Labour MP Mark Sewards (Image: X/Mark Sewards)[Missing Credit]
“This obsessive focus on the world’s only Jewish state creates a culture of intimidation for British Jews. After a spate of antisemitic terror attacks in London, the organisers of this march should demonstrate some empathy and reflect on whether yet another anti-Israel demo in the same city is conducive to Jewish wellbeing.
“If they’re unable to find it in their hearts to do so, then the police must act to ensure the safety of the Jewish community.”
Likewise, the behaviour of some participants in last year’s Nakba Day protests motivated Hemel Hempstead MP David Taylor to call for this year’s rally to be banned.
"There is a reason that MPs from across the political spectrum are calling for this Nakba Day march to be banned”, he said.
David Taylor MP during Prime Minister's Questions (Image: Parliament TV).[Missing Credit]
“We saw what happened at last year's demonstrations. Israel was compared to Nazi Germany, protesters chanted for 'intifada', and there were calls to have Hamas de-proscribed as a terrorist organisation. We can't have a repeat of such scenes so soon after a terror attack on Britain's Jewish community."
Both Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, have also called for the protest to be banned.
Badenoch told the JC: “It is time for a moratorium on the pro-Palestine marches. They are being used as a cover for what is actually intimidation. The right to protest has limits. Free speech has limits. You’re not allowed to defame people or tell lies; you can’t shout fire in a crowded theatre.
“We have to pull back from all of that and look at what is happening not abroad but in our own country – that British Jews are being targeted… they are creating a climate of intimidation with those marches.
“It is very clear it is not a protest; it is a cover for harassing and intimidating Jews. Marching past synagogues like Westminster synagogue is just not right.”
The word Nakba, Arabic for catastrophe, refers to the displacement of around 750,000 Palestinians after the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and the conflict that followed the invasion of Israel by neighbouring Arab countries shortly afterwards.
At last year’s parade, the JC reported that some demonstrators carried placards that called for the de-proscription of Hamas, called for “intifada”, and compared the situation in Gaza to Auschwitz.
A far-right rally organised by Tommy Robinson and the FA cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea are also taking place on the same day as the Nakba Day demonstration, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC).
Jewish communal organisations have called on authorities to take all measures to keep the Jewish community safe, including imposing restrictions or banning the marches.
Speaking to the JC last week, Sir Keir Starmer said that Hatzola and Shomrim volunteers shared their concerns about the impact that repeated pro-Palestine demonstrations were having. He said that the government were looking to see what actions could be done to address those concerns.
