Calls for the destruction of Israel were heard at Al Quds marches in London, New York and Berlin last weekend.
Protesters marched in central London with banners declaring it to be a “crime” to support Zionism.
During the rally a group of activists burnt an Israeli flag while chants included “we don’t need no Zionism, we don’t need no Zionist control”.
Mick Napier, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign the Secretary, told protesters disgraced Labour Party member Peter Willsman should not have been suspended for his much-publicised allegations about the Israeli Embassy.
Prior to the parade, CAA met with Metropolitan Police Service who vowed to enforce the law if Hezballah flags were flown.
Unlike previous years, there was no visible display of flags or support for the terror group following a ruling by Home Secretary, Sajid Javid with support from Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt.
Anti-terrorism activists displaying Israeli flags confronted marchers.
Demonstrators at a protest in Times Square were filmed chanting “we don’t want no two-state (solution) we want all of it” while speakers called on supporters to “smash the settler-Zionist state”.
Protesters at an anti-Israel al-Quds rally in Berlin chanting “Palestine will be reborn!”, “Free Gaza!”.
At the same time a pro-Israel rally attracted hundreds of supporters including German politicians.
Only last week Germany’s Bild newspaper called on readers to wear a cut-out kippa after Felix Klein, Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Antisemitism, faced a backlash after warning Jews about the dangers of wearing a kippah in the wake of anti-Jewish attacks.
Klein’s comments were criticised by the German government, Jewish community, Israel President Reuven Rivlin together with organisations and politicians around the world.
Bild’s cut-out blue kippa displayed three Stars of David accompanied by a plea to wear it.
Klein backed down from his statement after Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert joined the debate.
“The state must see to it that the free exercise of religion is possible for all and that anyone can go anywhere in our country in full security wearing a kippa,” Seibert told a press conference.
Klein said, “I call on all citizens of Berlin and across Germany to wear the kippa if there are new, intolerable attacks targeting Israel and Jews on the occasion of al-Quds day in Berlin.”
Klein marched alongside Andreas Geisel, Israeli Ambassador in Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff, Berlin’s top security official at the pro-Israel gathering, Geisel, urging the German government to consider banning the political wing of Hezbollah.
German Ambassador to Israel, Dr. Susanne Wasum-Rainer, noted during an address at a Jerusalem conference co-organised by World Jewish Congress’ that the “kippah belonged to Germany”.
By Howard Lawrence
