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| Britain | |
| Pro-Palestinian activists target dozens of British MPs | |
| 2024-03-17 | |
| [IsraelNationalNews] A counter-extremism dossier reveals nearly 40 instances of intimidation against elected officials by pro-Palestinian activists in what is being called a 'litany of menace.' Pro-Palestinian activists targeted British MPs and councilors with intimidatory tactics at least 38 times between January 1st and March 15th, The Telegraph reported on Saturday, citing a dossier compiled by a counter-extremism analyst. The analysis revealed what it called a “litany of menace” since the start of the year, involving elected representatives experiencing verbal abuse, intimidation, and disruptive protests related to the Israel-Hamas war. According to the report, while politicians from both main political parties have been targeted, the data shows that Labour has endured the brunt of the protests.
John Zak Woodcock, Baron Walney, the Government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption, responded to the dossier: “This litany of menace highlights a clear pattern of intimidation of elected representatives by pro-Palestine activists. “Storming council chambers and haranguing MPs has nothing to do with changing people’s minds. It’s about trying to bully and threaten them into submission. “If this was protesters with the St George’s flag hijacking council meetings for a Right-wing cause that had nothing to do with local government, everyone would rightly demand action. So it’s time for all mainstream parties to stand up for their people against this thuggery and work to cut funding and support for organizations like the PSC who facilitate it.” A Home Office spokesman commented on the report: “It is totally unacceptable that a tiny minority seek to intimidate democratically elected representatives and impose their views. “Protests should never take place at an elected representative’s home address or seek to intimidate people at democratic venues and prevent people from entering. This is exactly why we brought in tough new powers and record funding to ensure the police can act swiftly to prevent disruption and protect our democracy.” Last month, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak remarked that “there is a growing consensus that mob rule is replacing democratic rule. And we’ve got to collectively, all of us, change that urgently,” and added: “We simply cannot allow this pattern of increasingly violent and intimidatory behavior which is, as far as anyone can see, intended to shout down free debate and stop elected representatives doing their job. That is simply undemocratic.” The Prime Minister's comments came as the Home Office announced 31 million pounds in funding to increase security for MPs and other politicians. The Telegraph reported that on Friday, Chi Onwurah (Labour, Newcastle upon Tyne Central), the shadow science minister, required police presence at a meeting with constituents. Responding on social media to a protester who accused her of being a “coward” for getting a police escort out of the meeting, Onwurah wrote: “The police came because your protest was becoming aggressive, banging on the library walls and hurling abuse, then running around the building, attacking my staff member’s car and jumping in front of traffic.” In another incident reported by the newspaper, Labour Chairman Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, were forced to abandon an event in Tottenham, northern London, after protesters picketed the venue. One placard photographed at the event read: “Lammy supports racist killings” while another said: “Genocidal Starmer Not Welcome In Tottenham”. Related: Pro-Palestinian activists: 2024-01-06 Top House committee probes John Kerry's coordination with eco groups pushing coal power shutdown Pro-Palestinian activists: 2023-12-22 Guinea-Bissau undergoes political upheaval: PM changes amid crisis Pro-Palestinian activists: 2023-12-16 Senegal: 4 soldiers killed in the explosion of an anti-tank mine in Casamance Related: Palestine Solidarity Campaign: 2024-02-17 Over 200,000 pro-Palestinian protesters allowed to demonstrate outside UK Israeli embassy Palestine Solidarity Campaign: 2024-02-11 UK university rabbi goes into hiding after death threats over wartime IDF service Palestine Solidarity Campaign: 2019-06-04 British Jews in fear after pro-Paleo BDS group supported by Corbyn forces Jewish shops to close with 'campaign of intimidation' Related: Rishi Sunak: 2024-03-10 UK pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel activist spray-paints, slashes historic portrait of Balfour Rishi Sunak: 2024-03-08 Defense Minister Shapps: Britain will supply Ukraine with more than 10,000 drones Rishi Sunak: 2024-03-05 Jewish actress told not to leave London theater due to pro-Palestinian rallies Related: Keir Starmer: 2024-03-05 Jewish actress told not to leave London theater due to pro-Palestinian rallies Keir Starmer: 2024-03-01 ‘This is for Gaza’: George Galloway wins UK seat after campaigning against Israel Keir Starmer: 2024-02-25 Who rules the UK, parliament or the mob? Intimidation over Gaza threatens British democracy | |
| Posted by:Grom the Reflective |