetlana Robson Jenny Bloom Emanuel Bloom Clara Usiskin Nancy Platt Caz Pollak Gica Loening Aurora Yaacov James Fear Sara Romanin Jacur Catherine Lyons Viv Pribram Denis Rutovitz, MBE Richard A Snell Nick cassen H Tendler Joel Lazarus Geraldine Winkler Rabbi Dr Frank Dabba Smith L Black Clive Gabay Netanel Ben Yarden K Young Felix Lane Jacob Lagnado Bekah Sparrow Derek Penny Jackie Ching Lauren Johns Madeline Lenchner Talia Woodin Sue Lukes Jonathan Bindman Susannah Horowitz Mathura Umachandran Ade Lukes Minda Burgos-Lukes Orlando Valman EK Myerson Dan Levy Jarah Fluxman Benji Bailes Leah Bindman Cohen Sabira Meghjee Lily Armstrong Samuel Solomon Tania Bronstein Teri Lockton Chloe Birney Poppy Clifford Hazel Calltainn Paul McMichael Michael Wayne Prof. Daniel Boyarin Jenna Delic Jim Boucherat vagner castilho Naomi Warner G Yershon Jonathan Bellos Peter Segal Simon Caplan David Pinto Elise Tak Walter Zuk Philip Ward Lisa Morris Maurice Ward Alan Stanton Steve Fox Jake Roney Jo Walton Maya Adereth C P Harris Dani Flexer Teri Lockton Ann Jungmann Mervyn Hyde Judith Baron Peter Pierce Anna Feldman Bonny Ambrose John Mitchell Eugene Hyon Pamela Blakelock Clare Smith Zofia Bentley Joanna Miller Alison Bromberg Mel Gould Shaun Cohen Jonathan Smith Fawzia Peer Emma Lewis Saran Feldman Jay ginn Angie Mindel Brian Jones Shoshana Foster Annie Green Leela Boyton-salts M. Goldman Daniel Delfs Bernard Sufrin Denni Turp Karen Swirsky David Michael eifion williams Nick Sherwood John Gabbay Alan Russell Jacob Serruya W. Martin Odoni Daniel Fitzpatrick Jeff McCracken-Hewson Jim Wilson Adrian Barnett Susan Himmelweit Viv Mackay Bruce Katz V Talbot
As a Jew, these people do not speak for me or represent me in any way whatsoever!
Which people?
Surely not these brave, empathetic souls willing to say “always with the oppressed, never with the oppressor”?
Those opposing the march do not speak for me or represent me in any way.
‘…claiming that Palestine solidarity protests pose a threat to synagogue congregations …’
If someone’s sense of their Jewish identity is strongly associated with ‘the Jewish state’, one can understand why merely the very idea of a relatively nearby mass of people, albeit that a significant proportion consists of fellow-Jews, shouting angry denunciations of that state might be experienced as personally threatening — ‘My nation, my people, me’ — notwithstanding that fear, if not engendered, was likely deliberately mobilised and amplified by others for political purposes.
The shul-attenders’ apprehension will likely be all the greater against the background of knowing that the Israeli state ideology, Zionism, is regularly equated with their ethnicity’s most pernicious persecutors in living memory. Which of course isn’t to say that, objectively, the comparison is unjustified or incomprehensible with a genocide ongoing before our eyes and to the seeming indifference of most of the world.
It still has to be said that to attempt to understand and empathise is not to excuse, much less to endorse, any more than trying to understand the behaviour of a psychopathic patient is to encourage it. A state can be psychopathic, so too its enablers and apologists, however full of fears.
It seems that the true Antisemitism is from the pro Israeli groups. Many Jewish people and those that practice Judaism, (not the people that are Jewish in name only) are against the slaughter of innocent and the persecution of anybody because they understand what their faith stands for, not how it is represented by the Zionist, justifying a genocide.
Somehow I don’t know any of the signatures.
I agree that these demonstrations have gone too far and have proven to be aggressive.
Since the demonstrators could not contain the radicals in their group, no one should be allowed to protest.
Where is your evidence for demonstrators being unable to “contain the radicals”? There are no substantiated cases of violence directed at synagogues or congregations associated with Palestine demonstrations. Protestors do not demonstrate against anyone for their Jewish faith or ethnicity, they demonstrate against Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians and against people, governments and institutions that support the state of Israel and its actions, regardless of whether they are Jewish or – like the UK and US governments – not Jewish. It’s shocking to see someone suggest that “no one should be allowed to protest” on the basis of unfounded allegations. Most Jews would not want to be associated with attempting to shut down citizens’ legitimate right to demonstrate.
Reading all those names gave me a buzz.
On Social Media, we’ve seen Jews around the world out marching in support of the Palestinians and against the committing of Genocide by Israel, the pictures of dead babies and young children, parents that have seen their children being blown up by Missiles and Bombs sobbing, even screaming with anxiety and despair, this should move every human being to tears followed by anger even rage. So no one should be surprised that the majority of Jews around the world are against this Genocide. The MSM including the BBC, have gone out of their way to NOT show these Jews out on the streets in seriously high numbers campaigning against the Israeli Government and the Genocide they are committing.
The contrived police objecion to the protest march against the evil genocide of the indigenous inhabitants by the terrorist state of Israel is disingenuous. It is fundamentally immoral political interference, emanating, I believe, from our corrupt Zionist-biased BBC-controlling establishment-imposed rulers.
I’m really perturbed by some of these comments — have some new people been told to intervene on this site? Of course one doesn’t only want to talk to people who agree with us, but this sudden unusual high number of disagreement is unusual and worrying.
I’d like to add that the synagogue in Great Portland Street is nearly always empty and locked up. It seems to have fallen into disuse as the rag trade moved away from Great Castle Street area…and anyway it’s not very near the BBC. The synagogue at Marble Arch is FAR closer to many of our big protest marches, and there have never been any problems at all.
I see a connection between the recent dreadful silence of the BBC and other mainstream UK news media about the ongoing genocide, and now this extra effort to stop any popular demonstration of public feeling as well . G-d forbid , we might bring Gaza back into the news again.
Thank you to all those brave Jews who have openly called for the Met Police to reverse their decision. I know that you will be harassed and abused because of it, but you are on the right side of history.
It seems that some Zionist gremlines have found their way into this discussion. Naturally they don’t appreciate things like freedom of association. It’s banned in the West Bank, all but impossible in Israel so why should it be allowed here? There is a certain sort of logic in this of course!
With this decision, associating all British Jews with the genocide in Gaza, the Metropolitant Police have confirmed once again that they are institutionally racist because of course it is, even by the IHRA, anti-Semitic.
I hope that those organisations responsible for organising the demonstration, will not back down and in the meantime call for the largest possible demonstration over this attempt to ban pro-Palestinians marches.
Dear Jasmin –
Re “somehow I don’t know any of the signatures”:
That must be because we, Jews, are a socially diverse group of people, holding diverse, sometimes diametrically opposed views about the world in general and about Israel/Zionism in particular. The Board of Deputies does not speak for all of us.
P.S. I happen to recognise a good number of the signatories.
I am proud to be a signatory of this letter. Until the genocide stops we must have a democratic right to protest against it. Not to allow this is to be complicit. I have been on most of the national demos, sometimes marching with the Jewish bloc, sometimes not. Either way, the marches have been peaceful, warm and welcoming to all, no threat to anyone or any institution and they never confuse Judaism with Zionist ideology. I’m sorry if our protests make the government and its law enforcers uneasy. What a pity they don’t seem to feel quite so uneasy about the war crimes committed by Israel.
I too am proud to be a signatory to this letter and the fact that there are so many of us prepared to sign to demand our democratic right to demonstrate and protest against the genocide that is taking place. I recognise names from the past like Stephen Sedley and my friend/comrade from school, Julia Bard, and we all stand together in solidarity with the people of Palestine. The demonstration on Saturday has to go ahead ✊🏼
I am Jewish, I’ve been on just about every solidarity demonstration held since 7 October 2023, I have experienced no antisemitism, only love for Jewish people. We must be allowed to protest peacefully!
There is no antisemitism on these protests, as Jews we have a right to protest against Israel’s genocidal actions.
I too am an Anti Zionist Jew who although I live now far from London still attends as many Palestine demos as I can manage. Last weeks demo in London showed the Met Police in their true colours. It was a completely peaceful demonstration as it has always been and the police were there to antagonize us .As we all know, the government led by the arch Zionist Keir Starmer want ALL pro Palestine demos to be banned. Our voices will not be banned we will and must continue to be brave in the face of a political and fascist government and a politicised police force. We must resist this onslaught on our hard one freedoms the freedom to assembly the freedom to demonstrate peacefully the freedom to express ourselves .All of these freedoms they want to extinguish. We must and will not let them.