‘Palestine Action’ marchers - arrests today.

Thanks caleo, that was interesting.

No thanks.

Just got this from ChatGPT:-Sure — here are the main sources behind that summary (all publicly available and easy to verify):

🔹 UN General Assembly Voting Records
Used to evaluate which European countries consistently vote in favour of resolutions critical of Israel or supportive of Palestinian statehood.
Source: UN Digital Library → “Voting Records” (e.g. Resolutions A/RES/77/23, A/RES/76/225, etc.)

🔹 European External Action Service (EEAS) Statements
Official EU and national-level press releases/communiqués on Israel-Palestine, especially during Gaza crises or settlement announcements.

🔹 National Foreign Ministry Statements and Parliamentary Debates
– Sweden: recognition of Palestine announced by FM Margot Wallström (2014).
– Ireland: Dáil Éireann motions (especially May 2021 condemnation of “de facto annexation”).
– Spain: Spanish parliament’s recurrent motions supporting recognition of Palestine.
– Belgium & Luxembourg: joint statements (e.g. 2020 Luxembourg + Belgium joint call for EU sanctions if annexation proceeds).
– Norway: Norwegian government’s suspension of research funding to West Bank institutions (announced June 2023).

🔹 Media coverage / Secondary analysis
– Politico Europe, Euractiv, Deutsche Welle, European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) country profiles
– Middle East Monitor, Haaretz, Al-Monitor

If you’d like, I can list the specific UN resolutions (with vote counts) or provide links for the national-level statements mentioned above — just say “yes please, list them” and I’ll compile them.

From ChatGPT right now:-

Besides Ireland and Spain which other european nations do not support Israel
ChatGPT said:

While most European countries maintain normal diplomatic relations with Israel and generally support its right to exist, there are a few that tend to take a consistently critical or less supportive line, especially in relation to Palestinian rights and in UN voting patterns.

In addition to Ireland and Spain, the European countries that are generally least supportive of Israel (relative to other European states) are:

CountryNotes
BelgiumFrequently criticises Israeli settlement policies; has supported EU-level sanctions discussions; often votes in favor of Palestine-related UN resolutions.
LuxembourgSmall but vocal; consistently expresses support for Palestinian statehood and criticises Israeli actions in Gaza/West Bank.
SwedenRecognised the State of Palestine in 2014 (first Western EU member to do so) and often takes a strong pro-Palestinian line in international forums.
Norway (non-EU)Acts as a mediator but is generally critical of Israel’s occupation; has suspended parts of cooperation agreements in protest at settlement expansion.
Portugal (to a lesser extent)More balanced than Spain/Ireland but shifts toward the critical camp in many UN votes and statements.

Note:
None of these countries “oppose” Israel across the board— they still have full diplomatic relations and cooperate economically — but compared to the majority (Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Czechia, Hungary, etc.) they take a significantly more critical or distant approach, especially regarding Israel’s policies in the occupied territories.

If you're referring to UN General Assembly voting patterns, I can also show you a summary or dataset of how each European country votes on Israel-related resolutions — just say “yes please” and I’ll pull that up.

Maremia

So many hints that we don't know the full extent of what the Palestine group does. Roll on the 22nd of August...is that the date?
Are they as bad as other proscribed terrorist groups such as ISIS, IRA?
Or were they proscribed because of lobbying from a foreign nation's pressure group?

Economic pressure is such that ,with the exception of Ireland and Spain, Europe has bowed down to Trumpland.

A main structural factor behind US support for Israel is lobbying and popular support from Christian Evangelicals. Not Jews, but Christian Evangelicals!

It is disgusting that our government is plasticine in the hands of Christian Evangelicals in the US !

The ECHR should butt out.

The only influence the ECHR has is to intervene when a government doesn't follow its own laws with respect to its dealings with its own citizens.

That is influence!
I dont intend to keep repeating myelf.
Agree to differ.

So many hints that we don't know the full extent of what the Palestine group does. Roll on the 22nd of August...is that the date?
Are they as bad as other proscribed terrorist groups such as ISIS, IRA?
Or were they proscribed because of lobbying from a foreign nation's pressure group?

Anniebach

Quote Magenta8 Sun 17-Aug-25 13:12:11
More than 500 people were arrested, mainly for carrying placards expressing pro Palestinian sentiments.

Many of the people were over sixty and had never committed a crime let alone been arrested before. I wonder how many of them will be prosecuted.
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No, they were carrying placards supporting “Palestine Action”
they may have both on their placards but definitely supporting
“Palestine Action “

The wording on most of the placards, but not all, read "I oppose Genocide, I support Palestinian Action". Why do you not consider these words to be expressing pro Palestinian sentiments? Please explain.

There were also five arrests for assaulting police officers and two for public order offences.

fancythat

^The ECHR doesn't have any influence over domestic law. Its role is to protect citizens from their own governments.^

So it does have influence over our domestic law.

No, it doesn't! Governments make domestic laws. The ECHR has no influence over the law-making process.

The only influence the ECHR has is to intervene when a government doesn't follow its own laws with respect to its dealings with its own citizens.

Quote Magenta8 Sun 17-Aug-25 13:12:11
More than 500 people were arrested, mainly for carrying placards expressing pro Palestinian sentiments.

Many of the people were over sixty and had never committed a crime let alone been arrested before. I wonder how many of them will be prosecuted.
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No, they were carrying placards supporting “Palestine Action”
they may have both on their placards but definitely supporting
“Palestine Action “

I feel all the attention focused on Gaza detracts from the unfolding tragedy that is Ukraine.

More than 500 people were arrested, mainly for carrying placards expressing pro Palestinian sentiments.

Many of the people were over sixty and had never committed a crime let alone been arrested before. I wonder how many of them will be prosecuted.

fancythat

Not at all meaning anyone in particular, but hypocrisy and bias abounds on this thread.
And no, I am not going to go about finding quotes.

I also would say, I think there is a big marked difference bewteen those posters[and people in real life] who have all the trust in the world in Uk governments[well they did for decades[I think the bubble has burst a bit]], and those who do not.

I remember when I was like a little girl and thought all British states men were good and clever men.

Not at all meaning anyone in particular, but hypocrisy and bias abounds on this thread.
And no, I am not going to go about finding quotes.

I also would say, I think there is a big marked difference bewteen those posters[and people in real life] who have all the trust in the world in Uk governments[well they did for decades[I think the bubble has burst a bit]], and those who do not.

The ECHR doesn't have any influence over domestic law. Its role is to protect citizens from their own governments.

So it does have influence over our domestic law.

fancythat

Whitewavemark2

Yes I absolutely feel exactly the same.

Foreign powers should have no say in our domestic law.

ECHR do?

A lot of people are more than happy about that.

The ECHR doesn't have any influence over domestic law. Its role is to protect citizens from their own governments.

If a government enacts certain legislation, it must then enforce it fairly, but it is the government which has been responsible for the law in the first place - not the ECHR.

The argument here seems to be is that the government has misapplied its own legislation against its own citizens.

Whitewavemark2

Yes I absolutely feel exactly the same.

Foreign powers should have no say in our domestic law.

ECHR do?

A lot of people are more than happy about that.

Maremia

Perhaps some folk are not yet convinced about the correct status of the group in question?

Perhaps some folk are not yet aware of the

Terrorism Act 2000.

www.cps.gov.uk/crime-info/terrorism

justice.org.uk/counter-terrorism-human-rights/

"There are now four main pieces of counter-terrorism legislation: the Terrorism Act 2000, the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001, the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, and the Terrorism Act 2006. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997 is also relevant to the debate over counter-terrorism powers in the UK.

The Terrorism Act 2000 continues to provide the main framework for counter-terrorism powers in the UK. It contains the main powers for arrest and extended pre-charge detention in terrorism cases as well as the main terrorism offences outside the ordinary criminal law, for example, membership of and support for a proscribed organisation."

I have neither faith not trust in Lord Hermer.

Not sure that is actually the case. Perhaps you should ask Fried, was that her intention?

AGAA4

This annoying Palestine Action group apart from causing millions of pounds worth of damage has taken the focus from the tragedy that is happening in Gaza.
People getting more concerned about "the old dears" who were arrested than those dying in a famine or being shot while trying to get food.

Yes, this too.

Misguided old dears.
It's appalling that the focus is now on them and not Gaza.

This annoying Palestine Action group apart from causing millions of pounds worth of damage has taken the focus from the tragedy that is happening in Gaza.
People getting more concerned about "the old dears" who were arrested than those dying in a famine or being shot while trying to get food.

Perhaps some folk are not yet convinced about the correct status of the group in question?

Thanks Rosie51

Sometimes I feel I need to find a head banging on wall emoji when people can't/won't understand the difference between legitimate protest groups and saboteurs who can be dangerous.