Protest Greek island.

[PaxAeterna]

I initially thought that they have been stopped from entering by the Greek authorities but it seems the ship itself made a call to move on. The protest itself was peaceful with no violence reported.

Have mixed thoughts about this one: I don’t really like people protesting at people who ultimately can’t do anything about the situation. On the other hand making life uncomfortable for Israeli tourists inadvertently puts pressure on the Israeli government.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/22/israeli-cruise-rerouted-after-aegean-islanders-protest-gaza-war

An appalling and obvious instance of racism.

no i dont, but it’s relevant to some parts of this conversation and felt apt given some comments.

I think your reaction to this reality being presented to you says a lot…

I am completely aware that Jewish people in Britain are being targeted with harassment like this. I unreservedly condemn it. It is not protest and it’s not comparable to the situation in Greece.

Yes, that's true - the UK at least doesn't stop Jewish people from entering.

There are gross and persistent IHL violations. Many countries are supplying weapons. Many countries have involvement in food aid (even if at the donor level). It is good to see non violent protest as these abuses cannot continue.

Even if you're inclined to support this type of racism, it isn't going to be productive.

It does not excuse Israel's current actions, but its undeniable that a signficiant motivator of those actions (and much of the Israeli public support therefore) is trauma resulting from past antisemetic discrimination (violent and non-violent), and the fear of its continuance.

Refusing to allow Jewish, Israeli citizens to even set foot on your land, because they are Jewish Israelis, just feeds into that.

People should protest Israel's actions but targeting Israeli civilians or Jews living outside of Israel, using slogans with violent or genocidal connotations, denying antisemitism (all fairly regular features of the Palestinian Solidarity movement) just serves to inflame and perpetuate the situation.

I don't think non-Palestians who do any of that stuff are good allies. Those who have the privilege of living in safe and stable countries (particularly the UK, given its role in the history) have a duty to conduct protests in a constructive manner, aimed at achieving peace.

People are right to be angry and horrified but the reckless and self-centred manner in which many choose to demonstrate it is far more likely to continue Palestinian suffering, not end it.

(And, y'know, being racist is bad).

They didn’t actually stop the cruise ship from landing. It made a call not to stop.

But yes, I totally see your point.

The article you posted said the ship was turned away but, on reading around, it does seem that it made the decision to turn away was made by the tour's operators due to the risk of violence. I'm not sure thats an important distinction, though?

In any event, the protestors targeted abuse at a bunch of Israeli citizens (including hundreds of children), because they are Israeli and, most likely, Jewish. Their actions including displaying banners that implied the ship's occupants would go to hell (basically calling them evil, because they're Israeli Jews, so its inherent apparently).

I don't think I could ever rationalize myself into thinking that racially abusing children is okay "for the greater good" but its a moot point because this isn't doing any good. Its more of the same old antisemitism that, for many, justified and continues to necessitie Zionism, and which is a major contributor to the ongoing atrocities in Gaza.

A bit of a segue but it does remind me of Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib’s recent appearance on Surrounded (on YouTube, upside title is 20 Protesters vs 1 Palestinian).

For those who haven't seen, Alkhatib is a Palestinian, born-and-raised in Gaza (moved to the US as a refugee), who lost 32 family members there, and is now a human rights activist.

He is highly critical of Israeli policy but a believer in a two-state solution (and thus is also a fierce critic of Hamas). He thinks the people of Gaza are best served by a pragmatic peace process, and that extremism on both sides of the debate is an obstacle to peace and only perpetuates Palestinian suffering.

If you watch the video, you'll get to see 20 (so-called) Pro-Palestinian activists, seemingly with no Palestinian heritage between them, spend the best part of 2 hours shouting over him, refusing to shake his hand, and basically heckling him for prioritizing peace, and the well-being of the Palestinian people, over "defeating Israel".

It's so unbelievably frustrating that so many so-called "allies" of the Palestinian people seem to think that displaying their anger, without care or restraint (and often deliberately in the most provocative way they dare), somehow is more important than trying to actually support a peace process.

I guess that's the privilege that comes with watching a conflict on TV and social media, rather than having to live it.

Still, I wish someone would have taken the time to tell those scumbag protestors that, even if they really, really hate Jews, their need to express that is not of more immediate importance than the lives of people in Palestine.

Racist? My family background is Jewish and I lost relatives in the holocaust. I just won’t stand by while a State commits gross violations of IHL.

Yes to never again. Here‘s the thing, IHL has to be universal for it to be respected and work.

Yes to the prosecution of terrorists who committed crimes on 7 October.

This gross distortion where a sensible comment is described as racist or shut down, as if it was extremism, really harms the whole debate.

My apologies (sincerely) that I'm not mincing my words, when offering a response based on my understanding and interpretation of yours (which could be mistaken). And not least given that we're talking about an issue that affects your history, and your family's history, in a way that it doesnt mine.

By way of explanation and not argument - I read your comment "It is good to see non violent protest as these abuses cannot continue" as an endorsement of the protest.

While physical violence didn't occur, the threat of it was sufficiently present that the ship had to turn away. I dont honestly read that as non-violent; its a bit like how an armed robbery might not result in being shot, yet the threat still makes it an act of violence.

Even if it can (sadly and wrongly) be expected that Israel's actions will stoke antisemitism, I don't find it morally acceptable - and that becomes even more pronounced when the victims of it include so many children.

I would be interested for your perspective on why you dont consider this incident racist and how you think it likely to be a good/productive thing (if that isnt putting words in your mouth).

Do the people supporting these protesters also think this is acceptable?

https://tvpworld.com/88698634/israeli-singer-david-dor-attacked-with-red-paint-by-pro-palestine-protestors

Actually given the shitshow that was the Coldplay thread, they probably do...

That'll really help the people of Gaza. Attacking someone at the Warsaw Jewish Culture Festival while he was praying for peace.

💯 true. I wish people would realise this.

Awful.

People supporting this are part of thd bigger problem. They wont see that though. Blind to their own racism and anti semitism