I see George Galloway’s call to anti-Israel protestors to “shut down Israel’s shops”* on Saturday didn’t just result in the entirely British-owned Marks & Spencer being targeted by activists.
In London, during the protest, it seems that that well-known Israeli shop Starbucks was attacked.
The Chief Executive and Chairman of Starbucks is a US citizen, Howard Schultz, who just happens to be Jewish.
I wonder how long before someone will decide the corollary to Mr Galloway’s “Israeli shops” is “Israeli people” or British people as some us like to call them. Some people would say this is already happening.
* Galloway has subsequently got a lackey to mount a somewhat baroque defence of his words, perhaps with an eye on the DPP and incitement laws:
“The piece on page nine of the print edition of today’s Observer, and online, reporting yesterday’s pro-Palestinian demonstration in London unfortunately includes a damaging misreport of comments made by George Galloway MP.
“The par reads: ‘In one of several speeches delivered in Kensington Gardens, George Galloway, leftwing MP for the Respect party, called on protesters to go to shopping centres and “shut down Israel’s shops” in what was believed to be a reference to retailers, including Marks & Spencer, which have come under fire for selling Israeli-sourced goods.’
“1) The quote attributed is wrong. Mr Galloway spoke of “Israel shops”. The language is precise. There are in the two shopping malls he mentioned mobile retailers called “Israel Shops”, which are staffed by Israelis and promote Israeli/West Bank goods – Dead Sea skin products etc. Mr Galloway was being extremely careful to focus his comments precisely.
“2) Not only did Mr Galloway not intend to refer generally to retailers, he is on film the night before speaking in the London Muslim Centre explicitly and categorically stating that Marks & Spencer should NOT be boycotted, explaining that it is a public company owned by shareholders like any other and has nothing to do with Israel.
“This is a very sensitive area, where innuendo and mishearing can have dangerous consequences. (It is highly regrettable that the reporters seek to explicate what they think Mr Galloway meant by passively referring to what unnamed people might believe, in fact groundlessly given the misquote.)
“We are insisting on an immediate online correction to the story and a suitably prominent correction in the next edition of the Observer. In our view, this piece can be easily read to impute motives and beliefs to Mr Galloway which, if they were true, would be considered reprehensible by the right thinking public. They are not true.”
So Galloway was simply referring to a couple of stalls in local shopping centres? You can believe it or not. Judge for yourself at about 2.45:
[youtube=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iSbmvnB5mdw]
It sounds like he says “shut down the Israel shops” to me, although it’s obviously open to being misconstrued, for example as “Israeli shops”. What did he expect people to understand by that anyway? A totally irresponsible statement to make.
He says: “Go to Westfields. Go to Bluewater. Go to ALL the shopping malls and shut down the Isreal shops in your shopping centres selling stolen goods grown on stolen land!”
Team Demagogue can’t start splitting hairs now – that’s a pretty unambiguous statement.
That reminds me, I need to get some Dead Sea salts for my skin condition :-p
A plague on both their houses. Legitimate protest against Israel’s actions will always attract Jew hating idiots, just as well-founded concern about the more backward elements of Islam will always attract racists.
The only difference between a lot of the westerners who get involved in this is wether they hate Jews or Muslims more.
Anyway, George Galloway is a tart. Anyone who needs to be told what to do by him might well donate their brain to medical research.
yep, george galloway, a prize moron & general all round tosser 😀
Thwe founders of Marks & Spencer were Jewish and supporters of the illegal formation, by terrorist groups, of the “state” of Israel. M&S continuesto have strong links to Israel, probably more than any other British retailer. It can therefore be called a supporter of Israel, and a legitimate target for boycotts and denonstrations.
Galloway is rightfully PISSING YOU OFF because he says the only MORAL thing that is right to say. That ISRAEL is ISRAHELL.
Now, the Starbucks CEO just doesn´t happen to be jewish but is also a wellknown ZIONIST. Oops, that means that he supports a racist ideology. Oh, how boring it must be when reality and truth is not justifiying mass slaughter and apartheid policies…
VIVA PALESTINE!
Zionists are relgious bigots. So are Islamonazis.
However, neither is by definition ‘racialist’. Your use of the race card just shows how it has become a ‘silence all critics’ card. Relgious bigotry is just as mindless, but for some odd reason no one seems to fear being called that like they do ‘racist’ (and by the way, the correct word is ‘racialist’. ‘Racism’ is simply the idea of race. So if you believe that ‘race’ exists, you are a ‘racist’).
Marks and Spencer was founded in 1884, 6 years before “Zionism” was coined as a term for Jewish nationalism by Austrian Jewish publisher Nathan Birnbaum in 1890.
I support the boycott of Israeli goods as a peaceful response to the violence of the Israeli state, but as someone who has relatives living in Israel am quite depressed at some of the anti semitism that’s coming out.
“Legitimate protest against Israel’s actions will always attract Jew hating idiots, just as well-founded concern about the more backward elements of Islam will always attract racists.”
Very true well said Jozer!
BristolBlogger why no pictures on your blog of destroyed Gaza and the suffering of it’s people ,especially the children! The deafening silence from much of our political elite in condeming Israel’s actions and the fact that Gaza has disappeared of the front pages of most papers is a moral afront. Lets have some balance if you want to retain your credibility, instead of complaining about a tiny minority of presumed racists in a protest complain about this ongoing genocide in Gaza! The adage think global act local is what people are talking about when they talk of boycotting Israeli produce or shops connected to selling Israeli produce, it’s one of the few ways people can express themselves peacefully and have an effect . George Galway is a brave outspoken supporter of the Arab peoples and although I do not agree with everything he says, I recognise that he has been right on many issues, certainly Iraq. However a protest in M&S can not be compared to dropping white phosporous and depleted Uranium ordenance on defenslesss peoples, it is one thing to argue about racism and anti-semitism, but you are missing the point and acting as a diversion which you should be ashamed of. The biggest thing that jewish people have to worry about is the actions of Israel, which unfortunatly taint them the same as the actions of the British government, whose hands are certainly not clean of the blood of Palestinians, Lebanese, Afghanies and Iraqi’s which shames British people – those that are protesting are least showing a moral direction – the ultimate act of racism is to bomb innocents!
The thing is, I’d be a lot happier with the boycott Isreali goods campaign if only it didn’t have such wankers and bigots fronting it up. For instance, I just got an email from Naomi Klein’s mailing list, a very calm, rational and humane argument for a boycott. I still had questions, (notably: How does a boycott not hurt ordinary people, for instance, the government boycotted Iraq for ten years and all that happened was that thousands of people starved) but I got the feeling that if I was talking to the person who wrote the argument they would actually listen and give me a coherent response rather than a chilling, terminology-laden, “duckspeak” type rant straight out of 1984.
I repeat: Ranting and raving about “TEH ISRALIANZ BOMBINNOCENTZ ZOMG!”, repeating burned out slogans and supporting Hamas won’t get you anywhere at all. In fact it has definitely alienated me. I won’t support anything that’s fronted up by a ranting raving rent-a-demagogue like Galloway on principle, I suspect that most people are much more likely to listen to someone with a more calm, reasoned and humane approach.
Also I have for years witnessed a lot of anti-semitism of the “we’re all white men here” variety from right-on activists, and obviously I don’t want to fall for a load of racialist propaganda. So I’ll be going to Holland and Barrett and buying those dead sea salts tomorrow, probably. (anyway my skin is really messed up)
The thing is, I’d be a lot happier with the boycott Isreali goods campaign if only it didn’t have such wankers and bigots fronting it up. For instance, I just got an email from Naomi Klein’s mailing list, a very calm, rational and humane argument for a boycott. I still had questions, (notably: How does a boycott not hurt ordinary people, for instance, the government boycotted Iraq for ten years and all that happened was that thousands of people starved) but I got the feeling that if I was talking to the person who wrote the argument they would actually listen and give me a coherent response rather than a chilling, terminology-laden, “duckspeak” type rant straight out of 1984.
I repeat: Ranting and raving about “TEH ISRALIANZ BOMBINNOCENTZ ZOMG!”, repeating burned out slogans and supporting Hamas won’t get you anywhere at all. In fact it has definitely alienated me. I won’t support anything that’s fronted up by a ranting raving rent-a-demagogue like Galloway on principle, I suspect that most people are much more likely to listen to someone with a more calm, reasoned and humane approach.
Also I have for years witnessed a lot of anti-semitism of the “we’re all white men here” variety from right-on activists, and obviously I don’t want to fall for a load of racialist propaganda. So I’ll be going to Holland and Barrett and buying those dead sea salts tomorrow, probably. (anyway my skin is really messed up)
Also folks – how does it help the Palestinians to smash up a Starbucks and wave swastikas in front of a Marks and Sparks? People are just gonna think you’re a loon if you carry on like that, however noble your motives. I keep hearing that there have been lots of racist attacks against Jews in the last couple of years – how does that help Palestine?
You need to clean house of all the racist scum and religious nutters if you want me on board mate.
I’m disappointed if people can’t empathise with the poor Palestinian peoples who are being labelled terrorists and bombed sh1tless in their own country, when they are really innocents and freedom fighters, fighting for their existence – they weren’t parachuted in!
There are many atrocities being enacted out across the world with western origins or complicit support – The War on Terror, so nobly enacted by the Bush buffoon on Israeli orders and our wonderful Tone the amazing Middle East Peace envoy is a war of terror against innocents.
If you want to stop radicalisation then you should also realise that this atrocity will be recognised for stirring deep unrest amongst many, who see Jews on the whole as perpetrators rightly or wrongly. The Jewish organisations that are rightly trying to support Palestinians I’m sure realise this and I personally really feel for those innocent Jews caught up in this Zionist nonsense, as no good will come out of it. It’s the same for any form of extreme nationalism that people tie themselves to the mast of or fall for, Zionism = Fascism, I think that’s pretty easy to understand, just watch what limited coverage of Gaza there is on the telly now . Impeach Bush, Impeach Blair as a starter and hold a War tribunal at the Hague – what chance?
Some sense from Jews for justice for Palestinians :-
http://www.jfjfp.org/
“when they are really innocents and freedom fighters”
WTF has lobbing crappy obsolete rockets at Israeli civillians, knowing full well that it will provoke a far greater response, have to do with ‘freedom fighters’?
Hamarse are Iran’s bitches. They want Palestinians to be killed and injured for propoganda, and to maintain the Palestinian hatred of Israel.
Face the fact that a lot of Arabs & Muslims don’t give a toss about their Palestinian Muslim ‘brothers’. They’re just usefull propoganda for the endless Muslim war on Israel.
A man of compassion Dr Mads Gilbert, who makes Norwegians proud!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev6ojm62qwA&feature=channel_page
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7eWcuMaEOqg
mike chappell, maybe you should get back over & mix with your leftie friends at indymedia or wherever? maybe they all happily lap up your nonsensical waffling.
or maybe go do a rooftop protest somewhere, maybe tel aviv, or gaza even?
oh no, you wouldn’t wanna get out of your safety zone would you??:D
& for anyone interested, look up mads gilbert on wikipedia & you’ll find out he fits in perfectly with the george galloway wanker brigade!!!! 😀
Brave Haredi Jews Against Israel
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9oeB3QhX2RI&feature=related
Mike,
I don’t personally want to post photographs of dead children on the internet because I’m not certifiably insane and don’t really want to give the impression that I am.
However, blogging is very democratic, so if you think posting photos of dead children on the internet will help, here’s a link to WordPress. You can set up a blog in a about ten minutes and post these photos to your heart’s content.
If you accompany your pics of dead kids with some of your intriguing commentary on world affairs, I think you might create something quite, um … special.
Redzone I feel terribly sorry for you, you seem to be some what lacking in compassion if you can critiscise a doctor for saving lives based on his political allegance – a true sign of a fascist?
Your right in that I’m leftie in that I’m socialist in leaning and a Liberal supporter, I didn’t think that was a crime, but of course it would be in a fascist state! If your the best the Bristol Blogger has then perhaps it’s not a forum for open minded people that I want to spend my time discussing what is a really important issue.
You are allobviously angry at something, just not the right thing!
I really can’t understand you folks, people die in droves and you look for a political excuse, like Blair, instead of condeming – I don’t see Mads Gilbert flying apache attack helicopters, F16 or driving Mersheva tanks, only saving lives.
The Bristol Blogger has badly let Bristolians down in not posting an article supporting innocent Palestinians in Gaza and the deafening silence from our Council – it seems BB is happy to critiscise them on everything else though.
the problem is mike, your lot trot out the same old drivel time & time again, yet you fail to realise nobody is interested in your agendas.
i have a lot of compassion for the ordinary civilians of palestine, but absolutely none for Hamas, their leaders. who i might add, don’t give a toss for ordinary palestinians either, unless of course they are hamas members.
saying that, you & your fellow comrades use these situations to enhance your own political standing, hijacking ‘peaceful’ marches with your own brand of extremism.
inciting riots, then blaming it all on the fascist police state:?
give me a break, the good news is, your less popular than the far right factions, which is good for those of us in the middle ground who can see both sides of the story 😀
(I was talking to Mike Chappell btw)
Frightening how basic humanity and compassion is being lost here amongst all the hatred and historic point scoring. The suffering of the Palestinian people is real and needs acceptance from the major western powers. We can hope that Obama will help to lead a proper recognition. This does not excuse Hamas or their actions.
Being concerned about the dispraportionate response of Israel does not make anyone anti -semitic. Nick Clegg has spoken out loud and clear on this as we had to on the Iraq war but I would also give special mention to Gerald Kaufman. A labour politician and a Jew . (pity his party leadership lacks his clarity). His bravery in speaking out should be commended.
People may wish to check out the Bristol city council website for a record of tonights meeting.
No one’s said it does Gary.
Mike, you seem to be under an illusion apparently induced by self-righteousness that not buying into bullshit support of Hamas somehow equates to not feeling sympathy or a sense of deep unjustice for Palestinians. Some people find it very easy to disassociate groups motivated by self-interest, anti-semitism, lack of respect for genuine Palestinian dignity and terrorism from the actual Palestinian people themselves.
Your obvious absorbtion in the idea that you have to get swept up in hysteria or you are somehow equivalent to the contemptable political elite is also base-level leftwing stupidity. What’s wrong with arguing against swastikas on protests? If you actually think the protests in this country will have any effect then shouldn’t you be agreeing with the Blogger? If these protests are effective then hatred and anti-semitism on them will ultimately have an extremely negative effect in return.
The Blogger is also right in what he says about pictures of dead children. Some of us don’t need to see these pictures even more on an internet blog (I’ve seen them on three seperate news shows already this evening so your idea that it’s out of mainstream media is dumb) to understand the situation or to communicate with people about it. You and other people have just taken up one side of the conflict (and the other side I’m talking about ISN’T support for the Israeli government so don’t get it twisted) so deeply that you accuse anyone who doesn’t exclusively talk about Palestinian suffering with shreiks and umbrage that they somehow don’t care about it.
The best thing the movement for a free Palestine can do is make sure it’s handled intelligently. All racism and anti-semitism should be rooted out for a start. Jews don’t have anything to do with this. The Israeli government does and anyone who tries to relate it to Jews anywhere else is a blithering idiot and a scumbag. Anyone who thinks they are a friend of the Palestinians should condemn it and make it open or they are in direct conflict with the peace movement.
Also like the Blogger said no one has said it makes anyone antisemitic. In fact it seems to betray a kind of thinking that talking about antisemitism is in fact an attempt to distract away from the issue. Gary said “Frightening how basic humanity and compassion is being lost here ” and if you’re talking about this blog Gary (and if you’re not apologies in advance) then I think you need to reassess what you yourself are saying. Are you implying that basic humanity and compassion for every person, regardless or Arab or Muslim or Jewish equates to a loss of compassion for Palestinians? The last part of your post sounds like it if I’m honest. I’m not even remotely implying anything about prejudice just ways of seeing situations from one angle. Anti-semitism is a byproduct of this movement and no matter how small it may be in this country’s local movements, it needs to be punched in the face and expelled wherever it’s found. I wouldn’t take it about Jews, I wouldn’t take it about Arabs and I wouldn’t take it about anyone.
It makes me so sad and angry that people seem to think in their own placards-saving-the-world and self-righteous mentality that they can’t look at more than one facet of a situation as it’s some kind of betrayal? I have just as much sympathy as anyone and probably a lot more than a lot of people for the suffering in Palestine. It’s heartbreaking. That doesn’t stop me or other people from being able to think about more than one thing at the same time. You reckon you’re the open minded one? Gutted.
There are quite a few activists, many of then Jewish involved with Palestinian solidarity who have been fighting Anti-Semitism when it rears its ugly head.
The evidence is pretty clear that Israel, not Hamas broke the ceasefire
Avi Schlaim( Israeli academic and ex IDF soldier) on Channel 4 News last night said just that.
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/gaza%20city%20sign%20reads%20cemetery%20is%20full/2902972