Political debate in Britain hits bottom, digs deeper
StandWithUs gets smeared as an 'extremist organization' and Conservative MP Louise Mensch (pictured) gets attacked for accepting a speaking engagement from them by Ben White, a frequent contributor to al-Guardian's Comment is Free feature. But what's most amazing about this piece is the infantile level of White's writing. In essence, his argument is "I disagree with them, therefore they are extremists, so how could you accept an invitation to speak to them?" Here are some examples. The UK chair of StandWithUs disputes the international legal consensus that Settlements in the Occupied West Bank are illegal.I purposely did not copy the links - no sense in giving them any more traffic.
A 2009 investigation into StandWithUs’ donors accused the group of having “a web of funders who support organisations that have been accused of anti-Muslim propaganda and encouraging a militant Israeli and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East”.
The group’s activists have also been accused of intimidating Palestine solidarity activists in the past.
A StandWithUs event of the same name happening in the US this month features Itamar Marcus, an Israeli settler who features in Islamophobic film ‘Obsession’.
Here in the UK, StandWithUs is working with religious fundamentalists, sending their national coordinator to speak at a conference promoted by those who believe that God will “curse those who curse Israel”.
Israel’s defenders are free to choose the allies they want – but should an MP be giving them support?
Louise Mensch may be known to some of you as Louise Bagshawe, and she ought to be regarded as a hero in these parts. I'd be thrilled to hear her speak. Too bad Ben White won't listen.
Labels: Comment is Free, Louise Bagshawe, StandWithUs
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:27 AM
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