An Open Letter to Pro-Palestinian Protestors

[King_David]

Dave Rich is the Deputy Director of Communications for the Community Security Trust, a charity that monitors antisemitism and provides security advice and assistance to the UK Jewish community

Dear demonstrator,

I write this on Quds Day, when pro-Iranian sympathisers hold their annual march for Palestine; and the day before another Stop The War Coalition/Palestine SolidarityCampaign/Friends of Al-Aqsa demonstration in Central London.

I'm not writing on behalf of Israel, or to persuade you not to demonstrate. If you want to protest against Israeli policy and actions in Gaza, go right ahead. There's plenty of suffering in Gaza to protest about, that's for sure. So as we say in Yiddish, Gai gezunterhait (your Jewish co-protestors can translate that for you).

Nor am I writing to discuss who is to blame for the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel, or who has responsibility to stop it from happening, or, indeed, to discuss what is happening in that part of the world at all.

The reason I'm writing to you today is to discuss things that happen here in Britain and in other European countries. You see, it seems that sometimes, some people find it difficult to distinguish between protesting against Israeli policy and abusing Jews here in Britain. You'd think the difference between the two would be fairly obvious, but apparently not. So in that spirit, and to help you tell right from wrong, here are a few tips:


http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/5620573

[King_David]

1. More

On you way to or from the demonstration, do not shout "Heil Hitler" or "Death to Jews" or "Burn in hell" at random Jewish people in the street, as has happened in Manchester and London in the past two weeks.

While you are on the demonstration, if passersby disagree with you about Israel and Gaza, do not surround them, shove them, steal their phone and call them a "Jew Zionist". Having a different view of where blame and responsibility lie in the current conflict does not make someone a proxy-combatant for you to attack.

http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/5620573

[King_David]

2. More

In fact, don't take any banner or placard that has a swastika on it. Not when it is equated with a Star of David and not when it is drawn on Bibi Netanyahu's forehead. Don't you find it odd that the only political demonstrations where it is considered OK by people on the Left to wave a swastika, just happen to be protests against the world's only Jewish state? That's an almighty coincidence.

Don't use a Star of David in any other setting than the Israeli flag. That would mean you are targeting Jews, not Israel.

[Scootaloo]

12. Small correction on this one

Bush got plenty of the Nazi / Swastika treatment. Maybe the article is totally Eurocentric, and things are different over there, but i know here in the US, it's common enough to call a fascist a fascist and label them with fascist symbols.

[Chemisse]

3. Blaming the Jews for the actions of the Israeli government

Is like blaming the Americans for the Bush/Cheney wars.

It's really unfortunate that some people are using this humanitarian crisis to level hatred toward a group of people.

[King_David]

4. And this hate is excused or justified or minimized

Here on DU.

Some posters here find it very irritating that I even post it .so much so I was even called an asshole for posting articles about it.

Here : http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5305195

[kayecy]

5. No reason why you should not post such a diatribe to balance......

No reason why you should not post such a diatribe to balance articles like those posted by "ForgoTheConsequence" on July 30th. Such actions by Jews or others are unacceptable but it seems you didn't see fit to comment on "ForgoTheConsequence's" post.


"RIGHT-WING Israelis celebrating their military’s offensive have been filmed chanting “There’s no school tomorrow, there’s no children left in Gaza” in Tel Aviv.
The demonstrators are seen waving Israeli flags and singing chants including “Gaza is a cemetery” in protest against the Arab members of the Knesset and the people of Gaza. "

[King_David]

7. These antiSemitic incidents described did not happen in Israel , Gaza or the Middle East .

These Jews attacked are not Israelis .

[kayecy]

10. The protests were aginst Israeli actions....

The protests were against Israeli actions....Does it matter where they took place?


Such actions as "....singing chants including “Gaza is a cemetery." and waving Nazi flags are unacceptable anywhere.

[intaglio]

6. Yet, funnily, most of thost criticisms

are from people who are careful to differentiate between "Israel" and "the Jews." Indeed the only conflation I have seen is from pro-Israeli posters who have claimed that criticism of Israel is anti-semitic or that Hamas wants to destroy "the Jews".

All of the pro-Israeli posting seems intent upon establishing Israel's victim status whilst suppressing the facts about the oppression, the war crimes and the refusal to of Israel to follow international agreements and law.

[King_David]

8. These incidents never took place against Israelis .

[intaglio]

9. Do you know what you are talking about? because I don't.

What "incidents" or are you claiming that Hamas rockets have some sort of magic power that only targets the Orthodox?

[King_David]

11. OP is written to protesters

WITHIN Europe and UK , you do realize this right?

(And next time you ask me a question in that rude time I won't be answering you
. )

[intaglio]

14. And my response was to Post 3, Chemise

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=74669

Blaming the Jews for the actions of the Israeli government

Is like blaming the Americans for the Bush/Cheney wars.

It's really unfortunate that some people are using this humanitarian crisis to level hatred toward a group of people.

Relevant passage highlighted

[King_David]

17. Oh ok sorry , isn't easy to see who you replied to on an iPhone

[Chemisse]

13. The problem is that comments in opposition to what is being done to the Palestinians

are being labeled as anti-Semitic. That may be why your posts weren't well-received.

It is quite possible to disagree with the actions of a nation without hating the members of that nation.

[King_David]

16. The OP is addressed to real lif anti Semites

At rallies outside of Israel , who direct their hate to Jews in general.

[Chemisse]

18. I think I misunderstood your post.

There is never an excuse for that kind of blind hatred.

[Fozzledick]

15. It's a shame the jury system isn't able to deal effectively with griefer trolls.

[Chemisse]

19. What is a griefer troll?

And how does it pertain to my post?

[Fozzledick]

20. A troll who seeks to cause other posters grief and provoke a hostile response

by posting personal smears and emotionally hurtful material. They have no interest in honest discussion or debate, they just want to harass and irritate people, and see how much abuse they can get away with by gaming the system.

It doesn't pertain to your post at all, I was replying to King David, who I believe knows exactly what I'm talking about, as do many others here.

[Chemisse]

21. Oh. Thanks.

I'm new to that term ('griefer'), but certainly not new to the behavior of trolls.