The true face of the organisation calling itself “Labour Friends of Israel” has been revealed today, in truly disgusting victim-blaming tweets reacting to the massacre of over fifty Palestinians – including yet more children – by the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza.
No Israelis were injured and no “border communities” attacked. This amplification of the worst extreme right wing zionist propaganda by the Likud government shows beyond doubt that “Labour Friends of Israel” is nothing whatsoever to do with the professed values of the Labour Party, but rather a well-funded entryist front solely intended to promote the interests of a violent, expansionist and aggressive foreign state.
I am not a Labour Party member and I do not know what institutional ties the “Labour Friends of Israel” has to the Labour Party, but whatever they are they should be cut off immediately.
The “Labour Friends of Israel” featured very prominently on our TV screens after the recent English local elections, beating the drum for their widespread accusations of anti-semitism within the Labour Party. They have been driving that agenda for many months. One would like to think that the mainstream media would, after today, cease to accept them as a genuine and well-motivated group and understand them for the hate-filled fanatics they truly are. Of course that will not happen, and they will be back on television shortly accusing yet more lifelong anti-racism campaigners who have the temerity to criticise Israel.
I support Craig’s posting. I just thought I’d mention that there is also a Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East said to be supported by 129 MPs.
Thanks for that fwl , I wondered what had happened to them, they must be keeping their heads down.
I really am mystified by LFI. At first I thought they were corrupted by ambition . Then I thought they had been compromised in some way but neither of these supply loyal support for very long. Then possibly anti Arabism and/or anti-Islam . I give up. Further alternatives get very dark.
One of the reasons for Total Information Awareness is the amazing things it can do for personnel ‘loyalty’ to a tiered matrix of TIA information chandlers.
The Stomach-Churning Victim Blaming by “Labour Friends of Israel”
Superb Mr Murray, Superb.
But they are not alone.
You need a bucket when you look at the Tory reaction as well.
https://www.aljazeera.com/investigations/thelobby/
Gives a great explanation of Labour Friends Israel
Al Jazeera Investigations exposes how the Israel lobby influences British politics. A six-month undercover investigation reveals how Israel penetrates different levels of British democracy.
Episode One: In part one, Al Jazeera Investigations reveals how pro-Israel groups are trying to influence Britain’s youth.
Episode Two: In part two, our undercover reporter joins a delegation from the Israeli embassy at last year’s Labour Party Conference.
Episode Three: In part three, our undercover reporter witnesses a heated conversation between two opposing activists. The evidence raises serious questions about whether accusations of anti-Semitism are used to stifle political debate.
Episode Four: In part four, the senior political officer at the Israeli embassy in London discusses a potential plot to ‘take down’ British politicians – including a minister.
https://youtu.be/L3dn-VV3czc
And this is why they hate Jeremy Corbyn so much
https://youtu.be/hNI69FioVvw
Thank you for providing the link. I had wanted to read this, but I forgot what site wrote it.
We’ve been exposed to two years of Russian hysteria because Hillary can not accept that she lost to Trump because people rejected her for many reasons. But as we see, it has always been Israel who has interfered with our elections for decades. But it doesn’t stop there. Israel has been running our government behind the scenes for many decades. They set our foreign policies and have our military do their dirty work for them. Israeli troops are too cowardly to do their own fighting. This is why all they can do is shoot unarmed men, women and children. They would never be brave enough to fight someone who could fight back
It gives a good insight into where the Antisemitism propaganda comes from and the Gazza 2009 protest speech link gives people an idea why they do it. Another reason the Israeli government dont want Jeremy Corbyn as PM was Labours manifesto he put together when he became leader. You can imagine how these manifesto pledges went down with the government!
Labours original manifesto pledges
They agree the UK Government should uphold the principles of equality, human rights and international law in all its relations and dealings with Israel.
They agree that the construction of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegal and unjustifiable.
They agree that one of the first acts of the next UK Government should be the recognition of Palestine.
They agree that the blockade of Gaza should be lifted immediately.
They agree that we should stop trade with Israel’s settlements on Palestinian land and stop settlement goods being sold in Britain.
They agree that the EU Israel Association should be suspended until Israel meets its human rights obligations.
They agree that the UK Government should stop supplying arms to Israel until it complies with international law.
Trump’s Family Applauds Zionist Massacre Of Palestinians In Gaza
Moon of Alabama
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2018/05/trumps-family-applauds-zionist-massacre-of-palestinians-in-gaza.html#comments
Unspeakable.
UK response looks like a watered down version of LFI
UK response to violence in Gaza
Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt issued a statement after numerous Palestinians were killed and injured in Gaza and the West Bank in protests that erupted after the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.
Alistair Burt said:
The violence today in Gaza and the West Bank has been shocking. The loss of life and the large number of injured Palestinians is tragic, and it is extremely worrying that the number of those killed continues to rise.
Such violence is destructive to peace efforts. We have been clear that the UK supports the Palestinians’ right to protest, but these protests must be peaceful.
It is deplorable that extremist elements may have been seeking to exploit these protests for their own violent purposes. We will not waver from our support for Israel’s right to defend its borders. But the large volume of live fire is extremely concerning. We continue to implore Israel to show greater restraint.
The UK remains committed to a two-state solution with Jerusalem as a shared capital. All sides now need to show real leadership and courage, promote calm, refrain from inflaming tensions further, and show with renewed urgency that the path to a two-state solution is through negotiation and peace.
Link to above https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-response-to-violence-in-gaza
Y’know how the Znazis always talk about their “right” to “defend” themselves as they murder, and how they get western government leaders to parrot the same words?
Well now it seems that “I__ael’s borders” has been added to the well-behaved western politician’s speechkit.
What is a “violent purpose”? What does the phrase mean? Violence is a means. Very few people, always insane, have violence as an aim.
You have to wonder what on earth a racist and fascist regime that by using violent means has caused 5 million people of another ethnicity to be refugees actually is, if it’s not a “violent” and “extremist” entity.
“We continue to implore Israel to show greater restraint.”
I.e. the restraint was great, but it needs to be greater.
Israel is the ‘Avis country’: it needs to try harder.
Well spotted. The message is that the darlings have a bit of an Arab problem and while they show admirable restraint sometimes they get a bit too heavyhanded and maybe they could kill 10% fewer children or have slightly stricter rules on attacking ships, invading civilian areas with tanks, dropping white phosphorus grenades, or letting their soldiers see how many Arabs they can kill and wound from outside the concentration camp wire as if they were metal models of ducks at a fairground. Or something. Maybe. I mean steady on. Because slaves and people whose main purpose of existence is as target practice, as it should be, as it is – reality and allotted places and stuff – have rights too.
Also there’s the word “implore”. “Oh please please stop being so killy. Can’t you be a little bit less killy? Oh please!”
But isn’t there something called the UN Security Council? Haven’t it actually agreed resolutions in the past? Isn’t there supposed to be a policy against racism too? And nuclear proliferation. Isn’t there a possibility of actually doing something, of sanctions, just as sanctions have been imposed against other regimes? I__ael must be one of the most internationalised economies in the world, along with Singapore etc. Isolate and sanction the fascist f*ckers.
The death toll will rise, Disgusting Cowards.. bbC whitewashing is sickening, ” Clashes ” Lies. Wake up world FFS
There is an Emergency protest for London Tomorrow –
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2018/05/14/gaza-stop-the-massacre-emergency-protest-in-london/
And one in Glasgow on Wednesday 18:30 · George Square ·
One in Manchester:
https://www.facebook.com/events/168166964023480
Probably one in Liverpool, will post details.
A disturbing fact to emerge from Palestinians protesting in their homeland is the targeting and killing of an unarmed journalist who was clearly wearing a press jacket. It all started with the Iraq War which followed the demolition of the twin towers and building seven at the World Trade centre, Five years ago I made note of the growing trend to target journalists who reported freely rather than those who repeated military briefings.
“During the illegal invasion and incursion into Iraq in 2003, the only journalists who were relatively safe were the “embedded journalists” whose investigative powers had been removed and wrote what the military told them to write. The braver journalists who wanted to report the truth were an embarrassment to the cowardly military who may even have killed some of them to prevent the truth from emerging. Between 2003-4 there were 58 journalists (and media workers) killed in Iraq: only 18 fewer than the number of UK soldiers killed in the same period.”
http://newsjunkiepost.com/2013/06/04/the-united-states-of-extra-judicial-murder-and-imprisonment/
It is as though some adviser(s) has come up with the idea that journalists are fair game if they are not prepared to write what the dictators want them to write. Plagiarism is as yet still frowned on in academic circles, though there has been a worrying trend over the Skripal affair.. In MSM it is prerequisite for employment.
I was thinking: if Jeremy Corbyn wants to win more respect among those from whom it’s good to get it, he should say “It’s insulting and dishonest to call me anti-J_wish. I work with a number of J_ws in the campaign to boycott, sanction and divest from the racist state of I__ael“.
Every time lying fascist bastards scream “anti-Semitism” at him, he should shout “BDS” back at them, in public and as loud as possible. Just standing there like a lemon never stopped anyone getting bullied.
Interesting comment by the LFI about about working for a two state solution. Read a piece in the Indie where [anecdote alert] a couple of youngsters interviewed in Gaza said that they were fed up with the old guys who ran Hamas and thought that a one state solution was now the only way forward. Which I agree with. It now falls on Netanyahu to continually harp on about a two state solution to avoid the solution staring everyone in the face, but one which the zionists couldn’t possibly contemplate
One of the problems is mentioned in the LFI statement. I refers to ‘bringing terror to people in Israel’. What they are referring to is the refugees right of return, which does bring terror to the people of Israel. Which says it all really.
By the way, according to the BBC R4 Tonight programme 55 Palestinians died in Gaza. I thought that they were killed, murdered really, by young Israelis armed with powerful sniper rifles. Imagining the courage of those Palestinians walking into that killing field is beyond me.
At least one Hamas leader has in the past suggested a one-state solution, with a federal system like Switzerland’s.
Israel just wants the current ‘solution’.
It’s Panem et Circenses … for them.
You get chucked out of the Labour party for telling a Labour MP that she’s a bit too matey with the right-wing Telegraph, but I’d wager that the leadership of Labour Friends of Israel don’t get thrown out for excusing the shooting dead of more than 50 Palestinian protesters by Israeli troops.
The party seems to have its priorities all wrong at the moment, which is not what I expected from a Corbyn-led party. The LFI response is transparent victim-blaming – unarmed protesters should never be shot dead.
Labour Friends of Israel, basically a supporter of state terrorism.
It’s truly difficult to comprehend a mindset where wanton slaughter of civilians protesting over illegal occupation of their lands isn’t blamed on the armed forces responsible. The UK has entered a dystopia.
The Labour leadership, via Thornberry, has condemned the massacre though.
At least emily Thornberry has condemned the massacre:
https://mobile.twitter.com/EmilyThornberry/status/996057563794984960?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Why does she just blame the Trump administration? Obama was president when Israel shelled Gaza for 54 days killing 2,400 Palestinians. Many of them were children. Then when Israel ran out of bombs to lob into Gaza they petitioned congress to sell them more. And they did. Both Warren and Sanders voted yes and did not address the evilness of what Israel was doing. I don’t remember any out crying when Israel murdered 4 Palestinian boys who were playing on the beach.
Israel, Britain, France and the USA condemned Assad for “gassing his own people”, but where are the leaders of the countries condemning Bibi for what his troops are doing? Or for what the Saudis are doing to the children in Yemen?
This hypocrisy is beyond despicable and what makes it worse is that they are complicit in it too!
Well said Emma Thornberry – unfortunate about the level of denial in favour of Israel from the responders though. However, I hope Emma Thornberry sticks to her guns here because mainstream politicians should most definitely be condemning this.
LFI supporters say:
“All people who died were killed by Hamas. They use the Palestinians like pawns. Look beyond the horrible photos and see the truth”
I say: “Look beyond the truth and see the horrible logic”
That LFI must be Israel’s most moral army after the IDF.
Most people who have been sanctioned at the highest level to commit crimes will commit crimes, Therefore the entire blame for yesterday’s massacre lies with President Trump,
Quite right Giyane.
I’ve just google searched Labour Friends of Israel (no other search criteria specified). This article is number 3, on page 1 of the search results. Keep up the excellent work Mr Murray
I wish you were a Labour Party member Craig, in fact I wish you were a labour MP, but clearly that isn’t possible, True labour members believe in self determination, so maybe you could fine a place.
I am utterly outraged by the actions of Colonial Palastine to the children of that land, but the obscenity of the LFI takes the biscuit, because it seeks to prevent
any meaningful action to be taken to out a stop to a fascist government ruling over what’s become its notorious ghetto. LFZi and all members must be expelled from the party if they do not leave return membership cards. We have tolerated this frankly ridiculous situation for far too long.
I just saw white phosphorous bombs dropped by Israel on peaceful protesters. What is wrong with Labour Friends of Israel – justifying genocide?
Read The UN Convention. The charge of genocide turns upon intent. ‘with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.’ Democide more accurately describes what Israel is doing on the Gaza border.
https://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/MURDER.HTM
I couldn’t see the point of your post. What Israel is doing certainly does correspond with the UN definition of genocide.
What a consolation to the dead and mimed.
Sabrina, it would seem to be the case that not only LFI but also some western Governments appear to think the genocide of Palestinians is o.k. and that Hamas should take the blame. Israel must be the only country in the world being allowed to commit massacre on this scale. People, including Palestinians, have a right to peaceful protest – the Palestinians are living in appalling conditions and are totally subjugated and treated completely inhumanely by the Israeli Government. It is naive to blame Hamas for this situation – it has nothing to do with them – the only condemnation should be against Israel loudly, clearly and backed up by severe sanctions. Good for South Africa for recalling their Ambassador to Israel – others should be following suit. If this was say, Iran indulging in the same conduct, the USA would have imposed sanctions quicker than you could say Iran. The UN must step in now and take military action against Israel to prevent the further genocide of Palestinians.
Lest they come for you with the false accusation of anti-semitism to deflect and suppress debate and freedom of speech, arm yourself with the shield and spear of Counsel’s Opinion on the IHRA definition by Hugh Tomlinson QC.
Call them out on every occasion – it’s not antisemitic to oppose Zionism.
http://freespeechonisrael.org.uk/ihra-opinion/
**
Indeed it is not. The UN back in the day used to have it right: “Z equals R”, Z__nism is a form of racism.
The UK is an island luckily, but Remember Calais? Unarmed civilians trying to enter? You want them to enter? Go ahead, open the fences.
I don’t remember anyone dropping phosphorous bombs on Calais.
It’s a thin attempt at false equivalence, to distract and dismiss Israel’s utter lack of humanity.
And there was me thinking it was just bollocks.
Well, there’s that too of course.
Shooting and bombing unarmed demonstrators is always the fault of whoever tried to organise the demonstration, right? It’s a well established law. Demonstrate against something perpetrated against your people, and you will be shot dead, and it’s somebody else’s fault altogether.
I suppose all those killed in the Warsaw Uprising was _entirely_ the fault of the Polish resistance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Uprising
Those poor Nazis – what choice did they have? It must have been terrible for them, having to perpetrate mass slaughter like that.
these uk zionist criminals should not be given a voice to lie about israel’s massacring of the Palestinians that now includes an 8 month old baby girl. Instead they should immediately arrested for complicity in mass murder. if convicted they should be meted out the most harsh punishment or jailed with no hope for parole. they are plain criminals and liars, why are people so blind to this fact?
“The South African government condemns in the strongest terms possible the latest act of violent aggression carried out by Israeli armed forces along the Gaza border…”
Then I check ‘our’ Foreign Office website.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office
NOTHING. There is an utterly sycophantic and ridiculous press release on the 10th of May though
“UK responds to Iranian airstrikes against Israeli forces”
Correction… I’ve found it…
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-response-to-violence-in-gaza
The nearest Alistair Burt can get to a criticism of Israel is ” the large volume of live fire is extremely concerning. “
Warning. Avoid the ‘news’ channels today. They are being occupied by voluble emissaries from the Israel Embassy.
‘Israel feels threatened’.
‘Hamas wants every Israeli dead’.
‘Who would take a baby to a protest?’
Lead item on Sky website.
‘Baby among 58 killed in Gaza as US embassy opens
Palestinians were killed on the Gaza border on Monday as they protested against the opening of the US embassy
The White House says the deaths lie “squarely with Hamas” after Israeli troops fire at Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border.’
Lead item on BBC website.
‘Gaza violence: Fresh protests expected after deadly clashes’
59 minutes ago
The BBC item should read – ‘Israeli violence. Fresh protests expected in Palestine after deadly Israeli killing and wounding’.
Sharp Ears, are there per chance any Palestinian representatives on these programmes.?
Who would ghettoize a baby?
Israel.
Two articles here by Labour members — one a former MP and party official — on the Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) network and “Labour’s antisemitism problem”.
https://www.lobster-magazine.co.uk/issue74.php
Former LFI chair and Blair Cabinet minister James Purnell is now BBC Director of Radio — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Purnell .
Time to blow israel OFF THE MAP
No need for that, just re-label it. “Nazi Germany Mk II” should do nicely.
Here here to both Jazza and glenn_nl
Burt is an ex officer of CFoI. There is NO conflict between his membership of CFoI and his job as Minister for the Middle East. LOL
‘Burt is a former officer of the Conservative Friends of Israel, a position which he resigned upon entering government as a Minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In December 2008, he led an all-Party group meeting with the Red Cross to campaign for visiting rights for the Israeli hostage Gilad Shalit.[3] He is a member of the Political Council of the Henry Jackson Society.’ Wikipedia.
Although he is a self described Christian, he advocated a death for President Assad in the manner of President Gaddafi’s death. He is a vile. He was angry that the vote went against bombing Syria.
‘Burt insisted the British government “knew exactly what would happen if there was not a strike against Assad over chemical weapons. He goes on. And the only thing that would deflect this man and this regime is if they fear they are going to end up in a storm drain with a bayonet up their backside. If they don’t fear that, they will go on killing as many people as they need to stay in power.”‘
Alistair Burt reveals anger over Syria vote at Westminster
Former minister says the decision to defy David Cameron on military action created a ‘constitutional mess’ https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/dec/30/alistair-burt-anger-syria-westminster
Here is the CfOI greeting Rotem from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. April 27 2018
https://cfoi.co.uk/director-general-of-israels-mfa-briefs-conservative-parliamentarians/
Burt met him too of course..
‘
SA You referred to Emily Thornberry earlier. I assume you know that she is a longstanding member of LFoI.
viz
•2-7 September 2007, to Israel and Palestine with Labour Friends of Israel (LFI). Travel and hospitality paid for by LFI. Accommodation paid for by LFI at a rate discounted through the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Some hospitality provided by the Palestinian Legislative Council/Palestinian Authority. Travel within Israel/Palestine provided by LFI. Some travel within Israel provided by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Registered 7 September 2007)
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=11656
Yes I am aware. Maybe she could follow this with decently resigning from LFI, some hope.
The photos of tear gas being rained down on the protesters yesterday reminded me of the white phosphorus used by Israel on a UN school in their Cast Lead war on Gaza. The wars are listed by name – 2006 to date – Summer Rains, Autumn Clouds, Hot Winter, Cast Lead, Returning Echo, Pillar of Defense, Protective Edge and on and on and on.
‘Israeli drones pour tear gas onto Palestinian protesters who used kites to fly petrol bombs over Gaza border
Palestinians dropped make-shift bombs on Israeli forces who responded by launching drones to unleash lung-burning tear gas on demonstrators’
18:07, 14 MAY 2018
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/israeli-drones-pour-tear-gas-12535483
Israel accused of indiscriminate phosphorus use in Gaza
Human Rights Watch report claims Israel committed war crimes in its use of air-burst white phosphorus artillery shells
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/25/israel-white-phosphorus-gaza
The drones, having been showcased and proven their worth on the ‘battlefield’, will now be exported.
Israel is a coward, lunatic state.
What a disgrace their tweet is – Leave Hamas out of this that’s just Israeli propaganda – nothing can justify the massacre of civilians engaged in legitimate protest.
US blocks call for independent Gaza inquiry at UN
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-blocks-call-independent-gaza-inquiry-un-diplomats-225933850.html
No surprise there then.