Opinion piece in newspaper -RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: The only purpose of these endless marches is to intimidate British Jews.

[floodlightonwhatisright]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-12878659/RICHARD-LITTLEJOHN-marches-intimidate-British-Jews-tolerate-hatred-streets.html

He raises some interesting ideas.

One or two are also incredibly busy, to such an extent I wonder if they have time to eat

Robert Preston on Twitter

As a Jew, I have become increasingly worried that the charge of antisemitism is being levelled to silence legitimate and important debate. Antisemitism is on the rise, but there is also a rise in the unscrupulous use of the term to silence reasonable questions about the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza.

As a non Jew I’ve been horrified by the way that so many think it’s ok to side step the horror of October 7th and attempt to down play or even ignore the atrocity .

Timing and context is everything.

OF COURSE it is ok to question Israeli government actions in Gaza - but not if the questions suggest that the Hamas atrocities were somehow justified.

Robert Peston? (ie no R)
probably who you meant as I googled him and discovered that the one without the R is indeed Jewish - I didn't even know, which of course says a lot.
Thanks for the quote - I find him a good egg - intellectually honest - he was interviewed at the LSE a few years ago where he had the good grace and humility to say that he got it wrong over Brexit (I don't mean he voted for) and was shamefully unaware (paraphrasing him here) of real issues and views in the country at large - beyond the bubble.
The Peston lecture theatre at Queen Mary University London is named after his dad. Been in the news lately of course.

Before October 7th I was less sympathetic to Israel and was definitely more on the side of the Palestinian struggle. I’m still very sympathetic to the ordinary people of Gaza who are dually oppressed by both Netanyahu’s government and by Hamas.

Since October 7th my views have shifted - partly because of the refusal of some to accept that British Jews have good reasons to feel intimidated by events of recent weeks.

I’m not on here that much - and I’m glad because I can feel myself becoming less moderate and more polarised every time I read a comment that ignores/mocks/minimises the concerns of British Jews.

To clarify, your weren't in my mind when I wrote that. So I trust you are eating/sleeping well (if maybe not today/tonight)

I didn’t think you were talking about me. I didn’t mean to post my comment under yours.
If I had family in Israel or Gaza I’m sure I would be finding it very hard to sleep but as it is I’m ok thank you.

My original comment still stands

Limeandsodaontherocks, I don't think your comment relates to mine.

Offwiththecircus, I have no idea why I added the R! I agree with you; I like him.

Reads perfectly coherently here.

Yes, the amount of threads on pro Pal makes you wonder if they have time to eat. Compare the entries of those to pro Israel threads then give your head a wobble.

I could read it fine too.

Out of interest, do you think that the current atrocities and killings of thousands of children in Gaza is somehow justified? If not, why is Israel doing it? And if it is, what makes it okay for Israel to kill innocent people but not Hamas?

It was in response to Preston’s comment about accusations of anti semitism being used to shut down legitimate criticism of Israel. I said that I felt the aftermath of October 7th was not the right time to criticise Israel and to do so in that context seems anti semitic.
Im sorry if I’m not very good at getting my points across. I’m trying not to be inflammatory or ambiguous.

No - I deplore the killing of innocent people anywhere.
This thread was about the marches creating an intimidating atmosphere for British Jews in the aftermath of October 7th. My only point has ever been that I would like the marches to be less one sided.

@Limeandsodaontherocks I can't think of a better time. They need to stop before they've killed everyone.

You can’t think of a better time to criticise Israel than in the aftermath of October 7th?

I agree there should be a ceasefire. I would like to see more acknowledgement of the role Hamas played in the suffering of the Gazan people.

"I would like to see more acknowledgement of the role Hamas played in the suffering of the Gazan people."

"No."

Is how that exchange appears to have gone.

@Berl29 how big was the poll?
When was it taken?

Bit more info needed.

Hamas have undoubtedly played a role in the suffering of the Gazan people. I don't know why it's impossible to recognise for you. Even if it's a where has all the money gone argument as it's not in Gaza.

There needs to be a change in mindset there. Get rid of unwra and the perpetual never ending refugee. Encourage them to build their state and I agree Israel has to play its role.

You right without Israel there is no Hamas. Or Islamic jihad. Or normal everyday civilians who carried out atrocities. Isn't it a fab time to be Israeli? To have rockets fired at you daily? To be displaced? To have lost people you love. To have to read reports of women having their genitalia nailed.

I mean it's all on Israel?

You’ve dragged this over from the “OMG Israel is so evil you guys, here’s a Tiktok about it” thread, to an unrelated discussion about antisemitism but you forgot to mention that that poll was taken less than 2 weeks after the Hamas attack, before the catastrophic scale of the IDF response was evident and from a group of about 600 respondents.

Rubbish. Antisemitism has been around longer than the last 75 years I assure you.