More than 300 British Jews have denounced the UK government’s decision to proscribe the direct action group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
A letter of condemnation was delivered to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
The letter, coordinated by Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) and signed by prominent public figures across the arts, academia and activism, expressed outrage over the ban which placed Palestine Action on the same list as Al Qaeda, Maniacs Murder Cult and National Action under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Signatories include award-winning director Mike Leigh, known for films such as Secrets & Lies and Vera Drake, as well as acclaimed poet and children’s author Michael Rosen, a former Children’s Laureate.
Also on the list are celebrated play-writer and novelist Gillian Slovo, actress Miriam Margolyes, prominent historian Professor Avi Shlaim, and Dr Brian Klug, a leading academic at the University of Oxford specialising in philosophy and antisemitism.
The signatories argued that Palestine Action’s direct action tactics, such as spray-painting and occupying sites linked to Israel’s arms trade, do not constitute terrorism and should not be criminalised.
“We are Jews who oppose the genocide by Israel against the Palestinian people, the reality of which is agonisingly on show every day on radio, television and social media. Opposing the brutality of genocide, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing taking place in Gaza and the West Bank, including taking direct action, is not antisemitic. Nor is it terrorism. We consider the proscription of Palestine Action as illegitimate and unethical,” the letter stated.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
The letter also reportedly lists a number of demands by the pro-Palestine Jewish signatories.
“The government should stop deflecting attention from genocide by linking non-violent protest to terrorism. Instead, we call on your government to use its influence to help to end genocide and bring about justice for the Palestinian people. It should immediately recognise the state of Palestine and initiate meaningful sanctions such as:
- Suspending the UK-Israel trade agreement.
- Ending all exports used by the Israeli military in weapons or otherwise.
- Ending all UK military and intelligence collaboration with Israel.
- Banning imports from Israel.
- Questioning the Israeli ambassador to the UK about her support for genocide.
- Informing UK citizens participating in the Israeli military that they risk prosecution for war crimes.”
Protests continue to grow
The government’s decision to outlaw the group came days after Palestine Action activists targeted an RAF base allegedly involved in the Israeli arms supply chain.
Under the terms of the ban, anyone expressing support for the group or sharing its materials can face up to 14 years in prison.
However despite this, a growing number of activists have flouted the ban and publicly expressed support for the group at near weekly protests in city centres across the UK.
Hundreds have been arrested at demonstrations in London, Manchester and Cardiff holding placards with the message “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” the first of which occurred just days after the proscription came into force.
Campaigners from the pressure group Defend Our Juries have confirmed that at least 500 people have committed to holding the same message, “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” at another major protest in central London on Saturday 9 August.
Police have responded warning of mass arrests should the protest go ahead but the activists appear determined to carry on.
A Met police spokesperson said the organisers of Saturday’s planned protest are attempting to put the overcrowded criminal justice system under further pressure.
“We are aware that the organisers of Saturday’s planned protest are encouraging hundreds of people to turn out with the intention of placing a strain on the police and the wider criminal justice system,” they said.
They added: “The Met is very experienced in dealing with large-scale protests, including where the protest activity crosses into criminality requiring arrests. Our officers will continue to apply the law in relation to Palestine Action as we have done since its proscription. Anyone showing support for the group can expect to be arrested.”
The move has triggered wider backlash beyond the British Jewish community. Several UN special rapporteurs and human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Liberty, have also criticised the ban as disproportionate and an attempt to conflate protest with terrorism.
Civil liberties groups have warned that the proscription could lead to further criminalisation of Palestine solidarity activism, including arrests for social media posts or peaceful protest actions.
Palestine Action has since launched a legal challenge in the High Court to overturn the ban, arguing that the government’s decision is politically motivated and lacks legal justification. A ruling is expected later this month.
Government’s warning
Yvette Cooper has said she has seen some “disturbing information” relating to the future plans of Palestine Action, urging people not to protest in support of the organisation.
Speaking ahead of a major demonstration to protest the decision to ban the group, the home secretary warned the public that “this is not a non-violent organisation”, adding that more information about the group is likely to be revealed in future court cases.
She said: “The proscribing process is based on detailed security assessments and security advice to me as home secretary, and I have to take that immensely seriously. It’s based on violent action and injuries that this group has taken, including on national security targets, but also injuries to people, and also some disturbing information referring to future planning as well. So that’s the information that I have to take immensely seriously when making those proscribing decisions.
“Let’s be clear: this is not about Palestine or protesting about Palestine. This is about a particular, narrow, specific group that has both a violent record and information and about future planning as well. More of that information is likely to be really revealed once court cases come through, and can’t be in advance. But I would say to people, this is not a non violent organisation.”
It comes after Downing Street on Monday warned: “Those who seek to support this group may yet not know the true nature of this organisation.”
