Palestine Solidarity Campaign exposed

It has now been revealed that permission for the first anti-Israel protest was sought already on 7th October 2023, while Hamas was still slaughtering Jews in southern Israel.

The permission was requested by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC).

Past senior figures in the group, who have also been involved in the marches over the past year, have previously met with Hamas leaders. A past investigation by Campaign Against Antisemitism, titled Bigots for Palestine, found that the PSC was riddled with bigotry.

Anti-Israel marches since the Hamas massacre sixteen months ago have cost the UK taxpayer around £55 million, accounting for over 70,000 police officer shifts. These breathtaking figures are for London alone, and do not account for the protests that have taken place in city centres around the country, usually on weekends. Many of these shifts have been filled by officers being drafted from elsewhere in the country, depriving other regions of personnel.

At a time when the rate of actually solving crimes in Britain is frighteningly low, the Met Police has prioritised securing protests organised by a group that rushed to action on 7th October.

Recently, the Met Commissioner has warned that his force faces “eye-watering cuts” to services unless funding is increased. Perhaps he should have thought of that before failing for over a year to place meaningful restrictions on these marches despite admitting that they posed a threat to Jewish communities. Police chiefs around the country have also warned that thousands of officers face losing their jobs because of shortfalls in funds.

So was it really worth tens of millions of pounds to police regular anti-Israel marches by a group that rushed to activism while Jews were being slaughtered?

Enough is enough. It is finally time for trade unions and politicians to disaffiliate and withdraw their support from the PSC.

Man who wrote “Hitler has been proved right” pleads guilty and is sentenced following CAA private prosecution

Alun Coleman, 71, who published a comment on social media which read, “Hitler has been proved [sic] right,” was sentenced at court following a private prosecution by Campaign Against Antisemitism that was taken over by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Mr Coleman, of Gainsborough, was sentenced at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court in October 2024, having pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to section 127(1)(a) and (3) of the Communications Act 2003.

The offence related to a Facebook comment that read: “Hitler has been proved right.” The comment was in response to another user who expressed support for the State of Israel shortly after Hamas’ barbaric terrorist attack in Israel on 7th October 2023.

The case began as a private prosecution by Campaign Against Antisemitism after the Metropolitan Police failed to identify Mr Coleman during its investigation. The Met therefore decided not to refer the case to the CPS, claiming that there was “not a sufficiently strong evidential case” to pursue it.

It later emerged that Mr Coleman was easily identifiable, given the distinct spelling of his first name and the fact that his full name was displayed on his Facebook account.

Campaign Against Antisemitism applied for a summons, which was granted by the Magistrates’ Court. The case was then referred to the CPS, which decided to take over the prosecution.

Mr Coleman was ordered by the Court to pay a fine, a victim surcharge and prosecution costs.

Mr Coleman’s sentencing marks a victory against those who feel that they can spew Jew-hatred online. When antisemitism crosses the criminal threshold and the authorities fail to deliver justice, we will fight to secure justice ourselves, just as we have done here.

It should not have been necessary for us to bring a private prosecution, but the failure of the Metropolitan Police to properly investigate this case left us with no alternative. The CPS, to its credit, was only too happy to take over the case and would have done so sooner had the police referred it.

Those who target Jews should know that ruinous consequences will await them and that propagating hateful rhetoric online does not protect them from the law.

Elsewhere, a 29-year-old man has admitted to writing antisemitic posts and professing support for proscribed terror groups Hamas and Hizballah.

Zakir Hussain pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey last week to a total of eleven charges; four of expressing support for proscribed organisations and seven of stirring up racial hatred.

He is said to have referred to 7th October 2023 – the day that Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, murdering some 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostage – as a “beautiful day”.

Other comments reportedly included: “We are hunting them for fun in the UK” and “I’m in London any Jews out there come out and stand up for your religion.”

He is due to be sentenced in March.

How has antisemitism shaped English literature?

From Chaucer to Shakespeare, Dickens to Dahl, how has antisemitism shaped English literature?

Our short six-part series chronicling the history of antisemitism in English literature is now available.

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Know a legal mind sharp enough to fight antisemitism?

We are seeking a General Counsel, and we are offering a £2,000 referral fee to anyone who refers an applicant for the role who successfully completes their probationary period.

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Eight in ten British Jews think that the police do not do enough to protect them, and only 5% have confidence in Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.

When the police authorise protests by the PSC that are requested at the same time as an antisemitic terror group is butchering Jewish people, and the police fail to properly investigate a case of antisemitism online leaving Campaign Against Antisemitism to do so, you can see why.

There have been too many instances over the past sixteen months when the police have failed the Jewish community. We will continue to do whatever we can to hold them to account and fill the gap.