Fair Play Campaign Group » Uncategorized

Throwing the bathroom out with the bathwater

fpcg — Tue, 31 May 2011 10:39:38 +0000

This piece by Dan Sheldon is a cross-post from the Union of Jewish Students

That the UCU has chosen to condemn and disassociate itself from the EUMC Working Definition of Antisemitism is no surprise. In fact, that’s probably one of the worst aspects of this whole saga – that such a policy position has been able to establish itself without much serious consideration or opposition. Such is the sorry state of the national lecturers’ union.

Why, then, have I found myself so shocked by this grimly inevitable turn of events? Why have so many Jewish students – and others – expressed outrage?

Perhaps it is because this decision betrays an ignorance one wouldn’t expect of a collective of academics. Ignorance of the nature of antisemitism, with its coded language and deep rooted stereotypes. Perhaps they are unaware of the prevalence of such prejudice, and precisely why it is considered racist? Or perhaps they are ignorant of the recent NUS Hate Crime Interim Report, a survey of over 9,000 students? It found that 31% of Jewish students had experienced a hate incident – far more than any other religious group.

Ignorance, too, of a basic logic - spelt out by Eve Garrad here – that it is possible to be critical (or more) of Israel whilst also engaging in antisemism. To state that criticism of Israel is always antisemitic is wrong and devalues antisemitism. However, those who hold that criticism of Israel can never be antisemitic are either blind to basic logic or acting in bad faith.

Ignorance, also, of what the Working Definition actually is. How anybody who has read the Working Definition can maintain that it “confuses criticism of Israeli government policy and actions with genuine antisemitism” is beyond me. In fact, it is this very confusion that the Working Definition aims to clear up.

To be sure, the Working Definition is not perfect. It never claimed to be, hence why it is known as the Working Definition. That’s why the preamble to the definition states that it is intended to be a “practical guide”, and the definition itself contains the caveat “could, taking into account the overall context” when listing potential examples of antisemitism.

In fact, any attempt to construct a perfect definition of antisemitism, or any form of prejudice, is something of a fool’s mission. No definition can capture every possible instance of prejudice, especially within something as multi-faceted and ever-evolving as antisemitism. Nor can a single definition ever take full account of the overall context and perception of the victim.

However, to afford the Working Definition the status of a definitive, water tight definition is to construct a massive, luminous straw man in this discussion.

Let me be clear – the Working Definition is not a binding hate speech code, it is not law and it should not be treated as such. Rather, it is a useful primer on antisemitism; an accessible tool for educating on and identifying antisemitism. For universities and students’ unions, it sums up in one page what Anthony Julius’ Trials of the Diaspora does in 864. It is the start of a serious conversation about antisemitism, not the last word.

Where, then, has this misplaced perception of the Working Definition’s intent and purpose come from? No doubt there are some who misunderstand and misuse the Working Definition. Instead of using it as a pedagogical resource or a tool for monitoring antisemitism, some may attempt to use the Working Definition as a means to punish those responsible for expressions similar to those potential examples of antisemitism it lists. To the contrary, this is not the position of the Union of Jewish Students, the Community Security Trust, the Parliamentary Committee Against Antisemitism, the American Jewish Congress or anybody else who does serious work on this issue.

To pretend, as the UCU policy does, that the Working Definition “is being used to silence debate about Israel and Palestine on campus” leaves the impression that this is a widespread issue; that the Working Definition is regularly used to punish those who criticise Israel.

Where, then, is the evidence for such a claim? The example cited in the debate at UCU Congresswas that the recent ‘Freedom for Palestine’ motion adopted by NUS had been objected to on the grounds that it breached the Working Definition. In fact, this example proves that it is, in fact, perfectly possible to debate and criticise Israel without being accused of antisemitism. Despite having adopted the Working Definition (twice, after full debates at National Conference), NUS was able to debate and adopt a policy extremely critical of Israel. No claims were made at the time, or subsequently, that this policy breaches the Working Definition.

Quite simply, the claim that the Working Definition – when properly used – shuts down debate on Israel does not stand up to scrutiny.

The UCU, however, cannot claim to be in any doubt about the purpose of the Working Definition. The proposers of the motion have clearly read it very carefully and they know full well that it is intended to be a working guide. They just don’t agree with the content – that’s why they have dismissed it entirely, making “no use” of it, not even in “educating members”.

If the UCU were merely guilty of ignorance, that could be understood and – through education and dialogue – resolved. If someone had proposed that the UCU adopt the Working Definition, and Congress were to reject it, that would be the result of ignorance. Regrettable, but understandable.

However, the UCU has never used the Working Definition, and nobody proposed that it should start doing so. Instead, UCU has decided, apropos of nothing, to condemn the Working Definition whilst offering no serious alternative. In doing so, they have singled out antisemitism from other forms of prejudice as something only they, and not the victims, have the right to identify.

That’s where this goes beyond ignorance into genuine malice. One is left wondering what occupies the thoughts of those who are so keen to lecture Jews on what constitutes antisemitism. Jewish students are left wondering whether their lecturers’ commitment to “combat all forms of racial or religious discrimination” is anything other than hollow rhetoric.

Dan Sheldon is the incoming Campaigns Director of the Union of Jewish Students

Twinning with Hamas at Moyle Council

fpcg — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 10:23:00 +0000

Moyle Council in Northern Ireland recently voted to investigate twinning with the municipality of Gaza. This plan would end in Moyle’s political leaders effectively twinning with Hamas, which appoints the members of Gaza’s municipality and controls it totally.

Fair Play wrote a letter to Moyle Council pointing out that they’d be linking to Hamas and exactly what this means. The letter was tabled at a recent Council meeting and has now been covered by the Ballymoney Times:

‘Hamas for tea’ at Moyle Council?

Published on Tuesday 19 April 2011 16:16

REACTION TO Moyle Council’s support for a twinning arrangement with Gaza has come in from the Israeli community.

The Council split on the issue but a majority did back the proposal brought forward by Independent councillor Padraig McShane who visted Gaza last year.

Cllr McShane says the ‘twinning’ will help give humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Gaza is ruled by Hamas, a group which Israelis heavily criticise.

On ‘Facebook’ many people in Gaza have welcomed the decision by Moyle to twin with Gaza but the Jewish Chronicle newspaper reported that Steven Jaffe, co-chair of Northern Ireland Friends of Israel, said: “Is Moyle District Council prepared to turn a blind eye when it invites Hamas officials to tea at the town hall?”

And the London-based pro-Israeli ‘Fair Play Campaign Group’ has contacted Moyle Council on the matter.

Arieh Kovler said the Fair Play group is an organisation created by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council, the main institutions of the British Jewish community.

The letter said: ‘I am writing to express extreme concern at media reports that Moyle District Council is proposing to twin with Gaza city. The Council should be aware that Gaza City is ruled by Hamas.

‘Hamas is recognised by the USA, UK and the Republic of Ireland as a terrorist organisation. Hamas has been linked with more than 400 terrorist attacks including more than 50 civilian-targeted suicide bombings.

‘The Hamas charter rejects all peace negotiations with Israel and calls for Israel to be obliterated. Hamas came to prominence in the 1990s by rejecting the Oslo peace process which sought to established a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

‘The manner which Hamas governs Gaza has brought widespread concern internationally relating to the killing and torture of political opponents, the treatment of women and homosexuals and the indoctrinating of children as young as eight to anti-Jewish hatred and violence.

‘A twinning between Moyle District Council and the Hamas-dominated Municipality of Gaza City would make a formal and symbolic link between your Council and an antisemitic, internationally proscribed, terrorist organisation. This has very serious ethical and legal ramifications for the Council.

‘I would be obliged if you would please bring these concerns to the attention of the councillors.

‘If Moyle District Council wishes to make a humanitarian gesture towards Palestinians who are suffering because of the conflict there are many organisations which are seeking to brihg together Palestinians and Israelis.

‘I would be delighted to provide information about appropriate initiatives which the Council would, I am sure, approve and may wish to support,’ said the letter.

There was no discussion of the letter when it was tabled in front of councillors at the main April monthly meeting of the Council.

In another development, Moyle councillors did not like the “tone” of a letter sent to them about Gaza by the head of Nenagh Council in County Tipperary.

Moyle Council has a long standing association with Nenagh but recently when the SDLP said they wanted more information on the Gaza proposals, before they finally backed it last month, Seamus Morris had been touch urging the Council to back the Gaza link.

But, at a recent meeting, Councillor Catherine McCambridge (SDLP) proposed, seconded by Councillor Willie Graham, ‘That a letter be sent to Nenagh Council to express Council’s disappointment at the tone of the letter sent by the Mayor to Moyle Council regarding the proposed twinning with Gaza.’

On a vote being taken, there were nine votes in favour of and none against the proposal which was carried.

Earlier this year Nenagh Mayor, Cllr Seamus Morris (Sinn Fein) urged Moyle Council to back Cllr McShane’s Gaza proposals

In the letter, Cllr Morris said: ‘Back in the 80s when it was not a popular thing to do Nenagh Town Council twinned with Moyle District Council.’

And in the letter Cllr Morris said it was a “mystery” to him why SDLP councillors were ‘holding up’ the plan.

Last year Moyle Independent councillor Randal McDonnell said he would rather go to ‘Outer Mongolia’ than Nenagh.

At the time, Seamus Morris said he wouldn’t allow the comment to sour relations between the two towns

We Believe in Israel – Conference 15th May

fpcg — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:31:12 +0000

On the 15th of May, a huge conference for supporters of Israel, called ”We Believe in Israel”, will be held. This will be one of the biggest pro-Israel events in the country, and certainly the largest, most diverse and most vibrant conference for Israel’s supporters in the UK.

We Believe in Israel will include inspirational plenary sessions with top-level speakers, and sessions that will include updates and analysis on the situation in the region, training in skills that can help you in your political activism, and sessions that will allow you to grapple with the complex ethical and philosophical challenges that underpin the Jewish state.

We Believe in Israel is a BICOM event that is supported by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council, the Zionist Federation, the Union of Jewish Students and many others. Fair Play is proud to support the Conference.

BOOK NOW – and we’ll see you there!

Senior NUJ Activists planned BBC protest against journalistic freedom

fpcg — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:59:32 +0000

Leftlist is a private mailing list for NUJ members. Its members are not happy about the recent BBC Panorama programme on the flotilla to Gaza.

So what do members a Trade Union dedicated to journalistic freedom and independence do when they see piece of journalism they don’t like?

Well, the NUJ’s Vice President Donnacha Delong called for NUJ members to protest outside the BBC, and for BBC NUJ Chapels (ie branches) to put out ‘a statement’, presumably condemning one of their own members for writing something they disapprove of.

And another senior NUJ activist wants the NUJ to force the BBC to commission another Panorama that is more politically acceptable to them.

It’s a real shame – but no a surprise – that senior activists in a journalists’ union are prepared to throw out their founding principles in favour of attacking Israel.

First email –

From: donnacha.delong@tiscali.co.uk

To: leftlist@lists.riseup.net

Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:26:54 +0100

Subject: [leftlist] Demonstration called at the BBC

Ken O’Keefe and (one of) the Muslim Defence League(s) have called a demo on Sunday at BBC Television Centre.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=151713191507367&index=1

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make it, but it would be really good to have NUJ people. A statement from some of the BBC Chapels wouldn’t go amiss, particularly with the prospect of a strike at the BBC. The last thing we need is people attacking the BBC in its entirety as a result of this, and I’ve seen a few examples of that already on Facebook.

D.

—-

The National Union of Journalists runs a discussion list for people working in new media, join the debates at:

http://mailman.journonet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/newmedia

second email

From: Larry Herman

Sender: leftlist-owner@lists.riseup.net

Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:27:23 +0100

To: Tim Gopsill

Cc: ‘Vicki Morris’;

Subject: Re: [leftlist] Israeli propaganda machine

On 17 Aug 2010, at 15:25, Tim Gopsill wrote:

… And the issue is not religion or ideology but western militarism and imperialism, …

Hello,

Our legitimate reaction to the BBC Panorama pro Zionist programme has thrown up profound questions and has, once again, labeled those of us who fight for self determination of all the world’s peoples, including for those who live in the UK, closed – minded bigots and specifically, in this case, Jew haters. Those who sneer and seek to denigrate our views are wrong, but we don’t fear their slander because it shows our strength. Our responsibility is to determine how we better organise to take on the enemies of humanity and their apologists who live their lives giving the politics of reaction credibility.

There are many explanations why Zionism was organised in the 19th Century and why it was able to establish its state after the Second World War, why this State was violently inserted into Palestine and why Israel has carried on a sixty-year war to defend its interests. Israel is the form that imperialism takes in the Middle East. The Apartheid governments in South Africa were another, and equally unique, form of imperialism. The support of all American big capitalists, their governments and military, since the mid 1950’s (and before) for the Zionist state is because it defends Imperialism and Israel is its imperialist beachhead in that part of the world.

American imperialisms has always fought wars to extend its interests, whether in The philippines in 1898, in the First and Second World Wars and now throughout Western Asia and North Africa ( of course, on other continents, too. The biggest military base outside of the United States is in Honduras!). It’s not the very active and well funded lobbyists in the United States that cause the American Government’s defence of the Zionist State; to argue this is playing into the hands of anti-semitism. The nefarious activity of pro Zionist organisations and individuals throughout the world exists because of the historic weakness of imperialism. That’s why they are compelled to do what they do.

I enthusiastically acknowledge that anti – Zionism occupies our political activity today because of several decades of Palestinian resistance. But, it’s not what we are against that defines people, but it’s what we are in favour of. If there were ever a crises of leadership it is there, in Palestine, for all progressives to see. As activists, we are in harmony with the Palestinian people in their struggle for self – determination. We are transformed into anti imperialist fighters through building this solidarity. We, as NUJ activists, have struggled to be heard in the past and will continue to organise against bigotry. Perhaps, beginning with a demand, supported by a Union – wide campaign, that the BBC fund a ‘Panorama Two” putting the different view. The Leftlist should convene an immediate meeting, with an agenda, open to all who are opposed to the the content of the Panorama film, to initiate this demand within the Union.

Yours,

Larry

British Ambassador condemns boycotts and praises academic links

fpcg — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:17:36 +0000

The British Ambassador to Israel, Tom Phillips, spoke at Bar Ilan University a few days ago. He said:

My Government is very clear on this issue: we are utterly opposed to any type of boycott of Israel. Boycotts are counterproductive, particularly in this region where we should be encouraging as much dialogue as possible.

He also highlighted some of the strenghtening links between Israeli and British academics, students and throughout education.

The full speech appears below:

Speech by British Ambassador to Israel, Tom Phillips, at Bar-Ilan University’s “British Day” and inaugural award ceremony of the Katz Family Research Grant Incentive Programme.

10 May 2009

It is a real pleasure to be here today.

I’d like to give my heartfelt congratulations to the recipients of the awards, and I should like to salute the work of the British Friends of Bar-Ilan University. I know from my visits here over the years what a contribution you have made here, and very much appreciate what this means as part of the links between Britain and the UK.

I wanted to say something today about the wider question of the relations between the UK and Israeli academic communities in general.

Bar-Ilan University was unfortunately among those Israeli institutions singled out in an attempt by a minority of British academics to boycott Israeli institutions a few years ago. That attempt – and the ones that followed – all failed and it is important to stress that there is no academic boycott in the UK.

My Government is very clear on this issue: we are utterly opposed to any type of boycott of Israel. Boycotts are counterproductive, particularly in this region where we should be encouraging as much dialogue as possible.

I also want to take this opportunity to tell you more about just some of the amazing links between our academia.

Last year in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and then-PM Ehud Olmert launched the Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX) – a unique scheme aimed at enhancing research and academic cooperation between the UK and Israel. Hundreds of bids have already been received and BIRAX has the full backing of – and funding from – the Israeli and British governments.

This programme was developed by the British Council in collaboration with The Pears Foundation and in close consultation with both governments, academic, business and philanthropic leaders, and in partnership with the two umbrella bodies representing the UK and Israel’s universities (Universities UK and Israel’s University Presidents’ Association). The Pears Foundation and the UJIA provided significant funding – and the door is still open for others who might wish to contribute.

Also last year, and in celebration of Israel’s 60th anniversary, the British Foreign Office launched the UK-Israel Collaboration Development Award programme for stem cell research.

This year, we will once again be sending several outstanding Israeli students to some of the best universities in the UK for further study as part of our government-funded Chevening Scholarship programme. Hundreds of Israelis have travelled to the UK under this programme over the years. Indeed, with all due respect to this university and the podium upon which I currently stand, UK universities are very popular with Israeli students. There are some 1,000 Israelis currently studying in the UK, while another 8,000 or so take British degree courses through distance learning here in Israel.

The British Council here in Israel also runs another innovative initiative: Skills@Work which aims to promote links between education and industry. One of the aims of this project is to create partnerships between colleges in the UK, Israel and participating European countries.

Our links with education don’t just stop at university level: the British Embassy also supports the work of the Hand in Hand schools here in Israel which aim to bring together Jewish and Arab children from a young age to enable them to better understand each other and together help create a better future for themselves. Indeed, I was at the Hand in Hand school in Wadi Ara yesterday with several of my EU colleagues, and saw the excellent work they are doing there – when I was also glad to say that the UK will be helping them by providing sports facilities and a computer laboratory.

Back in the UK, the government last year increased the funding it provides to the Holocaust Educational Trust for its Lessons from Auschwitz programme which aims to take two pupils from every sixth form college in the UK to visit Auschwitz and learn about the Holocaust. I know that there are couple of email chains still making the rounds, claiming that the UK has removed the Holocaust from its national curriculum, so I would just like to set the record straight and ensure you that teaching of the Holocaust is compulsory in all secondary schools between the ages of 11-14.

I should like to close by saying that we are always interested in supporting new initiatives and helping establish new links between our academics and institutions. I should also like to reiterate my thanks to the British Friends of Bar-Ilan University for all their work over the years in bolstering the links between Bar-Ilan and the UK.

UK Jewish Human Rights Coalition to combat racism at Durban Review Conference in Geneva

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:39:26 +0000

JHRC will be fighting racism at the UN Durban Review Conference that begins on this Monday, the 20th of April, in Geneva.

The original World Conference Against Racism, in 2001 Durban, was hijacked by Anti-Israel and Anti-Zionist groups who led a well organised campaign , backed by Muslim and Arab governments, to exclude antisemitism from the conference agenda and to label Israel as an apartheid state and to revisit the “Zionism = Racism” equation. The conference itself was marked by harassment of Jewish delegates and antisemitic flyers praising Hitler. The USA and Israel walked out in disgust.

Early drafts of the Durban Review declaration contained text that downplayed antisemitism, demonised Israel and Zionism as uniquely racist, and claimed that “defamation of religion” was a form of racism. These lines have been removed from the latest version of the text, but could still be reinserted at a later stage.

Worryingly, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has announced he will attend the Conference. At his last speech at on a UN platform, he said that

“a small but deceitful number of people called Zionists … have been dominating an important portion of the financial and monetary centres as well as the political decision-making centres of some European countries and the US in a deceitful, complex and furtive manner”

Given Ahmadinejad record of making antisemitic speeches at UN events, there is serious concern about the impact of his presence and actions.

The UK Jewish community delegation to the Durban Review Conference will be led by the co-chairs of the Jewish Human Rights Coalition (JHRC-UK), Rosalind Preston OBE and Henry Grunwald QC. The delegation will be attending to lobby governments, running a side event in the Conference venue on fighting racism, and working to ensure that the Conference is true to its principles.

JHRC-UK will be live-blogging on developments at the Durban Review Conference at its website www.jhrc.org.uk

You can also follow @JhrcUK on Twitter for real-time coverage of the Conference plenary.

This piece was originally posted to the Jewish Human Rights Coalition website

Government singles out Israel for goods labelling guidance

admin — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:21:00 +0000

On the 31st of March, the Government will be hosting a meeting with major UK supermarkets to present them with new voluntary guidelines on the labelling of goods from West Bank settlements. These will probably ask supermarkets to explicitly label goods from West Bank settlements.

OXFAM, which is calling for these goods to be totally banned, has also been invited to join the meeting.

Goods from Northern Cyprus, Western Sahara and other territories which the British government considers occupied do not have explicit labelling guidance; for example, goods from Northern Cyprus are labelled ‘produce of Turkey’.

Speaking for the Fair Play Campaign Group, Jeremy Newmark, Chief Executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, said:

“This step risks encouraging those working for a wider programme of boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel. No meetings have taken place at this level to discuss produce from other territories that the British Government considers occupied. By involving groups which campaign for a boycott and a ban on all settlement goods, the Government is making it harder to believe that this meeting is purely about giving consumers choice. These plans also risk harming the incomes of over twenty thousand Palestinian workers whose earn their livelihoods in the production of such goods.”

Report from the UCU Executive

admin — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:44:11 +0000

Jon Pike, UCU Executive Committee member and founder of Engage, reports on Friday’s meeting:

Towards the end of a long day, there was an important discussion and decision about the union’s international policy. It’s complicated…

Read Jon’s full report for an explanation of what happened. Briefly though, in the course of the meeting, the committee refused to endorse a statement by a subcommittee which falsely claimed the Union had begun a process that could end in a boycott of some Israeli universities.

Last year, the Executive Committee itself submitted a boycott motion to UCU Congress. This year, the Executive is refusing to endorse pro-boycott pronouncements from other committees.

Additionally Sue Blackwell, who proposed the 2005 AUT boycott, has lost her seat on the Executive Committee at the latest elections. This is another sign of the weakening grip of the boycotters on UCU’s structures.

Welcome to our website

admin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:18:32 +0000

Welcome to the website of the Fair Play Campaign Group.

Click here to sign up to our mailing list