The Israel Lobby

While Palestinians mark Al Nakba demanding the right of return to their homeland by non violent struggle to be met with Israeli bullets, The Board of Deputies of British Jews (BDBJ) held a conference for Israelites over the weekend or what they call a "we believe in Israel" conference which was more secretive than a Freemason get together.

The programme and delegate list was interesting for a variety of inter-connected reasons. Firstly with such an impressive guest list why the media silence. Were any other faith or non faith community to hold a conference for over a 1000 people whose speakers included British and Israeli Ministers, MP's, Ambassadors, Journalists and the military one would think there would be mention of the occasion.

Given the silence one wonders what is being hidden, surely an immensely successful organisation would want to celebrate their undoubted success and perhaps provide a valuable insight for other faith communities about how to positively intergrate into British society without loosing ones faith or cultural roots.

LM found some of the sessions being held absolutely fascinating particularly the one called "Do they really hate us" which uses polling date accumulated over 10 years to establish what Brits think of Israel. Given the likes of Trevor Kavanagh from the Sun and others from the Telegraph Group attending it would certainly be interesting and noteworthy to examine what impact their outlets coverage of Muslims and the Middle East have had on attitudes.

The usual conspiracy theorists will immediately highlight Jewish influence being significantly greater than Muslim influence however, the one thing they ignore is the considerable head start British Jews have had over British Muslims. The BDBJ was established in 1760 while the closest Muslim equivalent the MCB in 1997, 237 years later.

The issue for LM is could the British Muslim community hold such an impressive conference with a similar guest list. The one thing the Jewish community have which we sadly lack is an amazing sense of loyalty, unity and purpose to their cause which is admirable.

Politically its interesting to note the likes of Hackney Cllr Luke Akehurst whose recovered from cancer to proudly carry the Israel badge at the conference yet is elected by a huge Muslim population in his Chatham Ward which is yet another classic example of Muslim stupidity and incompetence. In addition, Akehurst's declaration of interest shows his membership of the Labour Friends of Israel and a "study tour" of Israel paid for by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Wes Streeting formerly of the NUS is also a councillor but in Redbridge with his Chadwell Ward also having a significant Muslim population who had to beg Streeting for help over their prayers because they are too think to get a Muslim elected.

Moreover, whats also interesting is who did not attend the conference. From the published list not one Muslim appears to have attended the conference which seems a strange approach to inter faith dialogue.

LM agrees with Rabbi Dan Cohn Sherbok professor of Judaism at the University of Wales who has highlighted the corrosive impact on community tensions between Muslims and Jews over Israel and 9/11, sadly his voice at the conference appears to have been missing.