Israel
Black Lives Matter UK Faces Backlash Over Anti-Israel Tweet
Black Lives Matter’s U.K. chapter posted a series of tweets over the weekend dismissing the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in Israel. The backlash, however, that followed the group’s statement has increased accusations of antisemitism as the group continues what it describes, as its fight for social justice.
BLM has been leading protests that have erupted across the globe in recent weeks since the death of George Floyd. Floyd tragically died in police custody when a Minneapolis Police Officer knelt on his neck for over 8 minutes.
“As Israel moves forward with the annexation of the West Bank, and mainstream British politics is gagged of the right to critique Zionism, and Israel’s settler colonial pursuits, we loudly and clearly stand beside our Palestinian comrades. FREE PALESTINE,” BLM UK wrote on Twitter Sunday, defending that the comments are not antisemitic, but are merely “opposition to Israel’s policies.”
In this case, the comments come as Israel inches closer to claiming sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has “strongly objected” the move, calling it a “breach of international law.”
Black Lives Matter has now inserted itself into that debate, but with an outright dismissal of Jewish claims to the land. It isn’t the first time for the supporter of the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement.
As a Zionist, myself, it’s been quite difficult to reconcile my support for our right to our homeland and for the pursuit of justice. The same goes for other Zionists, who have come out in outspoken condemnation of the group’s recent comments.
Yoni Michanie, a former IDF paratrooper, pointed to this on Twitter saying, “The belief that you can achieve justice and equality by demanding the dismantling of a movement which seeks to protect indigenous rights to national liberation seems counterintuitive.”
The belief that you can achieve justice and equality by demanding the dismantling of a movement which seeks to protect indigenous rights to national liberation seems counterintuitive. https://t.co/TjN06DrJQ9
— Yoni Michanie (@YoniMichanie) June 28, 2020
Jerry Dunleavy, a reporter for The Washington Examiner wrote, “Black Lives Matter ***the org*** is a radical group founded by Marxists who admire cop killers. The UK org says it is endorsed by Patrisse Cullors, current leader of BLM, who openly admits that she is a Marxist. Looks like they’re openly anti-Israel too.”
Black Lives Matter ***the org*** is a radical group founded by Marxists who admire cop killers. This UK org says it is endorsed by Patrisse Cullors, current leader of BLM, who openly admits that she is a Marxist. Looks like they're openly anti-Israel too.https://t.co/lDb5ZaERuD https://t.co/YPVoIlWpdf
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) June 28, 2020
Ashager Araro, an IDF reserves lieutenant and Founder of Bettae – Ethiopian Israeli Heritage Center, questioned the group’s mission, asking, “Can someone explain to me how promoting an anti-Israel agenda help black people in the UK? AHAHA..it doesn’t?” adding, “So you’re just abusing legitimate and important struggle to promote your uneducated political point of view?”
Can someone explain to me how promoting an anti-Israel agenda help black people in the UK?
AHAHA..it doesn't?
So you're just abusing legitimate and important struggle to promote your uneducated political point of view? https://t.co/mAq5dkT86q— Ashager Araro (@AshagerAraro) June 28, 2020
Read BLM’s Twitter thread below:
Further reading below
👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) June 28, 2020
Tens of BAME organisations in the UK condemned efforts "deny Palestinians’ basic humanity by suppressing their entire history and current plight" https://t.co/sdRHI7LXSN pic.twitter.com/9FUf7oHhPS
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) June 28, 2020
240 Jewish and Israeli scholars, including internationally-recognised experts on antisemitism, addressed the German parliament last year, regarding the BDS movement for Palestinian rights. https://t.co/EWgZ3k24rY pic.twitter.com/jgN1Aot1eX
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) June 28, 2020
British Palestinians called for the active protection and promotion of "accurate information about current and past events in the life of the Palestinian people, as part of Britain’s ongoing, and outstanding, colonial debt." https://t.co/O4DpuWeJsD pic.twitter.com/Pt1RYG3Cb3
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) June 28, 2020
On the eve of Israel's planned formal annexation of Palestinian land, we stand with Palestinian civil society in calling for targeted sanctions in line with international law against Israel's colonial, apartheid regime.
https://t.co/1I50O4yIBL pic.twitter.com/7nXTz3Krti
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) June 28, 2020
We stand with Palestinians at this most urgent time, and against the accelerated attacks on their rights laid out above and in many other sources.
Ours is a united fight against colonialism in all its forms. Justice is indivisible. https://t.co/m5iWzwvtUB
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) June 28, 2020
Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar was voted off the House Foreign Affairs Committee Thursday. The action was expected, as Republican members of Congress had criticized Omar’s antisemetic and anti-American rhetoric.
After intense debating on the House floor, the resolution passed with a 218-211 vote. Democrats attempted to pull the race card, accusing Republican House members of racism for removing Omar from the committee.
Omar also accused House Republicans of racism, saying, “I am Muslim, I am an immigrant, and interestingly, from Africa…Is anyone surprised that I am being targeted? Is anyone surprised that I am somehow deemed unworthy to speak about American foreign policy, or that they see me as a powerful voice that needs to be silenced?”
“There is this idea that you are a suspect if you are an immigrant or if you are from certain parts of the world or certain skin tone or a muslim.” Omar said during the heated debate. A fiery Alexandria Ocasia Cortez also chimed in shouting, “This is an attack on women of color!”
Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, from New York, said she had personally witnessed Omar spew anti-American rhetoric. Malliotakis said, “I have been in that committee room where, the representative, equates Israel and the United States to Hamas and the Taliban. Absolutely unacceptable for a member of that committee.”
A four-page resolution was written for the justification of removing Omar from the house Foreign Affairs Committee. The resolution states that in 2019, Omar suggested that Jewish people were buying U.S. political support when she posted on Twitter, “it’s all about the Benjamins, baby.”
Omar also commented on the September 11th attacks saying, “some people did something.” This type of comment is unacceptable for any representative who is sitting on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, lawmakers said.
In the resolution it states that members of this committee should all be held to an “equal standard of conduct due to the international sensitivities and national security concerns under the jurisdiction of this committee.”
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