Jewish Telegraph: Israeli life celebrated in Parliament

Jewish Telegraph: Israeli life celebrated in Parliament

BY SHARON MAIL http://www.jewishtelegraph.co.uk/gla_news.html

ISRAEL'S contribution to science, medicine and technology has been celebrated in the Scottish Parliament - despite attempts to have it called off.

An exhibition, by the Scottish Friends of Israel and sponsored by East Renfrewshire Labour MSP Ken Macintosh, ran for three days this week in the Garden Lobby at Holyrood.

But outside Holyrood there was a Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration, which included a large 'Jews for Justice for Palestinians' sign and banners calling for an end to 'Israeli War Crimes' and the 'Siege of Gaza'.

A small group of activists stopped people in the street and Mr Macintosh was described as a "rogue MSP defending a rogue state".

In the exhibition comments book, there were initially remarks vilifying the MSP and Israel, but also many positive comments.

Mr Macintosh told the Jewish Telegraph: "This exhibition is not about the politics or the violence which plagues the Middle East. It is simply a positive statement about Israel and the Israeli people and the contribution they have made to our lives here in Scotland.

"I am aware that many people have strongly-held views on Israel, but I do not believe it is ever right to condemn a whole country and its people.

"I find much of the debate and the coverage of Israel to be one-sided, unremittingly negative and hostile, none of which is helpful to achieving a lasting settlement in the region.

"I also worry about the impact of such coverage on the Jewish community here in Scotland which I know has to cope with direct and indirect attacks as a result."

After visiting the exhibition on Wednesday, Mr Macintosh added: "Yes, there were protesters outside the Parliament, but it was interesting, in fact very encouraging, to see the unprompted and clearly genuine expressions of support and positive praise in the comments book added by members of the public visiting that day."

As part of their attempts to isolate Israel, the SPSC is now targeting supermarkets. They protested outside the Waitrose store in Glasgow's West End, where they were challenged by Mickey Green, of the Scottish Friends of Israel.

In a more sinister move, the SPSC has targeted the Morrisons supermarket in Giffnock, in the heart of the Jewish community.

Stickers reading 'Don't fund apartheid, block Israeli goods' have been left in the kosher food section.

Glasgow Jewish Representative Council president Philip Mendelsohn said: "The targeting of Israeli produce is being done in stores serving the Jewish community and accordingly in direct contradiction of the STUC's promise not to impact on the community's need for kosher food. Also, the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign seems unable to distinguish between the legitimacy of the State of Israel and the actions of its government."

Mr Macintosh noted: "This kind of material is both offensive and entirely misplaced. It says everything about the views and the ignorance of these protesters that they are prepared to target Jewish people living here in Scotland because of their own blinkered hostility to Israel."

Scottish Secretary of State Jim Murphy added: "I grew up in South Africa and saw the evils of apartheid first-hand. To equate Israel with that vile, racist regime is both ignorant and outrageous."

Tory Westminster candidate Richard Cook said: "This latest attack on Israel is completely unacceptable and must be stopped.

"Our Jewish communities must not be subjected to harassment of this kind, nor should any other member of our community have to put up with such anti-Israeli propaganda while out simply trying to do their shopping.

"Sadly, this comes at the same time as the hysterical and dispiriting attack on Israel being mounted in the Scottish Parliament this week as some MSPs seek to halt an exhibition celebrating Israel's contribution to advances in medicine.

"If we ever begin to tolerate this sort of behaviour we are on a slippery slope to a very nasty reality.

"The people responsible for this should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves and should consider the wider implications of their actions in future."