Ben Jamal is stepping down as PSC Director
Ben Jamal, Director of UK’s Palestine Solidarity Campaign is resigning for family reasons. Jewish Voice for Labour has greatly valued his leadership and our working relationship. He will be sorely missed. Here is our statement in tribute to his work, beliw which we also post Ben’s personal statement on his resignation.
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We at Jewish Voice for Liberation are saddened to hear of the deteriorating health of Ben Jamal’s partner of 40 years and of Ben’s consequent decision to resign as Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in order to care for her. Our thoughts and solidarity are with them both.
Ben’s contribution to PSC, since he became Director in 2016, has been immense; leading and developing it into one of most powerful of all national Palestine solidarity movements, which gives a voice to the millions of UK citizens who support the rights of Palestinians. He has been tireless, not least for the past 30 months since October 2023, leading from the front in co-organising the National Marches for Palestine which have conveyed the solidarity of hundreds of thousands to our sisters and brothers in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. He is a truly inspirational speaker.
In our joint opposition to the Israeli lobby and the weaponisation of antisemitism, Ben from the outset worked closely with JVL as with other Jewish organisations, and ensured that the Jewish Bloc would always have a voice on the national demonstrations. He will be sorely missed. But he remains an inspiration to us in maintaining the struggle for Palestinian freedom.
This is the personal statement that Ben posted on social media
6 years ago my partner of 40 years was diagnosed with early onset dementia. She had to give up work, although she was able to maintain a level of independence for a time. This left me able to lead PSC in its response to Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people. However her condition has deteriorated and I am no longer able to give the full time I need to the role of PSC Director. That job is too important to be done by someone who cannot devote the time required to fulfil its responsibilities in full. With sadness I have made the decision to resign.
As many of you know, I am appealing against the outrageous conviction I received alongside Chris Nineham of Stop the War Coalition for leading the peaceful protest on January 18th 2024. The date for our appeal was confirmed yesterday as being December 14th. I will ensure that I am able to devote the time required to enable a successful appeal, and PSC will continue to fully support that process.
I’m proud of the work that PSC – through its outstanding staff team and network of now over 100 branches – has done to build the campaign for Palestinian rights in the UK, in the past 10 years, becoming Europe’s largest Palestine solidarity organisation.
The movement for Palestinian liberation has been and will remain the cause of my life, and I hope and intend to be able to continue to remain active in support of it. However right now, my priority has to be my family alongside my court appeal.
Ben Jamal has been an exemplary advocate of justice and equality for the Palestinian people. He has helped build a movement.that has immense transformative potential in British politics..Accordingly, he has every reason to be pround of what he has contributed as he faces another challenge.
Ben has been an outstanding Director and a powerful, unifying voice for the Palestinian solidarity movement. He has been an inspirational voice of reason, compassion and defiance in the face of Israel’s genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid and Britain and the rest of the West’s support for Israel’s war crimes. I’m a truly saddened that he has had to resign for family reasons but this is another expression of his morality and compassion. My thoughts and solidarity are with him and his partner. Thank you, Ben, for all you have done. The least we can do is support him in his appeal.
We owe Ben a great deal. He is a devoted partner to his wife and has been devoted to justice for Palestine. Very brave. hat he should be put through this trumped up charge makes me very angry.
Very sorry to hear that Ben is stepping down. The Palestine movement will not be the same without him. But I appreciate how difficult his personal situation is. And I’m greatly saddened to hear about his partner’s deteriorating health. We will continue to support him in his appeal against his absurd conviction.
Love and solidarity to Ben and his partner.
Supporting your family is the priority, without that there is no wider moral cause that can be supported. Thank you for all your time and organisation Ben. I would like to know if there is a fund for the appeal.