Britain’s Jewish “anti-Zionist” pretenders lose another battle

In fact, the event was a tremendous success.

Speaking to a full hall,  Alan Hart,  Karl Sabbagh,  Sameh Habeeb and I elaborated on the meaning of “Jewishness” and the essence of Zionism.

We also tried to understand once and for all why it is that some Jews who claim to be the most sincere “supporters of Palestine” are always among the first to stifle debate on such crucial issues.

Stifling debate

Six years ago, I was shocked to learn about the destructive impact of elements within the UK Jewish “anti-Zionist” network. At the time they were intent on burying Deir Yassin Remembered (DYR), probably the most significant  Nakba memorial group in the Palestinian solidarity movement. Unfortunately, they succeeded: by putting into action the most repulsive Zionist tactics, the Jewish “anti-Zionists” eventually managed to bring down DYR.

But in doing so, they also inflicted some serious damage on themselves. They were exposed for what they are – a bunch of crypto Zionists. They smeared and defamed other activists; they lied and they mounted pressure on Palestinian officials. They exposed the ugliest possible form of Zionist politics. I did not like what I saw and published a satirical expose of their tactics which I titled “The Protocols of the Elders of London”.

Needless to say, my criticism was not welcome among the UK’s “progressive” Jewish leaders.

Recently, I went back and re-read my expose and what is immediately evident is that not one single person who is mentioned in the piece has managed to maintain any influence whatsoever within the Palestinian solidarity movement. After the publication of “The Elders of London”, the majority of the so-called “activists” mentioned simply faded away into total obscurity and anonymity, and others joined “Zionist-left” cells.

They have all evaporated, except for one Tony Greenstein. The “anti-Zionist” Greenstein has became my dedicated cyber-stalker, and – amusingly enough – seems to want to assume the role of my “nemesis”. Day and night, he harasses academics and many others who disseminate my work. It is worth mentioning that he carries out his harassment often in the name of the Palestinian  BDS movement, no less.

But Greenstein has at least achieved one thing: he has managed to alienate himself from everyone in this movement, including his Jewish allies, who are also reluctant to publish any of his repetitive slander

Kosher leaks

One of the panelists in the 3 May event told me that was hounded for three days by 12 different Jewish “anti-Zionists”. He also told me that all my detractors repeated the same line : “Gilad is not good for Palestine”.

Yet, one stark fact is that not one single Palestinian and or Gentile joined in the Jewish campaign against me. Once again, this highlights a crude manifestation of Jewish exceptionalism: some Jews in the “anti-Zionist” movement clearly feel that they “know better” what is good for the Palestinians.

But how is it that they “know better”?

Is it that they are slightly cleverer than the rest of us? Or is it that they are just chosen – which sounds pretty Zionist to me.

“...from a Palestine solidarity perspective, Wimborne-Idrissi’s and Greenstein’s actions border on betrayal: BRICUP and BDS are solidarity political instruments that were created to support Palestinians. And the last thing Palestinians need is Jewish activists exploiting these unique instruments – solely in order to fight their own internal Jewish wars.”

However, some Jews within the UK “anti-Zionist” Jewish network are becoming increasingly embarrassed by their comrade’s dirty tactics: they went as far as leaking to me and others some internal correspondence within the “Jewish activists” lists. For instance, I came across an email sent by Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, a Jewish ethnic leader, who was obviously foolish enough to brag openly about using BRICUP (British Committee for the Universities of Palestine) to mount pressure on other panelists and Palestinians who were scheduled to speak with me.
I believe that, from a Palestine solidarity perspective, Wimborne-Idrissi’s and Greenstein’s actions border on betrayal: BRICUP and BDS are solidarity political instruments that were created to support Palestinians. And the last thing Palestinians need is Jewish activists exploiting these unique instruments – solely in order to fight their own internal Jewish wars. If Wimborne-Idrissi and Greenstein insist that I am an anti-Semite, then they would be better off joining the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) because clearly that is where they belong.

But Wimborne-Idrissi’s and Greenstein’s conduct should not take us by surprise. Max Blumenthal reported recently that Jeremy Ben Ami (“J Street” leader) stated that the “discussion on BDS” should stay “within the Jewish community”.

With the J Street model in mind, Wimborne-Idrissi and Greenstein probably do not see themselves as traitors: they are simply see themselves as “loyal to the Jews”.

Rabbinical tactics

The tactics that were used this week by Wimborne-Idrissi, Greenstein and others are rabbinical to the bone: exclusion and excommunication are inherent to Jewish rabbinical thinking. Baruch de Spinoza and  Uriel Da Costa famously brought on themselves these measures, simply for being dissident voices.

However, with me, these tactics have failed completely: frustratingly enough for my detractors, I am neither an activist nor a campaigner, and I am certainly not a politician. In fact, I am not a member of any club at all. I am an independent truth-seeker. I am not afraid of being alone. In fact, I prefer to be on my own and say what has to be said without inflicting damage on anyone.

Clearly, this is a unique state of mind that our “kosher Trotskyites” cannot handle. The more pressure they mount on me, the more they prove my argument. The more they attempt to harass me, the more they prove my clear theories regarding their own duplicity and affiliation.

They are in a limbo. They are in a no-win situation.

The tide has changed

Years ago, I might have been slightly concerned by people like Wimborne-Idrissi and Greenstein. But nowadays I realize that these people have no power or influence whatsoever within the solidarity movement, because it is patently clear to everyone that they are solely concerned with internal tribal matters. And the reality is that, by acting as a constant noise on the periphery of our discourse, they provide the rest of us with an invaluable glimpse into the Zionist mind.

I am obviously not the first person to be subjected to the slander of the Jewish so-called “anti-Zionists”. By now all truth-seekers in our movement are more than familiar with their strategies and are tired and wary of their tactics. Sameh Habeeb, the founder of Palestine Telegraph, told us during the debate of 3 May that he is used to being approached by “kosher anti-Zionists” who preach to him about what he should print and who he should shun and exclude.

“… the reality is that Israel defines itself as “the Jewish state”. The reality is that Israel drops bombs from planes emblazoned with Jewish symbols. Therefore, surely the first question to be asked is what does “Jewishness” mean.”

Despite these endless, relentless Jewish campaigns against me, I have not “just survived it all”, but have managed to win, time after time.
I believe the reason for that is simple: there may be nothing particularly “clever” or “sophisticated” about me. I guess that I am not that original either.

Yet, I am saying loudly what so many of us feel so strongly in our bones: the reality is that Israel defines itself as “the Jewish state”. The reality is that Israel drops bombs from planes emblazoned with Jewish symbols. Therefore, surely the first question to be asked is what does “Jewishness” mean. And clearly, among the first people to oppose such a discussion are the Jewish “anti-Zionists” themselves. Hence, we should also investigate what their “Jewishness” stands for. And we are certainly entitled to locate them within the Zionist spectrum.

It is evident that the tide has changed. These issues are now being explored by more and more people, and also by more and more liberal Jews.

I am in the USA at the moment, touring and fundraising for different Palestinian causes. I am meeting many people, and I am delighted to say that I am scheduled to meet some prominent Jewish progressive leaders and a rabbi. Some of these people are now interested in rethinking the meaning of Jewish identity in the light of the criticism I have been offering for a decade.

Needless to say, in our talk in London on 3 May there were also Jews and Israelis present. They came to listen, learn and think out of the box rather than to preach, harass, intimidate or protest.

Peace may prevail after all.