On the night of the 7th Jan a man while returning from the pro-Palestinian protest was assaulted and arrested by the police outside David Clulow (opticians). The police have falsely accused him of assaulting a female officer and attacking another police officer. for reasons of arrest Unfortunately there are no CCTV cameras in the area to prove the police wrong. There is also a picture of the guy (who was wearing an olive jacket and black hat) being restrained in an article in the Daily Mail (link below).

If anyone has witnessed this incident or taken any videos/photos of the assault by the police, please email: tradersaq@gmail.com

Thanks,

T Saq

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1108971/Police-count-cost-keeping-apart-rival-demonstrations-violence-Gaza.html

For some People it was purely a Demonstration to express a different viewpoint to the daily outpourings of Hatred against Israel & Jews outside The Embassy . Other People ( including Myself ) have a greater level of Support for The IDF in Their battle against the IslamoFascists Who are targeting Israeli Civilians & want to destroy Israel . Generally The Jewish Community just want Peace & an end to the Attacks on Their Family & Friends Who live in Israel .

I support the use of Stop-And-Searches against Islamist Reactionaries just as I would against The Far Right . David , if You were facing Anti-Semitic Violence or possible Terrorist Attacks , as The Jewish Community is , then You might not be so quick to criticise Security measures adopted to deter them .

There were at least 15,000 demonstrators in Trafalgar Square , so I hardly think that You have more Jewish Support than We do , but the word ” Zionist ” is generally used as a term of abuse to deligitimise the quite natural Support that The Jewish Community gives to Israel .

Yes – I am a member of The National Council Of The Zionist Federation – and of course as a Proud Jew I identify with the Courageous IDF Soldiers Who are risking Their lives everyday to defend Israel & The Jewish People . As I seem to remember that meeting I was talking about IDF attempts to prevent Hezbollah using the transport network to smuggle out the 2 kidnapped Israeli Soldiers .

I regret all the Civilian deaths & suffering in this War on both sides , I just maintain that there is no comparison between The Army of a Democratic Nation Who do everything that They can to minimise civilian casualties , and a group of Terrorist Illegal Combattants Who hide Their weapons amongst that Civilian population in order to deter Israeli Military response & to deliberately cause Civilian deaths to exploit Them for Propaganda .

Finally , I have been involved in Socialist Politics since The Miners Strike supporting every struggle of Working People since : Silent Night Dispute , Wapping , P&O Strike , Ambulance Workers , Timex , Liverpool Dockers, GCHQ Trade Unions , FireFighters , Posties etc – I hope that answers Your Cheeky question about My Socialism !

Fraternally ,

Ian .

I am sorry that I addressed My first question to You – I followed Your link from the AWL Website & assumed it was Your article because it was on Your Website .

I should have read that it was written by Taimour – I apologise .

Best Wishes ,

Ian .

It was a political mobilisation in support of the Israeli army, it was not a mobilisation of Jews or of “the Jewish community”. There is no such thing, the Board of Deputies is not some sort of mouthpiece for all Jews. There were probably far more people from Jewish backgrounds on the anti-war demo on Saturday than the pro-IDF one the following day, and indeed plenty of Jewish people picketed the pro-IDF demo on Sunday. So no, it would not be accurate to describe the Zionist/pro-IDF demo as you do.

I also find it laughable that you pretend to be offended that the various Zionist demos are called “Zionist”: aren’t you a member of the Zionist Federation? I also remember that at an AWL meeting during the Lebanon war you kept referring to the IDF as “we” and “us”, saying “we’re bombing the roads, we’ll get the bridges”, etc.

As well as voicing your support for police stop-and-searches, condemning the smashing up of a Starbucks (will you, like Benjamin Gray on the other post, cheaply compare this to Kristallnacht?!) and taking the side of the British state against so-called “thugs”, you say all the pro-Israel[i Army] demos are non-violent and responsible… Except for the fact are a political mobilisation in support of a massive hail of violence and their “responsible” message is pro-war.

Indeed, not one word of your comments here and elsewhere expresses sympathy with the overwhelming victims of this conflict, Palestinian civilians. Given all this, in what sense are you a socialist?

As I reported in ” Harry’s Place ” , I was in The Pro-Palestinian pen collecting leaflets when the first Israel demonstrators turned up & I saw at first hand the aggression & hatred that is widespread amongst the Islamists .
( Police searches found Knives & other weapons on the Islamists )

I hardly think that it is surprising that The Police are so pissed-off with the type of Thugs that are active amongst the Islamist Reactionaries ( injuring Police Officers / smashing up Starbucks etc )

By contrast , all The Pro-Israel rallies have been completely non-violent and have had moderate & responsible messages .

Socialists Who believe in Democracy should be standing in Solidarity with The State Of Israel which is being attacked by the IslamoFascists of HAMAS & supporting The Jewish Community Who are facing a massive increase in the level of Anti-Semitic attacks .