The Zionist Federation (ZF) has defended its plans for a communal protest outside the Palestinian embassy in west London.
An open letter, signed by more than 140 members of the community, had condemned the ZF and co-organisers the Board of Deputies for what they said was an inflammatory, divisive demonstration.
The signatories wrote that the protest on Tuesday would create “a wholly unnecessary ‘Us vs Them’ narrative,” and that the campaign’s hashtag #IsraeliLivesMatter “appropriates and offensively belittles the #BlackLivesMatter slogan on which it is (ironically) based.”
Responding with his own open letter, chairman Paul Charney defended his organisation’s use of a hashtag, saying: “We didn’t coin the phrase, but used it as it is in common circulation amongst the online pro-Israel community.
“The actual meaning behind the phrase reflects the logic behind the original #BlackLivesMatter – to raise awareness about a specific community that feels it is under attack. In this specific example, the Israeli community that feels that the threats to their lives are being ignored, and their deaths downplayed or even justified.”
Mr Charney blamed the media for “numerous examples of misleading headlines and stories that focus on Palestinians killed, rather than the Israelis they were trying to kill.” He condemned the “frankly appalling reaction from many Palestinians.
“We wish to hold the Palestinian Authority to account, a decision that you describe as ‘itself incit[ing] hatred towards Palestinians.’ Just so we’re clear, here’s a reminder of what actual incitement is.
“It’s promoting on social media cartoons and videos encouraging Palestinians to stab any Jew they can. It’s Hamas imams and politicians calling on their followers to take up arms – the Hamas that is still part of the Unity Government. It’s calling for a third Intifada.”
The ZF chairman also attacked the letter’s signatories for communicating their criticism through a public forum. “Ironically, given you conclude your missive by extolling the virtues of ‘positive dialogue’ you have decided that instead of contacting us to discuss it directly you would condemn us publicly instead,” he wrote.
Yesterday, the Board’s senior vice president Richard Verber said that the ZF’s hashtag had been misinterpreted by some people.
“It is simply being used to highlight the media’s poor coverage of the indiscriminate stabbings which have taken place throughout Israel,” he said.
“We will be outside the Palestinian Mission to respectfully mourn the deaths of those who have lost their lives and hold Abbas to account given that Shin Bet have said PA and Fatah officials are involved in incitement.
“We urge all those attending to follow the advice of the police and CST given the potential for counter-protests.”
It is understood that a counter-demonstration arranged by groups including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods and the Jewish Socialist Group will also take place at the Palestinian Mission.
A spokesman for the ZF warned demonstrators to steer clear of the counter-protest, named “Stop Zionists celebrating state terror” by one of the organising groups, by avoiding certain streets.
“The most important thing is that people approach from Albion Place via King Street and try and avoid the Galena Road/King Street junction, as it's a narrow alleyway.
“We’ll be situated at the southern end of Galena Road, with the counter-demonstration at the Glenthorne Road end of Galena Road.”
He also told protesters to “act in a dignified fashion,” adding that the demonstration was “not intended to be in any way to be an angry or anti-Palestinian or anti-Arab event.
“We are taking into consideration the very serious and tragic events unfolding in Israel; we are commemorating those who have been killed and injured in attacks, and we are holding the Palestinian Authority to account for their role in promoting the incitement.”
We Believe In Israel, one of the other grassroots groups supporting the protest, is also calling on members of the community to write to Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond “to condemn these murders clearly and publicly.”
In a message to supporters, director Luke Akehurst added: “The British government must be seen to condemn terrorism against Israelis just as it condemns it against our own people.
“In addition, I ask you put pressure on Mr Abbas to do all in his power to end this wave of murders and to fulfill his obligations under the Oslo Agreements and international law to oppose terrorism and seek a peaceful resolution of his differences with Israel.”
