Well first their excuse was that the EDL wouldn’t leave them alone. They wanted nothing to do with them. Now they demonstrate with the EDL even when the latter show their true anti-semitic and homophobic views in a Swastika poster.

On Saturday the Zionist Federation and the English Defence League once again demonstrated together in support of Ahava, the Israeli shop that sells stolen West Bank ‘beauty products’. Naturally Jonathan Hoffman, Co-Chair of the Zionist Federation was there to lead the Zionist contingent. My assumption that he had been told to desist by his compatriots at the Zionist Federation was clearly wrong. Only the death of his mother had prevented him from attending all the counter-demonstrations.

Last week the Jewish Chronicle held one of its micro polls (micro because they usually never attract more than about 100 voters out of an alleged 30,000 sale). The question was the somewhat strange, if not fatuous, ‘Should Rabbis work with the EDL’. The poll was subsequently pulled when Terry Gallogly of York PSC and the Boycott Israel Network and myself advocated a ‘yes’ vote.

People might like to vote in this poll in the JC, if only to embarrass Hoffie and the Zionist Federation. Can someone please post this to JBIG please?‘

To those Zionists who are now protesting about an attempt to ‘rig’ the poll one has to ask two questions.

Firstly why ask the question? Contrary to what the Jewish Chronicle’s Jessica Elgot writes, citing with approval a blogger on the virulently anti-Islam site Harry’s Place ‘Tony Greenstein is suggesting that anti-Zionists should try to rig a JC poll, so that they can falsely paint Jews as racists’

In fact the reason I advocated people voting yes was not because of any desire to paint anyone as racist who isn’t but because Rabbis, of all people, are indeed the most racist and atavistic section of the Jewish community. I have yet to publish a story about one particular British Rabbi from the Lubavitch sect and their attitude to killing non-Jews but there are plenty of articles on this blog covering this theme, not least the most recent on the sayings of ex-Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef on how non-Jews only exist to serve Jews to nothing of their views that killing non-Jews is not to be considered as heinous as killing a Jew. In fact it can be a duty.

I am unaware of any orthodox Jewish rabbis, outside the small anti-Zionist Neturei Karta sect or Liberal/Reform rabbis, to some extent, who have opposed even the most barbaric practices of the Israeli military. Perhaps I’m wrong and someone can point to an Orthodox Rabbi in Britain who has publicly condemned the Siege of Gaza for example?

And secondly how can encouraging people to vote, in a public poll, be considered ‘rigging’? As Terry wrote, on the 14th October.

In fact this has started to become a political crisis for the Zionist movement in this country because, however they try to paint it, their stalwarts led by the Co-Chair of the Zionist Federation, Jonathan Hoffman, are standing shoulder to shoulder with members of the English Defence League. People who not so long ago would have been amongst the pogromists.
In a post on the JC Blog ‘The EDL and Ahava’ ask quite pointed questions of the Zionist Federation and its demonstrating alongside the EDL.

There is one telegramsam (TS), who is apparently an employee of the United Jewish Appeal, whom Hoffman has been trying to identify so that he can be sacked. ‘If the ZF has allegedly made it clear the EDL/BNP aren’t wanted at their demos, why hasn’t Jonathan Hoffman publicly dissociated himself from them? Why hasn’t he made it clear that he has asked the police for separate pens?’

And Jon points out that ‘To back up Sam’s point when one searches the ZF website for EDL that there are no results found.‘

As one Philocetes points out ‘Jono brought this upon himself by his words, deeds and actions.’
TS notes, concerning Hoffman’s enforced silence that ‘it does indicate that there is some discomfort at the ZF over the EDL/BNP participation in the Ahava demos. This is good, since there appears to be some realisation that this is distracting from the ZF’s fantastic work on behalf of Israel advocacy. Many people now await the full dissociation.’ TS asks why ‘If the ZF has allegedly made it clear the EDL/BNP aren’t wanted at their demos, why hasn’t Jonathan Hoffman publicly dissociated himself from them? Why hasn’t he made it clear that he has asked the police for separate pens? Why doesn’t he demonstrate on alternate weekends so as not to be seen to be associating with the EDL/BNP?’

On another blog which also covers much the same ground ‘anti-Zionists urge rabbis to work with EDL’ there is an extremely interesting comment from one ‘zair’. Responding to the comment that ‘Many people now await the full dissociation.’ He writes ‘Don’t hold your breath ts. As I have previously stated on this website, at a recent ZF event there was open discussion of dealings with the sikh representative of the EDL.’ If this is true, then it would appear that there are those within the ZF who are in favour of at least tacit co-operation with the EDL or what they would like to think of as the ‘non-racist’ or non-anti-semitic wing. Interestingly there were no responses to this before the whole discussion was terminated.

Hoffman is, of course, extremely irritated by these comments, especially on a Jewish Chronicle site and makes it clear that if it were up to him, anti-Zionists, which means everyone to the left of Lieberman, would be banned. Eventually he says that “I told SB that there was some crossover between the BNP and the EDL and that the EDL sometimes intimidated Muslims and that both these are reprehensible.”

Hardly one might think a full-throated condemnation. Apparently some of their actions are reprehensible, and presumably others (like turning up with swastika posters at EDL) are not. And adding the ritual abuse for which he is justly famous he asks ‘Which of these words do you not understand, cowardly anonymous a*sehole?’

Unsurprisingly TS points out that ‘you do not dissociate yourself, Jonathan. Again you resort to being defensive and abusive. It’s simple: a plain, clear statement that you and the ZF dissociate yourselves totally from the EDL/BNP. What’s so hard about that? Yes the EDL/BNP indulge in reprehensible acts, but you don’t dissociate from the EDL/BNP. And are we to believe what’s written in the Guardian now?’

At which point one Jon joints in. ‘Jonathan I think what people (myself included) want is a simple statement either from yourself in a personal capacity or from the ZF in an professional one stating that you do not share the aims of the EDL, you renounce them and, most importantly that neither you nor the Zionist Federation will stand/march with them in any capacity? Does that seem fair?’

Well obviously not, because at one point yankeeuxb notes that ‘Someone wrote a while back that J Hoffman is probably a plant. So rabid, right wing, insulting, pompous and pathetic is he that he is probably a Jihadi plant designed to alienate all reasonable discourse and feed the impression that Zionists are hell bent on the delegitimization of Palestinians as well as their occupation and violent deaths. His right wing fundamentalist hate can’t be real can it?’

I couldn’t of course possibly comment but it has occurred to me that JH is probably our equivalent of Kim Philby and the Mata Hari! But of course his detractors are being unfair and clearly don’t understand his predicament. Hoffman has to repeat himself since he needs the EDL despite all the fact that they don’t understand what an embarassment they are. “I told SB that there was some crossover between the BNP and the EDL and that the EDL sometimes intimidated Muslims and that both these are reprehensible.” Do you not understand English?‘

TS, who strikes one as a member of that vanishing breed, the left-Zionist, protests that ‘they are standing with, mingling and all the rest. There’s sufficient photographic evidence of that. The problem is that Jonathan has become the story, thereby detracting and distracting from support for Israel, which is the main purpose of the ZF. Jonathan should either unequivocally dissociate from the EDL/BNP or the ZF should do it for him.’

At which point the Zionist Federation intervenes. Jonathan Hoffman has had a vow of silence imposed upon him! All comments are met with the identikit response that:

‘As regards enquiries about the ZF, I am advised that I cannot respond anymore to queries which are posted anonymously on the Internet. However, please do not hesitate to write to the staff at the Zionist Federation with your concerns. (You will of course need to give your real name and supply a postal address).’

Below is a report of Saturday’s demonstration:

Saturday, 23 October 2010
Video courtesy of SA.
By Bruce, Americans AGAINST Apartheid UK.

There was much activity taking place in London today with the large Trade Union anti-cuts march & rally, as well as the popular Anarchist Book Fair being held.

However on Monmouth Street, Palestine solidarity activists and campaigners came to take part in a public education campaign, demonstrate and express their outrage over the activities of an illegal company that is manufacturing and selling stolen goods from stolen land; products of the world’s last Apartheid state.

About thirty Ahava boycott campaigners and fewer than ten Zionists were present throughout the two-hour demo. Despite the differences in numbers, many boycott activists were on the receiving end of the Zionist Federation’s Co-Vice Chair Jonathan Hoffman’s tongue. The Hoff’s verbal abuse of Ahava boycott campaigners was so vile, that police once again were forced to have words with him about his behaviour.

Five members of the Jewish Division of the EDL turned up, including Kahanist Roberta Moore. The EDL flew a variety of flags including the GLBT rainbow flag (an insult to the GLBT community), the EDL Jewish Division flag (an insult to the Jewish community), the EDL Flag (an insult to the English people) and a bizarre large St George’s Cross flag with the Union Jack, as well as images of the flags of Israel and Portugal (an insult to the Portuguese) in each of its quadrants. When the first EDL counter-protester turned up and the photographers started taking photos, Mr Hoffman took refuge in the pen reserved for the Ahava boycott campaigners which was surrounded by Palestinian flags.

Zionist ”leader” Hoffman and diminutive propagandist Millett adopted very aggressive tactics; approaching and interrupting Ahava boycott campaigners who were talking to members of the public and thrusting Zionist flyers into their hands. This approach often backfired, as the public’s reaction to the Zionist’s intrusion was negative and hostile. This demonstrator was talking to an American woman when Mr Hoffman came running up and shouted “Don’t believe him, he’s lying, read this!” and attempted to thrust a leaflet into her hand. The woman angrily told Mr Hoffman to “get lost”. A sentiment shared by many on the day.

A placard decorated with swastikas was displayed within the Zionist/EDL pen that read: “Codepink stinks, self-hating Joos+ Gays”. Many of the Zionists didn’t appear to have any objection to this placard. In a rare display of responsibility, the police instructed that the placard be removed from public view. Another placard that read “Hamas Hate Homos” attracted police attention as well and also soon disappeared from view.

After the demo, many campaigners went on to South Kensington to help stage the “Alternative Veolia Exhibition” outside the Natural History Museum click here for video.

Please note: None of these images have been digitally altered.

BRING/WEAR SPA ATTIRE: BATHROBES, TOWELS, MUD MASKS