UK Zionist Federation email attacks “Palestinian Moslems”

Ben White Lobby Watch 1 February 2013

A weekly news email by the UK’s Zionist Federation has included an extraordinary attack on “Palestinian Moslems” in a style reminiscent of 19th century colonial racism.

The item, “West Bank Christian describes persecution of Christians by Palestinian Moslems,” is an account of a recent Zionist Federation event featuring “Christy,” a pseudonym for “a 23 year old Palestinian Christian law student,” and pro-Israel activist Howard Stern.

The account refers to “the barbaric attitudes of Palestinian Moslems to their own women (honour killings and rape) and towards all Christians and Jews.” The emailed report is written in a way that makes it unclear whether “Christy” is being quoted or paraphrased (or neither).

The Zionist Federation describes Christy as working for “the Emmaus Group,” an organization she herself apparently co-founded with Howard Stern. The Emmaus Group’s Facebook page includes the promotion of Islamophobic film Obsession, and also a photograph of an Arabic translation of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf accompanied by the caption: “Bestseller book for Arabs in England!”

Christy and Howard Stern have spoken together at other Zionist Federation events, and have also been hosted by the Henry Jackson Society and regional pro-Israel groups. Christy was also a speaker at a conference organized jointly by the Zionist Federation, StandWithUs, and Christian Friends of Israel (the 2011 event was organized by – Howard Stern).

Aside from the tired, bogus arguments being advanced about Christian Palestinians, it is astonishing to see the Zionist Federation slander Palestinian Muslims in such a fashion. At the end of a week where numerous pro-Israel groups have been decrying perceived anti-semitism in the media, one waits with baited breath for criticism of the Zionist Federation’s attack on “Moslems.”

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Comments

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Frederick replied on

The persecution of Moslems and Christians by the Israelis is the same for both groups. This is a craven attempt to break the unity of the shared Palestinian persecution. It is low, transparent tactic.

People have to work for brotherhood odf all people, Christians Moslems and Jews, Only equal rights for all people is acceptable. Those who oppose this, are the enemies of justice and peace.

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tony greenstein replied on

When the ZF talk about 'the barbaric attitudes of Palestinian Moslems to their own women (honour killings and rape) and towards all Christians and Jews.” they might wish 'Jews' for Moslems and vicer versa. Anti-semitic? Without a doubt. Strange that they have this tunnel vision!

However there is a more important point. The struggle of the Palestinians is one that crosses religious borders and unites a people. That is why it is problematic to have a group, Hamas, which is by its own definition Islamic. It cannot be a national liberation movement.

It is also, by definition, sectarian to other religions and probably to other Islamic offshoots and sects.

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Sounds more like SPAM than a legitimate email replied on

If an email was sent to me from an organization I do not know or trust, it gets deleted. If the hate mail isn't opened, it isn't read, and nothing can come out of it but a few lost seconds deleting it and moving on. The whole concept of trying to irritate people who don't agree with their genocide by making up horrific stories about the victims they create should neither generate any feed back, nor should they even raise and eyebrow. Don't give them the satisfaction.

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Alec replied on

"The Zionist Federation describes Christy as working for “the Emmaus Group,” an organization she herself apparently co-founded with Howard Stern"

It speaks volumes that Zionists are using the name Emmaus;

"Emmaus, a charitable movement, (started in 1949 by a Priest Abbé Pierre and similar to Oxfam) was founded in France and although now international, the majority of its shops continue to be found in France – in most big towns."

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Kyle Renner replied on

Howard Stern as in the Howard Stern? That laughable man-child who spends his time acting like a boorish idiot? Ha, ha.

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Frederick replied on

Divide and conquer is a familiar tactic. Christian and Moslem Palestinians need to work togeher, as brothers and sisters, to end Israeli oppression. All human beings are brothers and deserve equal rights. If the Israelis believed this, the conflict could end.

Ben White

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Ben White is a freelance journalist, writer and activist, specialising in Palestine/Israel. His articles have been widely published in the likes of The Guardian‘s Comment is free, Al Jazeera, Electronic Intifada, New Statesman, and many others. He is the author of ‘Israeli Apartheid: A Beginner’s Guide’ (2009, Pluto Press) and ‘Palestinians in Israel: Segregation, Discrimination & Democracy’ (2012, Pluto Press). Ben is a researcher/writer for the Journal of Palestine Studies.