We care about Palestinians – not Ken
Absolute military control over all Palestinian movement; we care about this, not about Ken Livingstone. Photo from Twitter.
From John Speyer for JfJfP executive committee
Your article ‘Ken Livingstone claims Jews and Nazis ‘collaborated’ during Second World War’ (March 31) says that three of the witness statements cited by Mr Livingstone were from “prominent” members of Jews for Justice for Palestinians. This is gratuitous and misleading. None of them is a member of JfJfP’s Executive or was speaking on its behalf.
Their statements plainly express personal convictions and do not mention JfJfP. Our organisation is irrelevant to your story. We have no role in this dispute or position on it.
JfJfP does hold positions on the myriad, routine humiliations inflicted on the Palestinians; the 50-year-old Occupation; the contempt of Israel’s increasingly extremist government for decency and human rights; the fresh approval of wholesale expansion in settlements; the plans to celebrate the Balfour Declaration without the slightest recognition of the Palestinians’ huge losses; and the continuing violence, which creates victims on both sides but kills vastly greater numbers of Palestinians.
These are painful issues for Jews in the UK, and we see care and sensitivity, on all sides, as essential to constructive discourse. For example we are sadly accustomed to sweeping claims of antisemitism targeted at legitimate criticism of Israeli government actions, with the purpose of closing down debate.
However we believe in working for a just peace – that is, the only lasting peace – between Israel and the Palestinians. It’s certainly a more pressing priority for us than Mr Livingstone’s opinions and what the rest of us should make of them.
John Speyer, For the Executive Committee, Jews for Justice for Palestinians