To think Palestine Action isn't a terrorist group?

[NotDarkGothicMama]

I don't agree with what they've done (breaking into military bases to vandalise planes), but I don't understand why they're being proscribed. Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil have caused far more damage to property and general annoyance.

Arrest and prosecute the people who commit criminal acts, absolutely, but this is setting the bar for branding protestors "terrorists" far too low.

They carry out terrorist activities, therefore they are terrorists. Simple.

Calling those of us that oppose the genocide anti-semitic wasn't enough to stop us, so they have upped the ante to calling us terrorists.

The courts will soon be full, but unfortunately not with those who deserve to be there for the mass murder of innocent lives.

Breaking into a military base and vandalising military equipment is a step far beyond gluing yourself to the road.

It's like assaulting a police officer, it has to be taken more seriously.

I would think that those in the position to make the decision have more information than we do.

You can’t break into military bases and cause millions of pounds of damage. Fine to protest but not destruction. You could argue what they have done is treason because it’s put military assets out of service to defend our country

The group has said it will fight the ban and consider all options. More violence on the streets of London then. Fuck with UK military and find out. Terrorists.

Yes, it's going too far, but it's not terrorism. No one's blown anything up or made people afraid to go about their everyday lives.

Extinction Rebellion dug tunnels and occupied Euston for a month. Just Stop Oil blocked ambulances.

I think any group that engages in terror activities in the UK is rightly proscribed.

The unfortunate downside is people will latch onto this and claim that being anti Israel government or in favour of the attacks on Gaza ending is antisemitism or supporting terrorist.

They could have just been shot when they illegally entered an MOD site, I imagine proscribing their organisation is a rather gentle response in comparison.

But they didn't endanger our country's ability to defend itself.

Do you honestly not see the difference?

The apologism on MN is reaching new heights.

They broke into a military base. Clearly no care for our defence. Which you also don’t appear to care about either, @NotDarkGothicMama.

They aren't a terrorist organisation! 😭 It's getting bonkers now. Great way to silence protesters. Just arrest them and charge them.

My goodness .... where do I start . Before I do, I just want to say that I'm a supporter of a two state solution etc and am not biased against this group. I do however abhor ALL terrorism, for which I strongly categorise this group as terrorists.

Your definition of 'terrorism' @NotDarkGothicMama is strangely limited to what you see from the news or have experienced.

Terrorism is not limited to public acts of destruction that are done with the intent to cause fear amongst the population.

Terrorism can also extend to direct acts against the police, military or infrastructure.The 2006 Terrorism Act makes it fairly clear I think that in the UK we define terrorism as a violent action that as well as stuff against the person, can "cause serious damage to property".

Just because most of us don't like war, doesn't mean that it's ok to break into military bases and vandalise stuff.

They're lucky they're doing that in the UK; in other parts of the world... well you can imagine.

You seem to think that the UK courts should be full of people you say deserve to be there. Why?

What did they think the consequences of breaking into a military base and disabling military equipment would be?

There are massive signs around military bases warning about the danger of trespass.

They should be taken seriously and these are the consequences.

I'm convinced a lot of the Palestine/Stop Oil/Extinction Rebellion protesters are the same people anyway. I certainly have come recognise some familiar faces of the ones who congregate in our local town square on Saturdays protesting about something anyway.

I suppose as they attacked military site rather than civilians and didn't cause disruption but damaged military equipment, it was more akin to guerrilla warfare than terrorism. I dont think the purpose was to frighten the population. It certainly wasn't just protest either.

It’s not peaceful resistance. Damaging the military infrastructure of the UK is quite obviously acting against national interests. If Russian agents had done that everyone would perceive it as an act of war.

They aren't terrorists so proscribing the organisation is wrong. They vandalised planes but didn't commit or threaten violence. This government is becoming very authoritarian.

No-one is saying that they shouldn't be prosecuted but this is a step too far.

Breaking into an airbase and deliberately damaging a plane is not the same as spraying a bit of paint or glueing a door shut. It’s more than vandalism.

This is how the UK defines terrorism:

The Terrorism Act 2000 defines terrorism, both in and outside of the UK, as the use or threat of one or more of the actions listed below, and where they are designed to influence the government, or an international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public. The use or threat must also be for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.

The specific actions included are:

• serious violence against a person;
• serious damage to property;
• endangering a person's life (other than that of the person committing the action);
• creating a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or a section of the public; and
• action designed to seriously interfere with or seriously to disrupt an electronic system.

The use or threat of action, as set out above, which involves the use of firearms or explosives is terrorism regardless of whether or not the action is designed to influence the government or an international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public or a section of the public.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/crime-info/terrorism

It sounds to me like going onto a military base, damaging a plane in support of Palestine falls under this definition.

Another person who doesn’t care about our defence.

There is a world of difference between someone holding a sign, going on a march, carrying out a letter writing campaign, lobbying their MP, etc and carrying out the violent, criminal and destructive direct action that PA have devoted themselves to.

They 100% should be proscribed. They've crossed a threshold and they need to be stopped.

We have marched and we have signed petitions but the UK government continues to send arms to support the genocide the Israeli government is carrying out against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Funny how Kier Starmer supported the anti war protestors who broke into RAF Fairford in 2003 and said it was justified to prevent war crimes.

Nelson Mandela was called a terrorist.
The suffragettes were called terrorists.
Britain First were not called terrorists. Even after Jo Cox was murdered by one of their members who shouted their slogan.

Palestine Action is not a terrorist group, the actions of some members has embarrassed the government and they are reacting. This does not make them terrorists.

Of course, by that defintion, the Suffragettes were also terrorists.

(Or freedom fighters)