More Attacks on Freedom of Speech for anti-Zionists and Dissenters

Jonathan Hoffman Threatens to Sue Tony Greenstein for Reporting the Zionist-EDL Connection

According to his comment unless I take the story down about the joint demonstration between EDL and the Zionist Federation, of which he is the co-chair, Jonathan Hoffman's lawyers will be talking to me from 8 am on Monday!

Bit early I thought for a chat, but I suspect it isn’t about an invitation to breakfast. It would appear that JH doesn’t like the truth. The photograph clearly shows him and Roberta Moore demonstrating together and no attempt was made by the ZF to dissociate themselves from the EDL.

But what Hoffman is trying to obscure is the fact that the EDL support Zionist counter-demonstrations in support of the murders on the Mavi Marmara and selling stolen goods in Ahava shop? What is this pole of attraction between the BNP, EDL and most of Europe’s far right and Zionism? Could it be joint hatred of Muslims?

Well the fascists are in no doubt about the matter. Only Israel deals with Muslims as they ought to be dealt with, which is why the BNP supported the 2006 attack on Lebanon and the 2008/9 attack on Gaza.

As Lee Barnes, their legal advisor stated on 28th July 2006,

As a Nationalist I can say that I support Israel 100 % in their dispute with Hezbollah. In fact, I hope they wipe Hezbollah off the Lebanese map and bomb them until they leave large greasy craters in the cities where their Islamic extremist cantons of terror once stood. [accessed 20.8.10.]

Even the staid old Jewish Chronicle recently had a post entitled 'BNP praises Israel minister on foreigners' on November 5, 2009 reporting that 'the British National Party has leapt on comments by Israel’s Interior Minister, Eli Yishai, to suggest that the extreme-right party shares a common immigration policy with Israel.'

And what were these comments? According to Israel's 'Justice' Minister, Eli Yishai:

"If hundreds of thousands of migrant workers come here now, they will bring with them a profusion of diseases: hepatitis, measles, tuberculosis, AIDS and drug [addiction]"

Strange that. It was what anti-Semites and of course the Nazis used to say about the Jews. The target has changed but the ideas remain the same and once again the Zionists are happy for them to oblige.

And why shouldn't they love Israel? It was only a couple of weeks ago that Benjamin Netanyahu explained, in response to those poor sentimental souls in Israel who didn't want the children of migrant labourers to be deported, that the decision was

'"influenced by two primary considerations - the humanitarian consideration and the Zionist consideration. We're looking for a way to absorb and adopt to our hearts children who were brought up and raised here as Israelis. On the other hand, we don't want to create an incentive that will lead to hundreds of thousands of illegal migrant workers flooding the country," Ha'aretz 1.8.10.

Translation of this means that the Zionist and the humanitarian considerations were opposed. Zionist considerations mean a Jewish State i.e. as few as possible non-Jewish children and certainly no more. No wonder the BNP just love Zionism and Israel!

As Ruth Smeed for the Board of Deputies of British Jews explained, in the Guardian of 10th April 2009:

"The BNP website is now one of the most Zionist on the web - it goes further than any of the mainstream parties in its support of Israel and at the same time demonises Islam and the Muslim world

Since I shall not be retracting a word that I wrote I expect m’learned friends to be hauling me off in front of an Old Bailey jury. As I’m not an investment banker/ economist like Jonathan Hoffman, I shall undoubtedly be defending myself when this eventually comes to court.

Brighton Council Considers Appeal Against Magistrates Decision that Campaign Stalls can Have a Collection Box

And further to the Zionists’ use of the libel courts to prevent freedom of expression, we have news that Brighton Council is considering an appeal against my acquittal by Brighton Magistrates of making an illegal collection on behalf of Brighton Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Somewhat ironically The Argus, which didn’t report the original trial has reported the Council’s reaction!

Judging by reaction from people in other places, it would seem that Sussex Police are not unique in harassing activists. I spoke to someone last night from an animal rights group in Southampton which is being harassed by the police for similar reasons. Of course they wouldn’t be doing this to groups they have no quarrel with, so it is another example of the selective use of laws to harass peaceful protest and the dissemination of information in a democratic society.

Our argument was and is that this is a breach of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, i.e. freedom of expression.

It appears I’m going to be busy in the Courts next year!

I will be away for a week starting Saturday so this blog may not be updated given I don’t know how often I shall have Internet access.

Tony Greenstein