Hundreds of British Jews condemn ban on Palestine Action as 'unethical'
Hundreds of British Jews have written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper describing the proscription of direct action group Palestine Action as "illegitimate and unethical".
A delegation is expected to deliver the letter, which has been signed by over two hundred British Jews, to Downing Street on Tuesday afternoon.
Lead signatories include authors Michael Rosen and Gillian Slovo, comedian Alexei Sayle and lawyer Geoffrey Bindman, who instructed Starmer when the prime minister was at the bar.
Andrew Feinstein, who served under Nelson Mandela in South Africa's first democratic parliament, is also a signatory.
At last July's general election, Feinstein stood against Starmer in the London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, coming second with 7,312 votes.
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Jenny Manson, a former Labour councillor and co-chair of Jewish Voice for Labour, is another prominent signatory.
"Opposing the brutality of genocide, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing taking place in Gaza and the West Bank, including taking direct action, is not antisemitic," the letter reads.
"Nor is it terrorism. We consider the proscription of Palestine Action as illegitimate and unethical."
'Disturbing trend by successive governments'
Last week a High Court Judge ruled in favour of Palestine Action and granted the direct action group a judicial review to oppose the UK government’s ban on the group.
The ruling marks a setback for the government, which has faced criticism over its handling of the proscription and concerns that the ban on the group could be used to stifle criticism of Israel and the right to protest.
"The actions of the UK government expand on a disturbing trend of attempts by successive governments to restrict peaceful protests intended to save lives," the letter says.
"Article 10 of the Human Rights Act specifies the right to freedom of expression which includes the right to take non-violent direct action in accordance with one’s conscience even where this involves civil disobedience.
"This has long been a route to achieving progressive change in society, for example in the courage of the suffragettes."
The UK government proscribed Palestine Action under anti-terror laws on 4 July, following an incident in which members broke into RAF Brize Norton and spray-painted two planes they said were “used for military operations in Gaza and across the Middle East".
Since Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation, more than 200 people have been arrested - including priests, vicars and former magistrates - after they were deemed by police officers to have expressed support for the group.
Supporting the group is now a criminal offence, as is inviting or "recklessly" expressing "support for the group”.
Those found guilty of supporting or inviting support for the group can face up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000.
"The government should stop deflecting attention from genocide by linking non-violent protest to terrorism," urges the letter.
"Instead, we call on your government to use its influence to help to end genocide and bring about justice for the Palestinian people."
It calls on the government to place sanctions on Israel and inform "UK citizens participating in the Israeli military that they risk prosecution for war crimes".
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