Jonathan Hoffman



Oxfam and the Board - what should happen if the red lines are crossed

By Jonathan Hoffman, May 19, 2013

I have been asked to set out what I said today at the Board.

In January the Oxfam tie-up was approved with the following safeguard:

We will discontinue our involvement if OXFAM GB:

1. Supports a boycott of any type of Israeli goods.

2. Partners with or supports any organization that promotes or condones violence.

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Church of Scotland pulls back

By Jonathan Hoffman, May 9, 2013

http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/articles/the_inh...

The recognition of the Church of Scotland that "the report ... has given cause for concern" - and the good faith they have shown by immediately removing it from their website pending revision - are both very welcome.

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These Pears Are Rotten

By Jonathan Hoffman, April 30, 2013

I have written before about the Pears Foundation. One of the principal philanthropic organisations in the UK Jewish Community funds would-be Israel boycotters.

http://www.thejc.com/blogs/jonathan-hoffman/pears-foundation-funds-israe...

http://www.thejc.com/blogs/jonathan-hoffman/is-antisemitism-institute-pa...

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St Andrews J Soc Refuses To Be Intimidated by Israel-Demonising Thugs

By Jonathan Hoffman, April 28, 2013

http://www.thesaint-online.com/2013/04/jewish-charity-ball-goes-ahead-de...

Well done to all the organisers of this event and thanks to the thugs for boosting the proceeds

Postscript:

Press Notice from St Andrews Jewish Society

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A Stain On LSE

By Jonathan Hoffman, April 27, 2013

Demonisation of Israel and falsification of history ran riot at LSE’s Middle East Centre’s ‘discussion’ (for which, read vilification and slander) last night. “The Commentator” has already posted Richard Millett’s clip of John Snow giving credence to the “Jewish Lobby” trope.

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Fraser versus UCU

By Jonathan Hoffman, April 26, 2013

I sent the following letter to the JC earlier this week in response to Jonathan Goldberg's article last week:

http://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/ask-qc/106261/why-ronnie-fraser-case-agai...

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Yachad's ZF application: A cynical publicity stunt

By Jonathan Hoffman, March 14, 2013

At the age of about 10 I was addicted to the ‘Just William’ stories written by Richmal Crompton. William Brown is an eleven-year-old boy, eternally scruffy and frowning. William and his friends (Ginger, Henry and Douglas) call themselves “The Outlaws”, and meet at the old barn in Farmer Jenks' field, with William being the leader of the gang.

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The speech that sent Galloway packing...

By Jonathan Hoffman, March 7, 2013

I am proud to be the first (I believe) to publish the speech by Oxford student Eylon Aslan-Levy that sent George Galloway on his bike. The motion was that Israel should withdraw immediately from the West Bank. Galloway had proposed, Aslan-Levy was opposing.

Mr Speaker, thank you for inviting me here tonight.

To the audience – thank you for coming.

Mr Galloway –

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Board of Deputies and David Ward MP

By Jonathan Hoffman, February 21, 2013

At the last Board of Deputies meeting I suggested that until the LibDems deal properly with David Ward MP, decent people should have nothing to do with the LibDems and should not vote for them. The next speaker was Jonathan Davies who is a Vice Chair of LibDem Friends of Israel. He accused me of being 'party political'.

Nothing is further from the truth.

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Shlomo's Away With The Fairies

By Jonathan Hoffman, February 20, 2013

http://cifwatch.com/2009/11/10/shlomo-the-sandlout/

The good news is that Shlomo Sand (at the Frontline Club in London on Tuesday night) has become so extreme that he will convince no-one. Only a hardened antisemite could possibly find him credible, and that only because he appears to give that prejudice an intellectual underpinning.

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Oxford Union Triumph - Near 40% say "Israel Force for Good in Middle East"

By Jonathan Hoffman, February 1, 2013

The motion ‘This House Believes That Israel is a Force For Good in the Middle East’ was defeated 132-208 at the Oxford Union Debating Society last night. It was a good debate with none of the drama that has preceded some other Israel debates at the Union.

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Nick Clegg Equivocates about David Ward MP's Antisemitic Comment

By Jonathan Hoffman, January 31, 2013

Yesterday Jonathan Arkush (Board of Deputies’ VP and Chair of the Defence Division) said:

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Steve Bell defends Scarfe cartoon on BBC

By Jonathan Hoffman, January 29, 2013

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21241711

He's debating today with JC Editor Stephen Pollard .. who starts by acknowledging Rupert Murdoch's apology ...

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Libdem MP's antisemitic message re Holocaust

By Jonathan Hoffman, January 25, 2013

http://www.thecommentator.com/article/2567/british_member_of_parliament_...

http://blog.thecst.org.uk/?p=4068

David Ward MP (Bradford East, 24.3% of whose population is Muslim) gave the following message to the magazine "Asian Image" after signing the HET's Memorial Book in the House of Commons

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Israel Elections Wrongfoot Usual Suspect Lefties

By Jonathan Hoffman, January 22, 2013

http://cifwatch.com/2013/01/22/the-guardian-gets-it-wrong-exit-polls-ind...

And remember Jonathan Freedland's warning in the JC last Friday to those of us who opposed the Board's Oxfam tie-up:

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Why the Board Should Vote "No" To Oxfam

By Jonathan Hoffman, January 21, 2013

This is an edited version of the original, sent to Deputies - full links were appended. The motion to partner with Oxfam was carried 113 - 65, 15 abstentions

1. Why are you bringing this motion?

(a) Because the Oxfam project was initiated undemocratically

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