The 2011 Channel 4 TV programme “Dispatches - inside Britain's Israel Lobby” above showed that Al Jazeera are not the first to expose Israel’s influence of UK politics.

Back in those days the Guardian was critical of Israel, something the Zionists have succeeded in reversing. Even then the Zionist lobby were telling the editor that criticising Israel was going to endanger Jews in the UK!! Calling such critics anti-Semites was becoming prevalent even then. The BBC was also in the process of being hobbled and nobbled.

We now have Laura Kuenssberg as Political Editor, clearly disastrous for Palestine, and Corbyn too. The Guardian and the BBC, two bodies popularly associated with freedom of speech, have been at the forefront of the “bogus anti-Semitism” campaign, repeatedly making false claims about AS in Labour. Eight years on, most of the UK still ignores the truth about what is going on in the Middle East, the Government still declaring Israel “a close ally”. Its drift towards fascism goes unremarked in the UK mainstream media. And we created Israel.

Which makes setting up a body to oppose Zionist influence in the UK and Labour even more pressing. I have revised the posting in my last update, at www.tinyurl.com/laziwork following submissions from Jon de Rennes, Rabbi Ahron Cohen, and Socialist Fight. I have now removed the “Israel exaggerates the Holocaust” statement and reduced it to “Whilst Israel may not exaggerate the numbers, we believe they exploit and weaponise it.” I also now propose calling the group LABOUR AGAINST ZIONIST ISLAMOPHOBIC RACISM (LAZIR), for the connotation of a laser cutting out parasitic growths. I must say Socialist Fight have provided many excellent suggestions, most of which I have incorporated.

I shall seek support from Labour Against the Witchhunt for LAZIR, as I know Zionism is a subject close to their hearts. In spite of early rejections from two LAW officers, I aim to take the idea of LAZIR to the LAW all-members meeting on May 4. I hope that the LAWyers may prove more supportive than those on their steering group who have rebuffed me - possibly considering me a clumsy oaf who will make them all hostages to fortune. The idea is that the LAZIR aims and policies are open to comment and correction until after May 4. At which point I hope it might have been finally amended at the LAW members meeting - and, if it fails to get support there, we’ll just launch it officially anyway. If you want to give support, please come along. It only costs £10 to join LAW, money well spent, in my opinion.

LAZIR seeks the single state solution, as do BDS. Also hear the Palestinian lawyer, Diana Butt, on the Trump peace plan – she favours the single state solution, too.

The Jewish Labour Movement AGM continues to undermine Labour. Jewish Voice for Labour are onto them- read their statement about the shameful decision of the JLM not to support Labour under Jeremy Corbyn. The Zionist JLM are our biggest challenge. JVL also reposted David Rosenberg’s personal riposte on his Rebel Notes blog.

Twinning Edinburgh with Gaza

I’ve lodged a Council petition calling for Edinburgh Council to twin with Gaza; see it on the Council website here. I will know by the end of May if the Council will validate it; I have already had a negative response from two of my local Councillors, but I think getting many signatures will be key to a positive final decision. The SNP lead Edinburgh with Labour and both claim to be sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinians. Let us test their resolve. If your Council has a petitions process, please try calling for your City to be twinned with a Palestine town (or even Gaza). I have been in touch with Hamas and they have responded saying they would support any initiative that helped the Palestinian people.

Tony Greenstein Spat/IPSO Complaint

Policy 4 of the LAZIR Aims and Policies states “We believe in freedom of speech and will not bar anyone from joining this group. They must stand by the rules and satisfy these conditions: ...”. My commitment to freedom of speech was sorely tested recently when I was attacked by Tony Greenstein for promoting, in an earlier one of these updates, an article by Ian Fantom on Herzl, the “father” of Zionism. Tony pointed out that Ian mentions Kollerstrom, a Holocaust sceptic, in his piece; he declared I must take it down else he would call upon LAW to expel me- and copied many others into his tirade, including LAW Google Groups, to whom I had no access. Not knowing who was hearing my defence, I responded by putting the whole sorry affair on my website. I was then slandered in the Jewish Chronicle and have now complained to the press regulator IPSO about their conduct. See today’s update on my website here.

Whilst on the subject of Herzl, please see the excellent article by Leon Rosselson, re-posted in Jewish Voice for Labour on here. He considers Zionist Herzl one of the greatest supporters of anti-Semitism ever.

Know a Good Libel Lawyer? / Complaint to ICO over Labour Breach

Whilst the Chronicle (above) is regulated by IPSO and must respond to their inquiries, other publications, such as The Jewish News, are not. JN are sadly not regulated by anybody and the only way to deal with slander from them is in the courts. If any of you know a good libel lawyer, can you email me at postmaster@roseburn32.plus.com ? On the 11th March, JN published an article about the GMB rejecting my appeal, in which they claimed a number of falsehoods, including saying that I had been suspended by Labour. I furiously protested to them.

Then, five days later, I received notice from Labour that I really was being suspended. The letter stated this was for a possible breach of rule 2.1.8 (which I later found does not exist!) and demanded confidentiality. But Labour HQ had broadcast my suspension to the Jewish press at least five days before they told me. I therefore wrote to Labour Disputes Dept (copying in the NEC) pointing out it was they who had breached confidentiality and demanded an explanation. I also lodged a complaint to Labour HQ. Predictably Labour have ignored my requests. I also submitted a Subject Access Request (SAR) to Labour’s Data officer; under GDPR they must give up what they have on file about me.

After waiting the requisite 30 days for their failure to respond on either count I was able to complain formally to the Information Commissioner- see the complaint here. I must now wait up to 3 months for action. Several others have been the victims of Labour HQ leaks over the past three years.. but since early March the Zionist mole in the Disputes Dept has been working overtime. The Electronic Intifatada article on Asa Wistanley shows how far the rot has gone and recently Jackie Walker, Pam Bromley and Sian Bloor also suffered in the press. Clearly there is a pattern here, one that needs addressing. I urge all who have had their SAR ignored or who have suffered a data breach by Labour to complain to the ICO here ; if we work together, we can begin to root out Zionist infiltration at Labour HQ.

Many breaches and suspensions (including that of Chris Williamson MP) have occurred since the beginning of March. This is about the same time that Labour's General Secretary Jennie Formby (who usually has a firm grip on HQ affairs) started treatment for breast cancer. I suspect this has led to Zionists in the London offices going on a witch-hunting spree.

Liberty

The campaign group for freedom of speech in the UK, Liberty, have refused to address the loss of freedom of speech on Israel. At their AGM last May, Professor Jonathan Rosenhead of the LSE moved a motion, seconded by Louise Christian, a well-known solicitor, opposing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism. The motion was passed almost unanimously.

Liberty’s officers took fright, as I have myself learned. Following the advice of my QC, Michael Mansfield, I hassled Liberty for months over my GMB woes. At one point I was able to get to speak to a Liberty adviser on the phone; she assured me she would pass my email onto the legal and policy Depts. Eventually an email came saying they were busy with other matters and because the GMB were not a public body they couldn't help. But their website says "Liberty challenges injustice, defends freedom and campaigns to make sure everyone in the UK is treated fairly" Everyone except trade unionists and Labour Party members, it would seem. This post in Tony Greenstein’s blog of 9/10/18 “Why are the Officers and Employees of Civil Liberties Group Liberty Refusing to Implement its Policy of Opposition to the IHRA?” has helped me understand why. I have written to the Liberty Director, Martha Spurrier, and gotten no reply.

I now intend to picket and attend the Liberty AGM in Leeds on the 18th May. Will any of the 2,122 of you who have signed this petition come to join me? I would REALLY APPRECIATE SUPPORT!!!

If enough of us together tell Liberty that they need to get busy on this and honour their charter, please get in touch with me at postmaster@roseburn32.plus.com These days they are more interested in Brexit and knife crime. They have forgotten their purpose. The IHRA definition is being used to muzzle free speech on Israel and they fail us by looking away. Let’s make them listen.

Stop the War

I have learnt that Stop the War coalition are really a front for the SWP, who in Scotland are sympathetic to the Friends of Israel. Thus the Zionists effectively dictate Stop the War policy. Their hypocrisy was exposed when I sought their support for the Glasgow ZIR rally for Palestine to mark the Great March of Return. None of their patrons – Brian Eno, Diane Abbott MP, George Galloway, Mark Rylance, Tariq Ali plus 22 other luminaries cared to consider my complaint. The Weekly Worker published my letter about it- see “Clumsy Oaf?” (that’s me!) which is the seventh letter down here.

Stan’n’Sian – IHRA Victims

Palestine campaigners Stan Keable and Sian Bloor are local authority employees who were fired for “bogus anti-Semitism” last year. Both will have their Employment Tribunal hearings in late May against their respective Council’s decisions (Hammersmith for Stan, Trafford Council for Sian). Both have been deserted by their unions. I really hope they win their appeals for reinstatement. Stan has a fundraiser for his legal costs – contribute to it here.

The Boys in Blue

Some of you may recall that last year at Labour Conference, Merseyside Police stopped me from displaying my cartoon banner showing Netanyahu calling Corbyn an anti-Semite. I wrote the story up here. Before I could progress a claim against the cops for breaking the law, I had to exhaust their complaints process, which took five months. I have now contracted with DPP Law to pursue a claim for compensation against the police, citing their breach of Article 9, 10 and 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights. The rozzers are now lying through their teeth to escape justice, but I have four witnesses.

Any compensation I gain I shall use to pay legal fees to challenge the IHRA definition in the courts, help pay ET and litigation fees for myself and others, etc. My solicitor reckons I have good prospects of success.

Cheers the noo,

Pete Gregson, Edinburgh