Daphne Anson: The Curious Case Of Jews & The EDL

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, 11 September 2011

The Curious Case Of Jews & The EDL

When members of the anti-Islamist English Defence League held a rally in the heavily-Muslim borough of Tower Hamlets last weekend, its articulate fresh-faced young leader Tommy Robinson (aka Stephen Lennon), who breached bail conditions by attending, evaded the eagle eye of Mr Plod by turning up in black hat, sun glasses and false beard, to be jocularly introduced as "Rabbi Benjamin Kidderman".

I'm sure many people find this disguise as offensive as the EDL's habit of gratuitously carrying the Israeli flag to demonstrations, like a standard into battle, as it did when it converged upon Portsmouth recently.

As to what motivates Mr Robinson, here's an excerpt from a BBC radio interview with the sardonically-voiced John Humphrys:

Mirroring the contempt of Anglo-Jewry's leadership organisations for the EDL (despite the latter's professions of support for Israel), the Jewish Chronicle has waged a vigorous campaign against the EDL, and in June revealed to its satisfaction that the membership of the EDL's Jewish Division was about a dozen, not all of them actually Jewish. It's report of last weekend's event, complete with a photo of "Rabbi Kidderman" can be read here: http://www.thejc.com/comment-and-debate/analysis/54327/this-time-edl-did-not-pass-east-end

There are to date 831 members of a Facebook group called "Not In Our Name - Jews Against the EDL" which states on its page:

"The Jewish community has always been at the forefront of anti-fascism.

From Cable Street to defeating the BNP at the ballot box, we have been unafraid to speak out against those who seek to spread fear and hatred in our communities. Now our community faces a new threat.

The English Defence League claim to be our allies in the fight against extremism. In reality, they are violent racists with BNP members and Nazi sympathisers amongst their ranks.It is time for the Jewish community

to come together as one to expose the EDL as the racist thugs they are.

However, the EDL's Jewish Division has a new leader and a new Facebook page.:

"Unfortunately, under the previous leadership, the Jewish Division allied themselves with some of the extreme elements that exist within the larger body of individuals and organisations that campaign against Sharia Law and other forms of Islamic Extremism. This was a move that we were unwilling to condone.

It was due to these irreconcilable differences that we had to part ways with the previous JD leadership.

However, there is certainly still a place for Jews in the EDL, and we [are] happy to announce that James Cohen, former member of the board for the International Free Press Society, has been appointed the new leader of the EDL Jewish Division.

We fully expect that James will able to help expand upon the great work that our Jewish Division members have already done. The JD will continue in its unwavering support of the state of Israel and in its efforts to educate people as to why that support is so important in the larger struggle against radical Islam.

We are sure that EDL members will continue to welcome our Jewish friends, and that members of the JD will continue to demonstrate their commitment to tackling Islamic extremism in Britain, as well as abroad.

Many British Jews are proud patriots who, like all other members of the EDL, are fighting to help preserve our country’s traditions of tolerance, justice and fair play. Jewish people have long been a part of England, and have made a great many contributions to our national life.

Whilst the EDL’s focus will always remain on defending England from Sharia Law and the erosion of our rights and freedoms, we will also remain unwavering in our support of Israel and in our opposition to antisemitism.

We are confident that the Jewish Division will make an important contribution to our movement, and that together we will help safeguard this country’s fighting spirit and love of freedom." http://englishdefenceleague.org/edl-jewish-division-new-leadership-new-facebook-page/

9 comments:

Anonymous11 September 2011 at 06:55
I truly do not know much about the EDL.So I can't comment about their actual politics... But let me get this straight...the Jews of the UK hate the EDL despite the fact that they support Israel, and the leaders of the Jewish Community in the UK castigate Israel for defending herself because it make them uncomfortable among their Jew-hating friends. But nowhere ever, has the Jewish community in the UK ever come out against Islamists and their antisemitism. Also, except for the Chief Rabbi not one of the Jewish leaders in the UK have ever castigated the University system for their overt antisemitism and attacks both physical and verbal against Jewish students.These Jewish leaders have yet to decry the antisemitism among the political leadership in the UK on both the right and the left. What spineless useless individuals.
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Daphne Anson11 September 2011 at 07:12
The Anglo-Jewish leadership are a mass of "trembling Israelites" by and large - a pathetic lot.
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Juniper in the Desert11 September 2011 at 07:48
Sorry Daphne, but the so-called "new" Facebook page is a complete fraud, created by rogue fascist and anti-Israel elements who say they are associated with EDL, and the "new leader" does not actually exist! This new leader was nowhere to be seen at Tower Hamlets and unfortunately, those who created the new page, don't know where he is either!The head of the only genuine Jewish Division is Roberta Moore, who has returned from leave. In agreeing with Independent Patriot, I also want to say, the Jewish establishment cannot seem to move on from their habitual dhimmitude, in spite of the fact that Israel has been in existence for 63 years. This cowardice will not help them this time round!
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Daphne Anson11 September 2011 at 08:11
Curiouser and curiouser...
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Shirl in Oz11 September 2011 at 08:36
Juniper, whilst I agree with you in your description of the English Jews, of which I am/was one. They really aren't really any different to the Community & leadership in Melbournistan unfortunately. Sydney is marginally better.

As to "James Cohen, former member of the board for the International Free Press Society, has been appointed the new leader of the EDL Jewish Division."

I have no idea. I personally know him,so I'll find out straight from the 'horse's mouth' so to speak
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Shirl in Oz11 September 2011 at 15:44
James Cohen said "he doesn't exist'!!
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Anonymous14 September 2011 at 17:07
Hi all! Juniper is right. The "new" Jewish Division is a FAKE. There are no Jews in that "division" and no one knows who this "James Cohen" is, apart from the fact he is Canadian and lives there.

On the day of the demo in Tower Hamlets it was the legitimate Jewish Division that got Tommy safely to the stage in TH by disguising him as a rabbi. Since he was breaking his bail conditions, if any officer had seen him he would have been arrested on the spot, so we had to disguise him as best as we could. It was a very hot day and he endured that beard and hat, as well as a woollen black coat without complaining all the way through.

Please see further pictures of the day and of the disguise here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.266185063393412.74443.220366781308574

Roberta - EDL Jewish Division
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Anonymous14 September 2011 at 17:11
Shirl,

Please ask James Cohen, since you know him, when he is moving to the UK to "lead" British Jews in his new EDL Jewish Division ;)
Also please make him aware that in order to be a leader he must show his face and his presence before his "followers". Then let me know what he says to that.

xx

Roberta
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Shirl in Oz15 September 2011 at 06:19
Roberta, I have known James for a long time. I knew him before I met you

I can assure you he does exist, unless I am imagining someone at the other end of the link, when we speak on Skype, which is quite regularly., plus other forms of contact

I don't wish to be the piggy in the middle and take sides, so if what you say is true, ask the EDL to make a statement on their web site to clarify the situation
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'For as long as these antisemites wrap themselves up in the Palestinian flag, too many people are willing to turn a blind eye. Only against Jews is this type of racism openly tolerated. It is flourishing in schools, colleges, universities, unions and in city councils. In fact, so rampant is the disease now, in some settings you can be ostracised if you do not partake in the frenzy yourself. Bashing Jews has becomes a trendy position for the ignorant social justice warrior. "Palestinianism" is a viral "ponzi scheme" and as it spreads, it carries antisemitism in the undergrowth.' David Collier (2017)

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If you take a stand that is based on a lie, then that stand cannot succeed. If you try to oppose antisemitism but pretend it is the same thing as "Islamophobia," then the structure on which you have made your stand will totter and all your aspirations will fail. If you try to make a stand based on the idea that settlement construction rather than the intransigence of the Palestinians to the existence of a Jewish state is what is holding up a peace deal, then facts will keep on intruding.' Douglas Murray (31 December 2016)
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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.
[L]ethally compromised even-handedness is to misunderstand, and thus minimise, antisemitic attitudes and behaviour while shutting down legitimate and necessary discussion of the threat from the Islamic world – even to demonise as “Islamophobic” anyone who draws attention to the extent and consequences of Muslim antisemitism.' Melanie Phillips (14 December 2016)

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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.
Israel is entitled to and will continue to take responsibility for the security of Jews living in the West Bank.
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.
There are Arab roads only in the West Bank that Jews are not allowed to use. Jews are also forbidden from entering Area “A”. Selling land to Jews is forbidden by the PLO under pain of death. The PLO runs the daily lives of 95% of the West Bank Arabs and Hamas runs the daily lives of 100% of the Gazan Arabs. They have been under occupation – and subjugation – by these two evil groups for the last ten years and given no say in their future or any opportunity to elect others to lead them following the disastrous political decisions of their leaders over the past ten years. Hamas and the PLO do not accept the continued existence of a Jewish State and call for its disappearance.
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