A Jew in Solidarity with Palestine

 

On Friday 14 May I was invited to speak at a solidarity rally for Palestine organised by Lancaster Friends of Palestine in the North West of England. Around 250 gathered to hear inspiring speeches from Muslim and Palestinian students at the university and their allies. 

Follow this link to read the short speech I gave 'A Jew in Solidarity with Palestine' 

Here's the opening:

I stand with you tonight as a Jewish Student at Lancaster University who is in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

I stand here tonight because what’s happening to the Palestinian people is a crime.

And I stand here tonight to honour the resistance, courage and steadfastness of the Palestinian people.

Despite what you may think, I am not a lone Jewish voice.

Read the speech here

Just as we need it most, the UK cracks down on BDS

 My latest available at Patheos

You may have missed it, as it was buried in the detail, but in the Queen's Speech this week, Boris Johnson's government set out its plans to ban BDS campaigns by any public funded body. After what we are seeing this week across Israel/Palestine, the need for a global, peaceful campaign for justice and equality could not be more obvious. As well as reflecting on how we've reached this point in the UK, I make the Jewish case for supporting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions in support of equality and human rights for the Palestinian people.

 
Here's an extract:

"The upshot is that when it comes to Israel/Palestine it’s become a zero sum game. It’s impossible to show concern about antisemitism and the security of Jewish communities while also advocating for Palestinian liberation in the way Palestinians have expressly asked the world to show its solidarity. This frustrating and self-defeating dynamic creates a Jewish road block on the path to Palestinian equality while at the same time impoverishing Jewish identity. According to the rhetoric in play, to be Palestinian, or in Palestinian solidarity, is to be antisemitic. While to be Jewish, or in Jewish solidarity, is to uphold or deny institutional, state sponsored discrimination. Thanks but no thanks. This is not the Palestinian people, nor the Jewish people. Please can we get that straight as a matter of urgency."

Read the full blogpost here