Jonathan Lis’

Political
Culture

‘The UK Government has taken its strongest action not against the Israeli Government, but against that Government’s opponents’

Two moments in recent weeks have crystallised a phenomenon so perverse in Britain’s political and media ecosystem it defies rational explanation. It seems nothing less than the full disposal of state power, not simply to shield Israel from resistance to its alleged crimes against humanity, but to silence – or criminalise – its opponents.

The first moment took place in the House of Commons on 2 July when, by a margin of 385 to 26 votes, MPs voted to proscribe the group Palestine Action under the 2000 Terrorism Act.

This followed the group’s vandalism, 12 days earlier, of two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, which the group alleged were being used to assist Israeli aircraft and reconnaissance. Its previous actions included damaging buildings and military equipment, attacking a factory with smoke bombs, and blockading and occupying military sites.

Those actions were no doubt disruptive and may well have broken the law. But they were also fully in line with other protest movements that have been in operation for decades. Patently, they are not in the same bracket as ISIS or Hamas.