Articles at the Guardian (“London protest demands Israel end ‘unprecedented attacks’ on Palestine”, May 11) and Independent (“Thousands march in London to support Palestinians after Gaza rocket exchanges”, May 12) whitewashed multiple instances of antisemitism at an anti-Israel rally in London on Saturday.
The demo, “National Demonstration for Palestine: Exist! Resist! Return!”, was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Friends of Al- Aqsa and the Muslim Association of Britain.
Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) monitored the event reported that the demo included numerous antisemitic banners carried through the streets. One suggested that the BBC is controlled by Benjamin Netanyahu, whilst another blamed Israel for causing antisemitism.
Antisemitism in a single image – Jews control the media, Jews are the new Nazis, Jews have no right to a state, Jews bring antisemitism upon themselves. Anyone who ignores this hard left antisemitism doesn’t give a damn about Jews or fighting racism. via @antisemitism pic.twitter.com/16YJujrodX
— Alex Ryvchin (@AlexRyvchin) May 12, 2019
Crowds also cheered as one speaker – Glyn Secker, head the antisemitism-denial group Jewish Voice for Labour. – claimed that Labour Friends of Israel MPs are “fifth columnists”, accused Jewish leaders of being “in the gutter”, and alleged that Jews who complain about antisemitism are “crying wolf”.
Watch antisemitism-denial group @JVoiceLabour’s Secretary claiming:
• American Rabbis fuelled the neo-Nazis behind the Poway synagogue shooting
• Jews are “in the gutter” and embrace the EDL
• Jews reporting antisemitism “cry wolf”
• Jewish leaders are “part of the problem” pic.twitter.com/uN9y1zRp7G— Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) May 11, 2019
Other marchers called for “victory to the Intifada”, and chanted “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
THREAD today in London the @PSCupdates together with @FriendsofAlAqsa organised a demonstration for Palestine. Marchers called for "victory to the Intifada" and chanted "from the river to the sea Palestine will be free" arguing all of Israel is an occupied territory pic.twitter.com/p4hvDlfFrd
— Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) May 11, 2019
Yet, both publications provided entirely positive accounts of the protests, with neither the Guardian nor Indy noting any of the egregious examples of racism cited by CAA – representative of a broader pattern documented by this blog of both publications consistently downplaying and obfuscating antisemitism and support for violence within the anti-Israel movement.
Related Articles
- Eyewitness account: Antisemitic hate walks through London once more (David Collier)
- Disturbing footage from yesterday’s anti-Israel hate rally in London (Israellycool)
- Swath of antisemitic abuse at pro-Palestinian organisation is uncovered (Evening Standard)
- The Palestine Solidarity Campaign – giving in to the extremists (David Collier)
- Palestine Solidarity Campaign: a case study in the correlation between anti-Zionism and antisemitism (David Collier)
- Study: Those with strong anti-Israel views are far more likely to be antisemitic than the general population (UK Media Watch)
- When criticism of Israel crosses the line to antisemitism: London edition (David Collier)
