As a huge wave of the darkest antisemitic hatred crashes across the land, including calls for the mass murder of Jews, what is the "anti-racist" group "Hope not Hate" really worked up about?
Matthew Parris. 1/6
"Friends of Al Aqsa" is at the heart of the ugly agitation we are seeing, just as it has long been.
It is dedicated to fanatical hatred of Israel and promoting antisemites. Its founder and leader, Ismail Patel, is a fan of Hamas. Up the "anti-racist" street, right?
Oh. 2/6
Indeed, Hamas has built up an extensive UK support network since the 1990s. Journalists have covered it and counter-extremism activists have challenged it for years. It is one of the roots of Labour's ruin.
Going by their website, "Hope not Hate" hasn't even mentioned it. 3/6
The "Palestinian Forum in Britain" is another player behind today's ugly scenes. Israel=Nazis.
It used to bring some of the Middle East's very worst hate preachers to Britain before the Government banned them, with encouragement from activists, including Muslims.
Ah, I see. 4/6
Well, this is an outfit that was "delighted" to appoint Kevin Courtney of the NEU as a patron to its "HOPE Education Fund". One couldn't ask for a better friend for Islamists. He's with them all the way, even in defiance of Birmingham's Labour council. 5/6
Last weekend, "Light Upon Light" conferences were held in London and Birmingham. "Blight Upon Blight" would be better. Both lengthy events focused almost exclusively on Israel.
Calls for peace? No. Prayers for a "Palestinian victory". Here's Yaha Raaby. With Hamas on its... 1/8
...knees and Gaza in misery as the terrorists take to torturing and murdering their own people.
The delusion is remarkable and disturbing.
Here's another plea, this time from Ali Hammuda. 2/8
Hammuda is a fever dreamer. He really does believe that ultimate victory is assured and that "the Zionist superstructure is collapsing". Prepare for a “post-Zionism era”.
There is a problem with crime, by the way. That is Eran Cohen of the CWU trade union, the day *after* the racist vandal group "Palestine Action" was proscribed. 2/6
Gross conspiracy theories once the preserve of the racist far right are popular among "progressives" these days.