Palestine
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Israel and its uncritical proponents: a danger to Jews
Jews genuinely concerned about antisemitism are ill-served by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) for its actions and approach are more likely to engender antisemitism than to counter it. This is because its main function is to protect and promote the foremost generator of antisemitism, the State of Israel. It is joined in this enterprise by… Continue reading
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Israel broken? Repairable?
The symbolism couldn’t be starker. On the one hand, the many Israeli flags held aloft by Jewish religious nationalists as they marched through Jerusalem’s Muslin Quarter on Jerusalem Day, May 2022, shouting ‘Death to Arabs’. On the other, the many Israeli flags held aloft around the country this March 2023, notably in Tel Aviv, by… Continue reading
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Campaigning for Palestine: Victories, threats, and resolve
There’s been a cluster of events, of which I shall mention only four, that have gladdened the heart, prompted admiration, and that serve to reinforce resolve. Ambassador sent on her way One was the protests undertaken by Cambridge University students against the Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom, Tzipi Hotovely. She was giving a speech… Continue reading
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2019 Eurovision Song Contest – Songwashing occupation, discrimination, apartheid
Tel Aviv is to host the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest What’s Tel Aviv like? This from Business Insider: ‘From the Mediterranean shores of Tel Aviv, Israel’s fraught geopolitical position is almost non-existent. Tourists and locals alike sip Goldstar, Israel’s ubiquitous dark lager, as the waves roll in and out. Children laugh and splash in the… Continue reading
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Palestine/Israel: Reflections on a visit
Extract: War on Want Briefing to MPs Israel’s use of military force against Palestinian civilians is a prominent feature of its occupation regime. This militarised repression of the Palestinian people extends beyond the scenes of checkpoints and bombings we have unfortunately become accustomed to; Israel’s military and security services maintain an intense regime of surveillance,… Continue reading
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Palestine/Israel: What oppression looks like
I have just returned from a trip to Palestine/Israel. My purpose: to understand more; to interview/have conversations with people; to report back to those who might already be interested and, fond hope, to encourage more widespread interest – and action. The bulk of my time was spent in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), taking the… Continue reading
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So what’s new? Israel’s Nationality Law
Israel’s parliament (Knesset) has this July passed its Nationality Law by sixty two votes to fifty five. In brief, it enshrines, and in effect crows about, Israel’s status as an apartheid state. The law confirms that ‘Israel is the historic homeland of the Jewish people and they have an exclusive right to national self-determination in… Continue reading
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Israel: Apartheid State?
This is the second blog that departs from my usual patch and addresses a subject that needs to be kept in the public eye. This is my very minor contribution to aiding that purpose. I speak of the Palestine/Israel situation. Postings on this topic will continue to form part of my blog, though I recognise… Continue reading
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Palestinian metaphor: mud bricks
This blog represents a departure from its usual hunting ground. It addresses a subject that I have been itching to speak about via this medium for some time. My reluctance to do so, until now, was based on my awareness that my understanding of the issue was based primarily on book-learning, newspaper/magazine articles and lectures,… Continue reading
About Me
This is Bernard Spiegal’s blog.
I write mainly about Palestine/Israel and related issues; sometimes other stuff too
Bernard Spiegal 