We, the 35s, (The Women in Black), with whom I am very proud to be associated, demonstrated in the 70s and 80s, but for just and factual reasons.
Thousands of Soviet Jews were imprisoned, incarcerated in mental institutions, beaten and tortured. Why? They were trying to maintain their religious beliefs and go to live in Israel.
Can anyone give me proof that the Wigmore Hall protesters were demonstrating on behalf of a whole race who, simply by virtue of being Palestinians, were arrested, tortured, and made to endure years of total isolation and brutal treatment? Because this is what happened to Soviet Jews, and although there is suffering among the Palestinians, there is no real comparison.
I took part in many demonstrations against cultural activities of Soviet performers, but I did not disrupt the events themselves.
Would we do it again? Of course, but only if we had 100 per cent proof of the reasons for demonstrating.
Such actions harm innocent Palestinians. They, too, should have a platform, not just anti-Israel demonstrators or those who would terrorise innocent people worldwide.
Rita Eker was a founder of the 35s and now runs the One to One charity for children of all denominations in Israel
