More than 300 Jewish figures sign letter opposing ‘unethical’ Palestine Action proscription

Now, several prominent figures in the Jewish community have come out against the ban, ahead of an upcoming judicial review.

Their letter stated: "Opposing the brutality of genocide, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing taking place in Gaza and the West Bank, including taking direct action, is not antisemitic. Nor is it terrorism.

"We consider the proscription of Palestine Action as illegitimate and unethical.

"Article 10 of the Human Rights Act specifies the right to freedom of expression which includes the right to take non-violent direct action in accordance with one’s conscience even where this involves civil disobedience.

"This has long been a route to achieving progressive change in society, for example in the courage of the suffragettes.

"The government should stop deflecting attention from genocide by linking non-violent protest to terrorism.”

Instead, it argued, the UK should “use its influence to help to end genocide and bring about justice for the Palestinian people”, place sanctions on Israel and “inform UK citizens participating in the Israeli military that they risk prosecution for war crimes”.

Well-known signatories include children’s author Michael Rosen, comedian Alexei Sayle and former South African MP Andrew Feinstein, who stood against the prime minister in his constituency at the last election.

They were joined by human rights lawyer Geoffrey Bindman and Jenny Manson, chair of Jewish Voice for Labour.

It comes as the Metropolitan Police has warned of the prospect of mass arrests at a planned demonstration in London this weekend.

The protest, organised by Defend Our Juries, is expected to see around 1,000 people march on Westminster carrying placards reading “I oppose Genocide, I support Palestine Action”. The move is reportedly intended to test whether police can enforce the proscription on such a large number of people.

However, a Met spokesperson said: “We are aware that the organisers of Saturday’s planned protest are encouraging hundreds of people to turn out with the intention of placing a strain on the police and the wider criminal justice system.

“The Met is very experienced in dealing with large-scale protests, including where the protest activity crosses into criminality requiring arrests.

"Our officers will continue to apply the law in relation to Palestine Action as we have done since its proscription. Anyone showing support for the group can expect to be arrested.”

Likewise, Downing Street urged people not to attend, with a spokesperson for the prime minister adding: “Any action that is in support of a proscribed group in the UK, of course we do not support and the court has confirmed their continued proscription status.

"The home secretary previously said that those who seek to support this group may yet not know the true nature of this organisation, but people should be under no illusion this is not a peaceful or non-violent protest group.”

But the mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, declined to condemn the protest, saying: “The policing of Saturday’s planned protest by Defend Our Juries is an operational decision for the Metropolitan police.”

A previous version of this article described Jenny Manson as the previous co-chair of Jewish Voice for Labour, we are happy to confirm that Ms Manson remains chair of JVL