A tale of two demonstrations – but only one anti-racist movement

On Wednesday, Palestine solidarity campaigners held a demonstration outside 10 Downing Street to protest the official visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The protesters denounced Bibi as a war criminal, following last year’s Israeli attack on Gaza, which killed some 2,200 Palestinians, including more than 500 children.

Israel’s premier is also an enthusiastic support of the colonisation of the Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and sees non-Jewish citizens – or even refugees – as a ‘threat’ to the state.

Hundreds attended the demonstration, which was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC). Speakers included MPs and Richard Kuper of Jews for Justice for Palestinians.

During the protest, some individuals were filmed using deplorable, pro-genocide and antisemitic rhetoric. The next day, PSC issued a clear condemnation of antisemitism, stating that “there is no place for racism in the Palestine solidarity movement.” The statement went on:

The actions of these racists, who are neither PSC members nor supporters, detracts from solidarity with Palestine and enables Israel to escape the global scrutiny it deserves. PSC has expelled members in the past who have violated our core anti-racist principles and will do so again if necessary.

PSC’s swift response should come as no surprise; groups and activists involved in the mainstream Palestine solidarity movement have a track record of calling out racism.

Meanwhile, a video has emerged of a pro-Israel protester, part of a smaller counter-demonstration backed by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council, and others, responding to the death of more than 500 Palestinian children in Gaza with the verdict: “Jolly good.”

These remarks have, so far, gone uncriticised by the organisers of the pro-Israel protest. Indeed, they would be hard pressed to do so, given their support for Israel’s unprecedentedly brutal assault on Gaza that claimed the lives of so many Palestinian men, women, and children.

Board of Deputies president Jonathan Arkush, meanwhile, described the Palestine solidarity protest as a “howling mob, some of them with their faces covered in keffiyot, in true terrorist style.” Arkush also slammed even the mild criticism of the Israeli government by liberal Zionist group Yachad.

Solidarity with Palestine is based on an opposition to the inherent racism of settler-colonialism. Israel’s supporters, by contrast, are not only apologists for apartheid, but even compromise the fight against antisemitism in their efforts to smear those who support the Palestinians’ struggle.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.