Daphne Anson: British Methodist Boycott of Israel under Legal Challenge from Within

Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East. (From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Sunday, 3 October 2010

British Methodist Boycott of Israel under Legal Challenge from Within

A reader of my blog, Ian G, has kindly alerted me to this development, reported on the London Telegraph website:

'A Methodist preacher [David Hallam] is preparing to sue his own church over claims it is using charitable donations to pursue a campaign of discrimination against Israeli Jews.

The legal dispute has been prompted by a controversial resolution passed at the Methodist Conference which called for a boycott of some Israeli goods.

If the legal action is successful, it would likely bring to an end all similar campaigns that boycott Israeli goods and services.

Mr Hallam, 62, a former labour MEP, said: "What I object to is money which I am putting on the collection plate on a Sunday being used to fund a political campaign against the Jewish state. This is both discriminatory and a misuse of a charity's funds.

"The Methodist Church seems to think it has a God given right to tell Jews how to run their affairs. It is very disturbing we are getting involved in a territory where we don't have any members or churches."'

Read the entire report here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/8038848/Methodist-preacher-to-sue-his-own-church-over-claim-of-anti-Israel-bias.html

9 comments:

Daphne Anson3 October 2010 at 23:30
I would also like to mention this blog:
http://www.methodistpreacher.blogspot.com/
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Stuart4 October 2010 at 03:13
Woah that's a big development! Will link to you on this one.
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Ray Cook4 October 2010 at 05:09
Great that there is still some decency out there. Those who claim to speak for all Methodists clearly do not.
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Daphne Anson4 October 2010 at 05:09
Yes, it's very interesting, Stuart!
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Daphne Anson4 October 2010 at 05:15
Hi, Ray!I've only just logged on - have a touch of flu!
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Anonymous4 October 2010 at 07:01
Hallam's hired hot-shot lawyer Paul Diamond - must cost an arm & a leg
•ProLife: Paul Diamond has been instructed to appear on behalf of the ProLife Alliance before the Information Tribunal over the Department of Health's refusal to publish full abortion statistics: (Front Page) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/women_shealth/3630325/Ministers-fight-to-keep-late-abortions-secret.html.
Paul Diamond was sucessful; see newspaper comment: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/6360257/

•The Home Office: Paul Diamond has been instructed in relation to an international arrest warrant for a non National who has advocated anti Semitism and extremism. The Home Office banned his entry in the United Kingdom: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/4953470/Campaigners-will-seek-arrest-of-Islamic-radical.html and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7942319.stm.

•Australia: Paul Diamond was invited to Australia by the Ambrose Centre for Religious Liberty. He spoke at the Federal Parliament, the University of Sydney and a dinner at the Law Society hosted by the Ambrose Centre. The visit attracted a considerable degree of interest: http://acthra.anu.edu.au/media/2009/October; http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/rights-threat-to-religious-tolerance/story-; In addition, Paul Diamond met with Cardinal Pell: http://www.zenit.org/article-27642?l=english . Paul Diamond thereafter attended meetings in Washington DC.

•BBC: Paul Diamond was instructed by an anti abortion campaigner in a case over payment of the BBC licence fee: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/7113152/Anti-abortion-campaigner-Veronica-Connolly

•Church Noise: Paul Diamond successfully defended two Churches that had been served with Noise Abatement Notices for singing too loudly. These were unusual cases as the two Churches were prosecuted for singing too loudly with amplified music on a Sunday.
•Nurse wearing of a Cross: Paul Diamond represented Nurse Chaplin over the wearing of a Cross. The case was supported by a former Archbishop and a number of current Bishops: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7531293/Senior-bishops-call-for-end-to-persecution-of-Christians-in-Britain.html
•McFarlane: Paul Diamond represented Lord Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury 1991- 2002 in his intervention in the McFarlane permission to appeal application. The case was about the Constitution Principle of Legality and raised a number of important issues: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7098299.ece
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Shirl in Oz4 October 2010 at 08:32
Now isn’t this a turn up for the books !!
That is one “expensive silk”

***Paul Diamond combines his considerable strength in this area with his knowledge of public and European law. The law of religious liberty is a specialist subject that is increasingly becoming an important field of law which covers diverse areas: rights and rites of religion (diet, clothing, external characteristics), religious propagation of faith, evangelism, religious autonomy, the Church / State divide, employment law, parades, festivals, criminal law, 'hate speech', access to benefits and other areas.***

http://www.pauldiamond.com/

Reading elsewhere about him, I see he is a deeply religious man. I wouldn’t be surprised if this case is pro bono, or at a much reduced price.

Daphne..please don’t tell me I sent you Australian germs !!!
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Shirl in Oz4 October 2010 at 08:40
In this interview

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article745736.ece

he stated

"I believe in and adhere to the ethical teachings of Jesus and I admire the “great man” Churchill for his resolute strength of character. "
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Daphne Anson4 October 2010 at 19:22
With a man of Diamond's calibre on side it looks as if the boycott's days might indeed be numbered!
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Islamophobia is a false allegation of prejudice which is deployed to silence rational criticism based on actual facts about attitudes and practices within the Islamic world.
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The "Apartheid" Slur

The division of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) into three separate areas “A”, “B” and “C” was agreed on by Israel and the PLO pursuant to the Oslo Accords.
95% of the West Bank Arabs live in Areas A and B and their daily lives are under the total administration and control of the PLO since the Palestinian Authority was disbanded by Abbas in January 2013. The PLO has total security control in A and shares security control in B with Israel. Israel has total administrative and security control in C.
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Jews were given the legal right to settle in the West Bank under article 6 of the Mandate for Palestine and article 80 of the UN Charter. They did so for decades until they were driven out in 1947 and not able to return there until 1967.
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