PROSCRIPTION OF HEZBOLLAH MUST GO FURTHER

The ZF and its UK members welcome the news that the EU has agreed to proscribe the military wing of the terrorist group Hezbollah. The ZF, along with many other pro Israel organisations, campaigned for months for Hezbollah to be listed as a terrorist organisation. This involved working with MPs, MEPs and UK Ministers on the issue and producing detailed research. We’d like to thank all our supporters who wrote to their MPs, MEPs, the EU Commission and The Foreign Secretary on the matter.

However, proscribing Hezbollah’s military wing does not effectively counter terrorism. In 2009 Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, stated: “Hezbollah has a single leadership. All political, social and jihad work is tied to the decisions of this leadership”. Consequently, for the EU to thwart global terrorism they should proscribe all wings of Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. Furthermore, the EU cannot ignore the role of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards who created Hezbollah and have made it the force it is today.

ZF Chairman Paul Charney stated “Whilst I welcome the news that the EU is proscribing some of Hezbollah, I am left questioning what about the rest. Since it is and always has been a single organic terrorist organisation, then how does this help?

The EU has made an irrelevant distinction and should proscribe Hezbollah immediately in its entirety”.

The ZF and all its members will continue to stand up to international terrorism.

ZF EMPOWERS ACTIVISTS TO WRITE

Over 30 ZF activists who had to apply for the courseattended the ZF’S 2013 writing course, run by David Harris. David is an experienced multimedia journalist on Israel and the wider Middle East. During his time as a journalist David has interviewed Tony Blair and Shimon Peres, amongst many others. David is currently the Director of Research and Content for The Israel Project.

During the course people were trained on how best to write Op-Eds, letters, blogs and how to utilise social media effectively to advocate for Israel. The writing course is one of a series of training programs that the ZF offers during the year.

ZF Director, Alan Aziz said “this writing course gave activists the opportunity to realise the power of the written word to be able to tell the truth about Israel. In the constant struggle against those who hate Israel the pen really is mightier than the sword”.

Participant Andrei Voica stated “David Harris gave precious knowledge on how to write an Op-Ed and what are the best tactics to be applied when it comes to using social-media. The ZF team, as always, proved to be outstanding organisers”.

The ZF will continue to train people to stand up for Israel in the UK.

More photos in both high and low resolution available upon request.

  

ZF STATEMENT ON NEWS THAT DAVID WARD MP HAS WHIP WITHDRAWN

“I am pleased to hear that David Ward MP has had his whip withdrawn for two months.  His use of anti-Semitic language veiled in anti-Israel rhetoric has finally been dealt with by his party.

I applaud Lib Dem Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael MP and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP for taking this necessary action. Should Mr Ward continue to abuse his position by using it as a platform to broadcast his prejudice against Jews and Israel, then his party should withdraw the whip permanently. This action sends a clear message that racially prejudiced language will not be tolerated in our society”.   

ZF WELCOMES NEWS THAT TfL ISRAELI EXLUSION CONDITION REMOVED

“I am pleased to report that following swift public outcry and a ZF chairman’s statement, the Israeli exclusion condition agreed between Emirates Airlines, the UAE official airline, and TfL has since been removed.

As part of the agreement, the Docklands cable car scheme would not be able to receive funding from Israeli owned finance houses, nor could it sell a majority stake to Israeli owned companies.

Thankfully, this oversight has not had any lasting effect on the important trading relationship between the UK and Israel. I firmly support a strong and mutually profitable trading relationship between the two democracies.

I would personally like to thank Sir Peter Hendy from TfL for urgently resolving this matter with Emirates Airlines.

We must remain vigilant against any back-door attempts to boycott Israel in the UK”.

Paul Charney- ZF CHAIRMAN  

ZF STATEMENT ON TFL ISRAELI EXCLUSION CONDITION

I am extremely disappointed to hear that Transport for London (TfL) has agreed to an Israeli exclusion condition put forward by the UAE relating to Thames Cable Cars.

As part of the agreement the cable car scheme can not receive funding from Israeli owned finance houses or banks. It also cannot sell a majority stake in the scheme to Israeli owned companies.

This sets a dangerous precedent effectively allowing UAE money to dictate government policy through commercial contracts. Bi-lateral trade has doubled over the past year making Israel one of Britain's key trading partners. This contractual exclusion would not benefit the UK in the long run.

I call on TfL to urgently discuss this matter with foreign and trade ministers and reconsider this agreement before any lasting damage is done” 

Paul Charney- ZF CHAIRMAN

A TRIBUTE TO MARGARET THATCHER

Around 100 people, including Marina Yannakoudakis MEP, came to Kinloss Synagogue to hear from Charles Moore about the true story of Lady Thatcher.

Charles, a former editor of the Spectator and Telegraph, was a close confidant of Margaret Thatcher and was asked by her to become her authorised biographer upon her death. He recently released the first volume of his biography 'Not for Turning'.

He spoke knowledgeably of how Margaret’s strong Christian faith meant she had a special place in her heart for the Jewish people. Thatcher claimed her greatest accomplishment was her work alongside her sister Muriel to help save a Jewish teenager in Austria from the Holocaust in 1938.

Margaret Thatcher was a staunch friend of Israel. In 1986 she became the first Prime Minister to make an official state visit to Israel. Moreover, Charles Moore highlighted how during a Cabinet meeting at the height of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, alongside Keith Joseph, she said that the UK Government should support Israel and ignore the Arabist Foreign Office. She was strongly opposed by the then Prime Minister Ted Heath.

Alan Aziz, director of the ZF said “Lady Thatcher stood by Israel and the Jewish people throughout her life. The event at Kinloss Synagogue, where I heard Lady Thatcher speak many times, gave the Jewish community the chance to pay tribute to this”.

Attendee Joel Musongela stated “Her love for the Jewish people gave me a perspective of my own affiliation to Israel and the Jews. It gave me a greater determination to stand against those who spread lies about Israel and the Jewish people”. 

MP SORRY FOR ANTISEMITIC OUTBURST

On Monday 1^st July Paul Charney, ZF Chairman, met with Patrick Mercer MP. This meeting was arranged following reports of anti-Semitic remarks made by Mr Mercer.

Mr Mercer gave a heartfelt apology to Mr Charney, the ZF and the entire Jewish community admitting his remarks were thoughtless, stupid and insensitive. Mr Mercer spoke at length to Mr Charney expressing his admiration for Israel and the Jewish people.

Mr Mercer confirmed that he will stand up for Israel in Parliament, which should illustrate his support for both Israel and the Jewish community in the UK.

ZF Chairman Paul Charney stated, “In my meeting with Patrick Mercer it was clear to me that he was deeply sorry for any offence his comments caused.  The ZF accept his apology and will work with him to show that he is a valued friend of Israel and Jewish people”.

The ZF will continue to make Israel ’s voice heard in Parliament.

TRIBUTE TO MARGARET THATCHER

In honour of Margaret Thatcher's support of Israel, both during her time in Parliament as MP for Finchley and Golders Green and as Prime Minister from 1979-1990, the ZF in conjunction with Kinloss Synagogue are holding a tribute night. The venue is Kinloss Synagogue which is poignant as Lady Thatcher spoke there a number of times.

The speaker is former editor of the Spectator and the Telegraph, Charles Moore. Charles was a close confidant of Margaret Thatcher and was asked by her to become her authorised biographer upon her death.  He recently released the first volume of his biography 'Not for Turning'.  During the reception and talk Charles will reveal the woman behind the myth and highlight her connection and support for the Jewish people.

Director of the ZF, Alan Aziz said, "I am honoured to help the Jewish community honour Margaret Thatcher. I personally heard her speak at Kinloss Synagogue when I was younger and we should remember Lady Thatcher's support for Israel shown by the first ever official British state visit to Israel in 1986. Moreover, throughout her life Margaret Thatcher was a vigorous opponent of antisemitism”.

Photos from the event in high and low resolution available upon request. Free press entry available.