Jews taunted and Israeli flag destroyed at London protest
Organisers claim 100,000 attended rally against Israel defending itself from terrorists, during which demonstrators compared Zionism to Nazism.
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
An Israeli flag was ripped apart at pro-Palestinian march in central London on Saturday.
Only a heavy rain shower had prevented the flag from being set alight after a man climbed onto a traffic light close to the Israeli embassy in Kensington, west London.
Elsewhere, young men, wearing t-shirts with pictures of Saddam Hussein, were heard chanting “Khayber Khayber Ya Yehud jaish Mohammad Sauf Ya’ud” (“Khayber Khaybar oh Jews, Mohammad’s army is returning”).
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign claimed over 100,000 joined the demo to protest against what they called the “brutal” violence against the Palestinian people.
Jewish News spoke to some of those who decided to attend the protest, which saw banners calling for the destruction of Israel help aloft by thousands.
One male had wrapped himself in a flag which openly equated Zionism with Nazism.
It also clearly bore name of the pro- Iranian Islamic Human Rights Commission name.
Asked why he believed Zionism was Nazism the man initially said: ”I don’t know – you will have to ask the organisers.”
But he then added: “It is not antisemitism. Zionism is not Judaism.”
As the protestors chanted the familiar “From the river to the sea Palestine will he free” chant along with claims that “Israel is a terrorist state” two female attendees said they had given up on a two-state solution to the conflict
Watch the moment a protestor rips up an Israeli flag, after failing to burn it as it rained:
Demonstrator on the @PSCupdates demo in London rips apart an Israeli flag after failing to set alight in the rain. pic.twitter.com/shWXHjbQuO
— lee harpin (@lmharpin) May 15, 2021
“We’ve waiting too long for that to happen” said one of the two woman, both of whom wore the hijab “That would need the oppressor to stop oppressing.
Asked if they believed Jews would be safe in a one state, Palestine both woman said they felt they would.
“Look what happened before there was Israel,” they said. “Jews and Muslims lived in peace. It is Zionism that has caused this.”
Four Muslim males from Slough are also keen to stress, after I identify myself as being Jewish, that they do not believe this to be a religious conflict.
Like so many on the march they are convinced they are not antisemitic and instead object only to Zionism.
“Jews who are not Zionist, they could live in peace in one Palestine,” says one of the males.
Asked about their view of Hamas and the fact that the terror group who aimed to kill and maim innocent Israelis, all four say they do not support the militants.
Watch the moment demonstrators wearing Saddam Hussein t-shirts threaten Jews:
At the #FreePalestine demonstration in London today cries of:
"Khayber Khayber Ya Yehud jaish Mohammad Sauf Ya'ud" (Khayber Khaybar oh Jews, Mohammad's army is returning) pic.twitter.com/kcVPBI9C4U
— The Zionist (@The_Zionist1) May 15, 2021
But one of the group adds: “Hamas are the symptom – Israel is the cause.
“Blaming Hamas for the conflict is like blaming a woman who has just been raped for the crime. It’s just wrong.”
The men also said they had met up with the same group of Jewish supporters they had seen in 2014 at the an Israel demo back then.
Jewish News later spotted leading figures with the Jewish Socialist Group on the demo.
The usual Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party group were also out in force distributing banners claiming “Israel is a terrorist state.”
Police turned out in force to stop the protestors getting close enough to Israeli Embassy building
While most demonstrators were peaceful, there seemed little doubt there would have been problems if the Embassy building was approachable.
As well as ripping apart an Israeli flag, another protestor was seen trying to set alight an umbrella that was simply coloured blue and white.
Demonstrators arrived at Hyde Park near Marble Arch at noon on Saturday before marching to the Israeli embassy, holding banners and chanting.
Husam Zumlot, Palestinian ambassador to the UK, told crowds: “This time is different. This time we will not be denied any more. We are united. We have had enough of oppression.
“Today we are saying enough, enough with the complicity. Thank you for standing with us.”
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who considers Hamas his “friends”, also spoke.
Similar marches of solidarity have been held around the world in recent days, including events in Sydney, Brussels, Paris, Lebanon, Jordan, and Bangladesh among others.
Protests are now permitted again under Covid regulations, the Metropolitan Police said: “A policing plan is in place to ensure everybody is kept safe and to reduce the spread of Covid-19.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
