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.

I would not join a march. However, if I did join this march, it would be to oppose the actions of my government. I would also march if the government was trying to bomb and kill the people of Israel. Any protest I would join would be against the government. There would be zero point me protesting against Hamas or Isis or the Taliban as much as I hate them. They wouldn’t listen to a march in London asking for hostages to be released. This is about making people’s views known to the government.

I hate that the marches have been hijacked by antisemites. But I think that people should still have the right to protest and try and stop the massacre in Gaza. It is terrible that these vile protesters are using the marches for their own antisemitic agenda. But why should that stop peaceful protesters from making their views known?

Anyway that man is disgusting. I would never read anything he writes.

But I am sorry for anyone feeling unsafe right now. I know my London Jewish colleagues are feeling scared and I feel for them and understand it.

Antisemitism should be called out. I am not sure Littlejohn with his racist Islamophobic views is the person you really want as your spokesman though 😳

Littlejohn is a bigoted piece of shit and any intervention from him is likely to be as helpful as an appearance from Tommy Robinson.

But, people casually dismissing the fears of British Jews when their schools are getting death threats and their kids’ festive parties need security is fucking despicable.

People on those marches could do far more to be mindful of the impact on the Jewish community if they wanted.

Equally I am no fan of Littlejohn but given the objective is to stop the killing of civilians on both sides I don't understand why aren't the protestors calling for Hamas to surrender and not just the IDF to stop.

A surrender by Hamas and laying down their arms would equally stop the conflict.

Israel has made it crystal clear that Hamas surrendering won’t result in it becoming any more accommodating towards Palestinians than it was prior to 7th October, whoever is in charge, or any less likely to continue expanding its own illegal settlements. What we need is for the extremists on both sides to take a step back and have nothing to do with what happens next, but extremists will behave like extremists. The world had hoped Israel was a more civilised country than this, but apparently not. Apparently the mentality of its leadership is as extremist as that of Hamas, despite its status as a wealthy, democratic country.

💯

“The assertion that this is done purely to intimidate Jews is offensive to me.”
Oh - you’re offended? Not everything is about you dear.
You come across as completely indifferent to the fears of British Jews .

@Walkaround

From the start of the conflict the position of Israel has been clear - Hamas surrenders, lays down their weapons and returns the hostages then the war stops:

www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231207-gaza-war-to-end-with-hamas-surrender-israel/amp/

Do you have links to show otherwise?

Apparently the mentality of its leadership is as extremist as that of Hamas, despite its status as a wealthy, democratic country.

I mean, they're hawkish, racist nutjobs but no, they're not as "extremist" as Hamas.

Yes. If it’s being used by some to spread anti-semitism without consequence then yes.
If it’s calling for a ceasefire without the use of anti-Semitic placards and anti-Semitic behaviour is denounced and not tolerated, then crack on.
No form of racism should be tolerated. If you cannot organise an event without an element of undesirables making a minority feel threatened then perhaps it’s not a great idea.
And also ‘some local Jews’? Don’t you just sound like an absolute gem.

@Jarnsaxa
As opposed to the wild, lurid accusations that have been levelled at Hamas without even a shred of evidence based on nothing more than speculation and hearsay.

I was actually about to dignify you with a considered response until I got to this bit, and therefore I don't believe you are worthy of one.

Fucksake. Literally no chance of talking about antisemitism against British Jews is there? People cannot help themselves.

Bullshit disinformation. Derailment. It’s so tedious.

@noblegiraffe the thread title is about the pro Palestine marches. The marches are only happening because of the actions of the Israel government. The marches will stop when the atrocities stop.
There's already a thread to discuss the rise of anti semitism in the UK which is also vitality important. Post about anti semitism on that one maybe.

@Jarnsaxa can you actually be serious? Who the hell do you think you are, telling Jews on this thread to post elsewhere? And btw have you actually READ the thread title? It explicitly mentions the intimidation felt by British Jews.

@Jarnsaxa Hamas want a free Palestine and an end to Israeli apartheid and oppression.

No, they want to eradicate the Jewish people. I’ll give Hamas some credit in that they are quite truthful and direct about that.

@Att1cusPund ok. So (some) Jews in the UK feel intimidated by the marches. Other Jews are actively involved and support the marches.
Some people who are Jewish feel intimidated which is horrible for them but what do you actually want to be done about it?

Hear hear. Hence the marches.

@1dayatatime Do you have any links to show Netenyahu intends to do anything about the illegal settlement he has encouraged in the West Bank, or anything about negotiating a two state solution ever? If not, then I suggest that ceasing to flatten Gaza will do nothing to stop hostilities and Israel and Hamas will remain at “war” wherever Hamas is based. Terrorism will not cease to exist just because Israel shows it can behave despicably.

Any old excuse to turn a thread around to how terrible Israel is as if there aren’t enough threads about that already.

While Netenyahu is in charge, Israel is pretty terrible, imvho, like the US under Trump, or Russia under Putin.

“While Netenyahu is in charge, Israel is pretty terrible, imvho, like the US under Trump, or Russia under Putin.” … but we don’t have marches that cause Americans or Russians to feel intimidated.

There was a lot of marches during and before the gulf war. Over 1 million people marched in London at the time begging the British government not to go to war.
If the British government supported Putin declaring war on Ukraine you can bet there would be marches against that too. The point was clearly made upthread that protest marches are generally about protesting to your own government so the marches are trying to get the British government to vote for a ceasefire.

The rest of the Daily Mail “opinion” is rampant islamaphobia

I’ve never really understand all the love for The Daily Mail on this board.* *