Israel/Gaza: UK crackdown and backlash

[two sheds]

and a lot of people just remember the original soundbite

 

[Balbi]

and a lot of people just remember the original soundbite

Yup, as intended. I bet the first the Met heard of this was the media enquiries, once Falter had already published their 13 second clip online.

"I was just going for a walk" were you fuck you horrible shit.

 

[tommers]

Yup, as intended. I bet the first the Met heard of this was the media enquiries, once Falter had already published their 13 second clip online.

"I was just going for a walk" were you fuck you horrible shit.

Stumbled upon it. Apparently.

 

[two sheds]

Also covered in detail here I now see

Palestine solidarity demos in the UK

www.urban75.net

 

[agricola]

British media just immediately reported it as presented to them by CAA, Braverman got involved straight off the bat. It's taken days for the other video to come out but the Met and the Mayor and stuff can't just turn around and go "yeah nah this is dumb".

Reminds me of a fucking heap of Corbyn era stuff because it's from the same playbook. Make incredibly wild claim on dodgy evidence and ride the outrage beyond the proof that the claim wasn't true, and then repeat the cycle.

I think the difference (and I am not talking about this so much as the wider post-October 7th situation) is that the vast majority of people can see that happening now and recognize it for what it is. People can see what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank, and they can see the lack of disorder at these demonstrations. The gap between that and what various people, many of whom are already heavily discredited, are saying is too wide a chasm for a plausible argument to cross.

 

[Balbi]

It shouldn't take a genocide to prove how fucking wildly insane people like Falter can be.

 

[Calamity1971]

Nope, not playing anymore.

 

[Calamity1971]

Also, sky news not showing the full clip now. Just highlights of him saying Jews are scared in London. What a fucking surprise.

 

[Elpenor]

Yeah, the Met vrs zionists is a bit United : Chelsea, isn't it?

I wonder if the interpretation the Sgt made about provocation is also commonly used to disperse one group of football fans due to the presence of a large group of fans of another team?

 

[Balbi]

So the impression the CAA gave was that the cops stopped them from even going near the protest but the video shows the cops have pulled them to one side after Falter attempted to walk contra flow to the crowd.

In terms of policing of football, there's no way the cops let opposing fans get that close. The cops allowed Mr Falter to attempt to cross the street and when he didn't with obvious intent, they said hey buddy stop fucking around.

 

[teqniq]

I think the difference (and I am not talking about this so much as the wider post-October 7th situation) is that the vast majority of people can see that happening now and recognize it for what it is. People can see what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank, and they can see the lack of disorder at these demonstrations. The gap between that and what various people, many of whom are already heavily discredited, are saying is too wide a chasm for a plausible argument to cross.

There's a weird parallel going on with Shai Davidai a Columbia university professor in the US.

 

[two sheds]

I think the difference (and I am not talking about this so much as the wider post-October 7th situation) is that the vast majority of people can see that happening now and recognize it for what it is. People can see what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank, and they can see the lack of disorder at these demonstrations. The gap between that and what various people, many of whom are already heavily discredited, are saying is too wide a chasm for a plausible argument to cross.

Is that how it's being reported in the Mail, the Express, the Sun ... though? That's what most? people are exposed to.

 

[agricola]

Is that how it's being reported in the Mail, the Express, the Sun ... though? That's what most? people are exposed to.

In terms of the media exposing people to it (pro-Israel reporting) absolutely, in fact this particular Falter story was the lead item on the radio in our office (which is on Capital I think) this morning.

My point was that all this exposure doesn't appear to have resulted in people agreeing with it or changing their views in its favour; if anything the limited polling (which is a sign in and of itself) on the wider issue shows the opposite is happening. A significant majority wanted an immediate ceasefire as early as the end of October, and this has only solidified since.

 

[Cloo]

It's a real deliberate provocation isn't it? Given his past statements about pro Palestine marches, it's pretty clear he wants them banned and given there's been such a tiny, tiny proportion of arrests from the matches, he's trying to make it seem dangerous by being a dipshit.

A real "I should be able to go where the fuck I want with full cop protection, which includes deliberately walking into the middle of people who I have accused of bare faced Jew hatred and glorifying terrorism and have wanted banned" without thinking that it takes him look like a massive stupid prick.

Absolutely, and as I said on the other thread it pisses me off he did this because it totally plays into the antisemitic idea that Jews are whiney and manipulative and playing the victim etc. Utterly counterproductive in terms of our welfare. But unfortunately CAA has long been like this.

Apparently even my mother-in-law's very right wing brother in the US, who would normally be all over this kind of thing, said his reaction was 'I feel sorry for the policeman'

 

[Lotte]

Absolutely, and as I said on the other thread it pisses me off he did this because it totally plays into the antisemitic idea that Jews are whiney and manipulative and playing the victim etc. Utterly counterproductive in terms of our welfare. But unfortunately CAA has long been like this.

Apparently even my mother-in-law's very right wing brother in the US, who would normally be all over this kind of thing, said his reaction was 'I feel sorry for the policeman'

Yeah, the last fucking thing we need is idiots like Falter making things worse for us. It's like people who equate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. You're really, really not helping by suggesting Jews = Israel and Israel = Jews.

The lack of response from the right towards Liz Truss shows how shallow their concern for Jews really is.

 

[CNT36]

Yeah, the last fucking thing we need is idiots like Falter making things worse for us. It's like people who equate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. You're really, really not helping by suggesting Jews = Israel and Israel = Jews.

The lack of response from the right towards Liz Truss shows how shallow their concern for Jews really is.

Wow I'd not seen that until now. I'll accept that it was a genuine out of context mistake on her part rather than deliberate Antisemitism though not sure how Truss (or researcher/actual aunthor) would have come across it without being somewhere dodgy. You can imagine how big a story this could have been if someone else had done it.

 

[two sheds]

I found this quite disturbing on reddit:

Outrage as London police cover Holocaust memorial for fear of vandalism by antisemitic mob

Police cover memorial for 6 million Jews murdered in Holocaust due to concerns pro-Palestinian activists might vandalize it; 'Those who are Jew haters, those who are Holocaust deniers, they are winning because we are afraid of them,' Holocaust survivor says

www.ynetnews.com

Park authorities (not the police, apparently) covered up a holocaust memorial, fair enough. Pretty well the whole thread that I saw is saying how disgusting it was for the memorial to be covered up, calling for protests to be banned, how disgusting the palestine-supporting antisemitic mob is and how islamists are behind it all.

Anyone vandalizing a holocaust memorial should be prosecuted. But there was no antisemitic mob, and it wasn't vandalized.

 

[teqniq]

Arseholes:

 

[dylanredefined]

Palestinian student who said she was ‘full of pride’ at Hamas October 7 attack has visa revoked

A Palestinian student who said she was “full of pride” at Hamas for carrying out October 7 has said she has had her visa revoked.

www.lbc.co.uk

 

[dylanredefined]

Palestinian student who said she was ‘full of pride’ at Hamas October 7 attack has visa revoked

A Palestinian student who said she was “full of pride” at Hamas for carrying out October 7 has said she has had her visa revoked.

www.lbc.co.uk

Not sure about this one what she said wasn't on. Not sure she should be expelled and probably not a threat to national security. Then again a would-be lawyer should know better and it was well known by Oct 8th what had happened the day before.

 

[teqniq]

Wtf?

Anger As 17 Pro-Palestine Protesters Arrested By South Wales Police -

Reading Time: 4 minutes At least 17 people, including a Palestinian girl aged only 12 and her mother, have been arrested in Cardiff and Swansea as police target those protesting the ongoing genocide in Gaza being committed by Israel and the West. On Monday, an emergency protest was held in...

www.voice.wales

 

[nino_savatte]

Meanwhile, the CAA is promoting a woman called Hayley Ace, who's running an outfit called Christian Action Against Antisemitism.


Ace once ran a company that made underwear, which was dissolved in 2016.

HAYLEY ACE VENTURES LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

HAYLEY ACE VENTURES LIMITED - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity

find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

These people are nothing but grifters.

 

[two sheds]

Wasn't sure where to put this but here seems as good as anywhere. Be careful out there people.

What to Do if You’re Exposed to Tear Gas

From protecting yourself to protecting others: everything you need to know.

getpocket.com

 

[hitmouse]

Crossposting here cos this sounds like a pretty significant escalation from the state:

Seven charged over break-in protest at Israeli defence firm’s UK premises

Palestine Action members are accused of burglary, violent disorder at building belonging to Israeli defence firm Elbit.

www.aljazeera.com

British counterterrorism police have charged seven people with violent disorder over a break-in at a building belonging to Israeli defence firm Elbit in southwest England.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Tuesday that seven people, aged between 20 and 51, have been charged with criminal damage, violent disorder and aggravated burglary over an incident at the Elbit Systems premises in South Gloucestershire on August 6.

“On the facts of this case, the CPS will be submitting to the court that these offences have a terrorist connection,” the CPS said in a statement.

Members of Palestine Action were due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court later on Tuesday.

Avon and Somerset Police said the group forced its way into the building and “seriously assaulted” staff after smashing the gate with a vehicle and driving into the compound.

Palestine Action rejected allegations of violence against police and security staff and said the authorities had launched a “smear campaign” to prejudice the outcome of the trial and “lay the groundwork for the police unjust use of authoritarian powers”.

“We refuse to be intimidated into allowing a genocide to happen,” it said in a statement.

 

[zedr]

Crossposting here cos this sounds like a pretty significant escalation from the state:

Seven charged over break-in protest at Israeli defence firm’s UK premises

Palestine Action members are accused of burglary, violent disorder at building belonging to Israeli defence firm Elbit.

www.aljazeera.com

Is this escalation in response to an escalation in PA's tactics or a new approach from the govt? I think I saw a few videos from this which included driving a van through some fencing, but would be surprised if that's enough to get a terrorism charge.

 

[teqniq]

further to the above:

 

[teqniq]

Please sign and share:

Sign the Petition

Justice for Kwabena - No to terror charges for Palestine solidarity activists

www.change.org

 

[teqniq]

Piece by Brian Whittaker on the suppression of Palestinian voices largely due to the efforts of UK Lawyers for Israel:

Cultural genocide: the battle to suppress Palestinian voices

By Brian Whitaker Published 17 September 2024 The Gaza war has long tentacles. In Britain, art galleries and concert halls are becoming part of the battleground. Cultural events that give voice to Palestinians or support their right to nationhood are under attack from pro-Israel campaigners...

al-bab.com

 

[Gramsci]

Piece by Brian Whittaker on the suppression of Palestinian voices largely due to the efforts of UK Lawyers for Israel:

Cultural genocide: the battle to suppress Palestinian voices

By Brian Whitaker Published 17 September 2024 The Gaza war has long tentacles. In Britain, art galleries and concert halls are becoming part of the battleground. Cultural events that give voice to Palestinians or support their right to nationhood are under attack from pro-Israel campaigners...

al-bab.com

And they are still at it:

London Design Festival removes references to Genocide in RCA Pal Soc exhibit

The London Design Festival has removed references to genocide in advertising an exhibit by the Royal College of Art Palestine Society. This follows a letter from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) to the Director of the London Design Festival, pointing out that there is no genocide in Gaza, and there

www.uklfi.com

Their reasoning is that accusing Israel state of genocide is likening them to the Nazis. Which they call Holocaust inversion.

Which does not necessarily follow.

They are basically saying that genocide equals the Holocaust and accusations that Israel is possibly doing this is out of order.

 

[hitmouse]

Activists say they have proof ministers tried to influence police over Israeli arms firm protests

Palestine Action says papers show ministers attempted to sway police and prosecutors to crack down on protesters

www.theguardian.com

Activists say they have proof ministers tried to influence police over Israeli arms firm protests​

Palestine Action says papers show ministers attempted to sway police and prosecutors to crack down on protesters

Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent
Mon 30 Sep 2024 10.06 BST


Internal government documents show that Home Office ministers and staff tried to influence police and prosecutors to crack down on activists targeting the UK factories of an Israeli arms manufacturer, campaigners have claimed.
Briefing notes, obtained through freedom of information (FoI) requests by Palestine Action, show details of government meetings, predating the 7 October Hamas attacks and Israel’s response in Gaza, intended to “reassure” Elbit Systems UK, an Israeli arms manufacturer, which is subject to a direct action campaign by the campaign group.

Prosecutions of Palestine Action activists, who say they are trying to protect Palestinian lives and stop war crimes, have led to some convictions, including for burglary and criminal damage, but also acquittals by juries and magistrates despite defendants admitting their actions.
As well as Home Office ministers attending meetings with Elbit Systems representatives, the heavily redacted briefing notes show that one was attended by a director from the Attorney General’s Office said to be representing the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). They also show that Home Office officials contacted the police about Palestine Action.
Tim Crosland, a coordinator of Defend Our Juries, which claims that jurors’ absolute right to acquit a defendant according to their conscience is being eroded by judges placing limits on what defendants can say about their motivations, said: “These disclosures, despite the extensive redaction, are the smoking gun on what has been obvious for a while: the government has been trying to put a stop to juries acquitting those who expose and resist corporate complicity in violations of international law and mass loss of life.
“Such political interference is a national scandal that goes right to the top – the corruption of democracy and the rule of law by those with wealth and power.”
A private secretary note dated 2 March 2022 for a meeting between the then home secretary, Priti Patel, and Martin Fausset, the chief executive of Elbit Systems UK, said: “Palestine Action’s criminal activity is for the police to investigate and though they are operationally independent of government meaning we cannot direct their response, my officials have been in contact with the police about PA.”
A briefing note dated 19 April last year for a meeting between Chris Philp, then a Home Office minister, and Elbit, said: “A director from the Attorney General’s Office will be attending to represent the CPS. The CPS declined to participate in this meeting to preserve their operational independence.”
The contents of a section titled “past lobbying” were redacted.
A spokesperson for Palestine Action said the manifestations of independence were contradicted within the same sentences in which they were made.
“What’s going on behind closed doors demonstrates clear evidence of collusion between government, a foreign private arms manufacturer, the CPS, the Attorney General’s Office and the police,” they said. “This clear abuse of power shows how the state is prioritising the interests of Elbit Systems over the rights and freedoms of its own citizens.”