Far-right, anti-Muslim, self-declared Zionist Tommy Robinson has boasted of his love for Israel in leaked video footage, in which the founder of the English Defence League (EDL) can be seen bragging about “scoring” drugs anywhere in the world.
The video – which is thought to have been filmed in Bologna, Italy last month – shows the 35-year-old right-wing activist walking down the street on his own.
In the selfie video Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, brags: “No matter where I’ve gone in the world, I score. I will show you tonight.” He then calls for a taxi to visit a pub, presumably to demonstrate that he can access drugs wherever he goes.
Boasting of his unique talent to “score” Robinson, despite a number of criminal convictions including cocaine possession, says: “I’ve gone to Qatar, I’ve gone to Doha and scored gear on the sesh [a night out] while they’re all praying.”
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In another section of the video, Robison can be seen singing that he is “king of the whole Islam race,” before declaring his love for Israel.
The far-right campaigner has become something of a favourite among notorious pro-Israel groups. Some have even admitted to paying for Robinson’s legal costs and “bringing foreign pressure on the UK government to ensure Mr. Robinson’s safety and eventual release”.
In the video, Robinson gives the impression that his love affair with Israel is paying off by admitting that on occasions he has to “get [his] Zionist card out which says that [he is] a Zionist”, after which he claims he “bought everything”.
The footage ends with Robinson saying: “Palestine! F*ck Palestine. Why would you support Palestine,” adding: “If there was a war tomorrow, which probably there would be, I would be there in the front line fighting for Israel”.
The footage – released by the Sun – captures the growing bond between the far-right and Israel. Racists and neo-Nazis in Europe and the US often harbour deep-seated envy for the Zionist states’ ethno-religious nationalism and wish to model Europe and the US on a similar footing.
Leaders of the far-right – like white nationalist Richard Spencer who is known to harbour Nazi sympathies – gave a ringing endorsement to Israel’s Nation-State Law saying: “I have great admiration for Israel’s nation-state law. Jews are, once again, at the vanguard, rethinking politics and sovereignty for the future, showing a path forward for Europeans.”
In another incident, a former Israeli soldier who was a member of Tommy Robinson’s campaign addressed protestors on a London street saying: “no matter what the left call us, I am the world’s proudest Jewish Nazi”.
The trend has led to what critics are describing as “the unholy alliance between Israel and alt-right ideologues”. They say that what unites Israel, far-right ideologue Steve Bannon and Spencer more than anything else is their animosity towards the liberal left, Islam and global institutions like the UN, which prioritises a global order based on the rule of law over assertive ethno-religious nationalism.
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Note: This page was updated at 15:30 UTC on February 16, 2019 to correct the name of Richard Spencer, who was incorrectly listed as “Robert Spencer” previously.