Right-wing, Zionist neo-con commentator Douglas Murray has branded the huge anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian demonstration in London on Saturday as “anti-semitic.”
Writing in the Spectator, he said that “Thousands of anti-Semites have today succeeded in bringing central London to an almost total standstill… Most of the women seem to be wearing headscarves or the burka, while their men-folk were naturally more appropriately dressed for a sweltering summer day.”
Murray said that “these are the people who stayed at home throughout the Syrian civil war, stayed at home when ISIS rampaged across Iraq, stayed at home when Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab carried out their atrocities across central Africa and showed no concern whatsoever when the Muslim Brotherhood was running Egypt into the ground. Yet they pretend to care about Muslims.
“And here they all are, coming out to scream because Israel is carrying out the most specific and targeted campaign in the history of warfare in order to stop Hamas – a group dedicated to the annihilation of all Jews – from firing thousands of rockets into the Jewish homeland.
“I suppose some of the people in London today might still try to pretend that they don’t hate Jews. Perhaps some of them would not even do what their co-religionists in France did last week when – intent on violence – they blockaded worshippers inside a Synagogue. But there is only one explanation for their horrible beliefs and actions.
“The truest expression of their views was given voice a few years ago by the popular al-Jazeera star and leading cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi when he said:
‘Throughout history, Allah has imposed upon the [Jews] people who would punish them for their corruption. The last punishment was carried out by Hitler. By means of all the things he did to them – even though they exaggerated this issue – he managed to put them in their place. This was divine punishment for them. Allah willing, the next time will be at the hands of the believers.’
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
Sheikh Qaradawi himself is no longer lauded by a Mayor of London, but his disciples flooded the city’s streets today. What a disgusting sight to see in our capital.”
Reaction
Murray’s words have caused outrage on social media with many pointing out that being anti-Israel or anti-Zionist does not equate to being anti-semitic. They also pointed to the large number of Jews and other non-Muslims on the demonstration who opposed Israel’s bombardement of Gaza which has led to hundreds of deaths.
According to his Wikipedia entry Murray was the director of the Centre for Social Cohesion from 2007 until 2011 and is currently an associate director of the Henry Jackson Society. He appears regularly in the British broadcast media, commentating on issues from a conservative standpoint, and he is often critical of Islam.
Murray is a frequent critic of Islam, and has identified what he sees as, “a creed of Islamic fascism – a malignant fundamentalism, woken from the dark ages to assault us here and now”.
Murray has labelled “Islamophobia” a “nonsense term”, as “there are a considerable number of reasons to be fearful of some – though certainly not all – aspects and versions of Islam”.
Huge protest
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in London on Saturday to call for an end to Israeli military action in Gaza and “justice and freedom” for Palestine.
The protestors marched through the capital from Downing Street to the Israeli embassy in Kensington after Israel launched a ground invasion of Gaza on Thursday.
Sarah Colborne, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said London has “already shown its outrage at Israel’s attacks on the mostly refugee population of Gaza, with people turning out in their thousands last week.
“Today’s national demonstration will give people from across the country the chance to say enough is enough, Israel’s siege of Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian land has to end now. People want justice and freedom for the Palestinians, and they will be voicing this in their thousands.”
A number of high-profile Palestine supporters addressed the crowd near to the embassy.
Respect MP George Galloway said nearly 300 passengers aboard the Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight had been killed “without a reason” by “fanatics”. He went on: “The 300 Palestinians are completely ignored by the same newspapers, by the same television stations and by the same political leaders who are threatening sanctions and war against Russia but who are supporting, with weapons and money and diplomatic political and media support, the Israeli killers.
“In fact, if whoever fired that missile in Ukraine had fired it instead at the beach in Gaza, the media could have knocked off for an early lunch and saved themselves all of this work.
“Why the double standard? Why is the blood in Ukraine so much more noteworthy than the blood in Gaza?”
Addressing the crowd, Baroness Jenny Tonge said: “What on earth is Israel doing? It has lost its legitimacy, it is no longer a democratic state. It breaks international law, Geneva conventions, it has no respect for human rights. Israel must leave the international family of nations.”
