Why Does Hove Jewish Centre, Ralli Hall Allow an Advocate of Rape to Speak but ban an Anti-Racist Critic of Israel

Ralli Hall Cancelled Hove Labour Party meeting because of criticism of Israel yet allowed Mordechai Kedar, an Advocate of Rape to Speak

Argus 17th February from 8 members of Brighton & Hove PSC 

Simon Cobbs of Sussex Friends of Israel organised the 'meet a rape supporter'

In the course of this post I wrote that:

‘Hove AGM was cancelled because the Jewish communal centre, Ralli Hall, where the meeting was supposed to take place, unilaterally terminated the booking.  This is the same Ralli Hall which staged a meeting 18 months ago featuring Professor Mordechai Kedar of Israel’s religious University Bar Ilan.  Kedar is a retired colonel in the Israeli army.  See The Zionist Federation and Sussex Friends of Israel Invite an Advocate of Rape to Speak

As Israel's Ha'aretz Reported Kedar's statement

I wrote that:

‘Kedar is famous for his advocacy of rape against Palestinian women as a weapon of war.  Israel’s Ha'aretz newspaper in an article Israeli Professor's 'Rape as Terror Deterrent' Statement Draws Ire quoted him as saying that:  ‘'The only thing that deters a suicide bomber is the knowledge that if he pulls the trigger or blows himself up, his sister will be raped'. (22.7.14.). 

Brighton and Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign held a demonstration outside the meeting.  Many Jewish venues, including schools and synagogues, such as Finchley, cancelled their meetings when Kedar’s comments became known.  Even the Board of Deputies of British Jews dissociated themselves from Kedar but not Ralli Hall, which was quite happy for the rally to go ahead. 

Kedar was the guest of the Sussex Jewish Representative Council, the Zionist Federation and our old friends Sussex Friends of Israel

I have therefore written to their Manager, Maxine Gordon as to why they prefer advocates of rape to critics of Israel.  A letter from 8 members of PSC, including myself, appeared in today’s Argus newspaper.  Ralli Hall has a lot of questions to ask.

I have also written a second letter to those in control of  Ralli Hall.  I won’t be holding my breath waiting for a reply.

Dear Ralli Hall,

You appear to have ignored the message that I sent you conerning your double standards when it comes to false allegations of anti-Semitism and allowing, Mordechai Kedar, an advocate of rape in war, to speak at Ralli Hall. 

According to the Argus your Manager Maxine Gordon said that she 'no choice' but to cancel a meeting of Hove Labour Party because of 'contentious statements made by Rebecca Massey on social media about Israel and Judaism.'

Clearly Ms Gordon hasn't heard of free speech.  Calling out Israel's racism is a matter of fact and is only 'contentious' in the eyes of those who prefer to turn a blind eye to Israeli atrocities, i.e. apologists for Israeli war crimes. I won't bother to enumerate such minor matters as the making of an Israeli hero out of the cold-blooded murderer Elor Azaria or the recent demolition of a Bedouin village Umm al-Hiran in the Negev to make way for the Jewish town of Hiran.

In The Times in the 1930's under Editor Geoffrey Dawson The Times forbade any mention of German anti-semitism during the pre-war years when the Nazi Party ruled Germany.  Criticism of the Nazis was also 'contentious' so Ms Gordon is in good company.

Even the Zionist Federation was forced to pull the meetings at schools

You said that because Becky Massey was attending a meeting at Ralli Hall on Sunday, February 3, you didn't feel it would be 'appropriate for the meeting to continue.”

Perhaps you can tell me why it was 'appropriate' for Kedar who said that '“The only thing that can deter terrorists, like those who kidnapped the children and killed them, is the knowledge that their sister or their mother will be raped.”  to speak at Ralli Hall?

The only conclusion that can be drawn is that you find support for rape in war less objectionable than criticism of Israel's war cimes.  I hope you found our letter concerning this to your liking in yesterday's Argus!  I attach a copy.