To think that London, or anywhere else for that matter, does not belong to any one demographic

Vintagewhine

I find those comments that anyone on the pro Palestine marches are anti semitic and/or supporters of Hamas extremely offensive. I know people who have attended these marches and they are decent humane people. There are many Jews on the marches. There are parents with their children in push chairs. For the last time, you don't have to be anti semitic or a supporter of Hamas to object to the way Palestinians are treated. Nearly every member country in the UN has, via their representative, expressed great concern.

This.

We seem to always end up talking about London, understandably, but locally here there have been vigils and small marches.

In the USA colleges across the country are taking part - U tube has a lot of information.

So many people across the world find Israel's conduct in Gaza totally unacceptable. Are we all anti semitic Hamas supporters? No of course not, any more than the majority of people on the Pro Palestine marches are. Take any large group of people and you will find bad ones but it's completely wrong to accuse everyone in the group of being the same. The police reports that I have read consistently say that the marches are generally peaceful, if they weren't they would have cause to ban them and they don't.

The police reports would claim the marchers are generally
peaceful, to say otherwise would admit they are choosing not
to do anything about antisemitism which is rampant in the marches

No other war has promoted this amount of conflict/marches/protests for years. Many years ago there were huge demonstrations in America about the war in Vietnam, I remember those. Also some protests about our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, but not on this scale. The protests in America at the universities are certainly upsetting my Jewish friends who live in the USA. They see it as antisemitism but Gransnetters deny this. Some of our Jewish Gransnetters also see the marches as antisemitic. Who is right?

Jews in. This country have endured 6 months of the evil that is
antisemitism, history shows what happens when not challenging it

I think I see it not as right or wrong but different POV depending on a great many things. Earlier I was researching the reaction in the USA and found a mixed reaction from the Jewish Community there too

www.france24.com/en/americas/20231020-not-in-our-name-the-jewish-new-yorkers-speaking-out-against-dehumanisation-of-palestinians

The police and the government would be better off stopping all marches regarding religion because this is what it is all about. Religion has a lot to answer for and wars are being started because of it. So much hatred in the name of God or whoever other countries worship. I am sick of it all.

RunaroundSue

The police and the government would be better off stopping all marches regarding religion because this is what it is all about. Religion has a lot to answer for and wars are being started because of it. So much hatred in the name of God or whoever other countries worship. I am sick of it all.

Totally agree.

Historically, how much is it every about religion or about resource and power grabbing in the name of a whole number of things.
Ideologies excluding religion. Limited resources. Oil. Land to farm. Racism as in slavery and its legacy.....access to trade routes...the building of Empires at the cost of those conquered.
Always using "them and us" labels instead of seeking middle ways.

The antisemitism from students in American universities is
purely hatred of Jews

Having watched news reports about the protests in American universities, I can agree with that Annie. The antisemitism is vile over there in some quarters.

Maddy I watched it on the news today, yesterday Rosie gave a link, that to related to young people, this hatred cannot be explained or excused

I find it strange because other wars seem not to cause the same amount of worldwide demonstrations. No one is demonstrating about Ukraine. Or other wars going on right now. What’s different?

Ukraine hasn’t brought thousands onto the streets . Children are killed in every war yet we don’t hear of ‘the children of Ukraine’ . I truly believe antisemitism is feeding hate but why oh why

It has been thus since time immemorial Annie. Jews have been persecuted throughout history. It’s unlikely to change any time soon.

Germanshepherdsmum

It has been thus since time immemorial Annie. Jews have been persecuted throughout history. It’s unlikely to change any time soon.

Very true, something I find unfathomable and it is extremely worrying for my Jewish friends.

I can understand it, without condoning it, but to offer an explanation would lead to a deletion.

GG13 like you I find the hatred of Jews unfathomable. They were banned from Britain in the 13th Century and reappeared in Oliver Cromwell's time.
Shakespeare's Shylock did little to help their cause although I think there is some debate about now about how Shakespeare saw his character. "If you prick us do we not bleed. If you tickle us do we not laugh. If you poison us do we not die"
Elizabethan England was when Jews were depicted as hook nosed
and wearing red wings.
Jews have been wronged throughout history and by now we should know better.

History tells us much about the reasons. Human nature has not changed fundamentally through the centuries.

Jews crucified Christ , surely not now .

Tom Bower this week, Israel has remarkable weapons of war, they only kill children , I have spoken of ‘playing the children card’ many times

Jews are God's chosen people.
Others dont like it.

Are you speaking as a Jew fancythat? Is that your belief?

Yes fancythat but is that believed now ?

An article trying to find more middle ground in the guardian today about how we use language:

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/25/pro-palestine-israel-language-conflict

Pass, first line, Israel’s onslaught