Attacks on Palestine supporters related to 'unhealthy and volatile' atmosphere, says Hastings Jews for Justice

Our statement on the recent increase of violence and abuse directed at Palestine supporters in Hastings:

Hastings Jews for Justice (HJJ) deplores and utterly condemns the recent violence and abuse directed towards members of Hastings Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al-Mawasi and local businesses who have shown their support for Palestine. We express our support for these groups and for those who have experienced these attacks, and call for as many people as possible to join us for the second fundraising walk announced for 10 August.

On Sunday 20 July, a local woman who was waiting to greet dozens of local walkers fundraising for Al-Mawasi as they arrived in Bexhill from Hastings, was approached and attacked by a man, who accused her of being a ‘terrorist’ and attempted the grab a keffiyah (traditional Palestinian scarf) from her neck. The police are investigating.

Another man, carrying an Israeli flag, launched a torrent of abuse and threats on the walkers, kerb-crawling them as they walked along, and repeatedly stopping to approach closely and scream abuse.

HJJ member Richard Wistreich was on the walk, wearing an HJJ t-shirt and experienced the abuse.  “Because I was the only walker visibly identifiable as Jewish, I was singled out for a rabid verbal attack. He not only screamed in my face that I am not a Jew, repeatedly calling me a Nazi (in fact my father narrowly escaped being annihilated in the Holocaust, as many of my family were) but threatened to hit me (I’m twice his age).” 

These are not isolated incidents. Over the last few weeks there has been a marked increase in threatening and abusive behaviour towards individuals, groups and local businesses who have indicated their support for Palestine. Local businesses, including the Stooge Café, Bayte and the Stella Dore Gallery, have been targeted with ‘Hamas’ and ‘anti-Semitism’ stickers, used to obliterate flyers and posters advertising pro-Palestine events, and there have been other incidents of local residents being verbally threatened for displaying pro-Palestine posters in their windows. 

Significantly this escalation in abusive and threatening behaviour follows hard on the heels of the Government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group, and wild and untrue accusations from local individuals and groups that the debate of the recent motion passed at Hastings Borough Council calling for a ceasefire, an end to arms sales to Israel and a recognition of the town’s friendship link with Al Mawasi in Gaza was ‘divisive’ and ‘antisemitic’. It should also be noted that Hastings MP Helena Dollimore has recently, and of course entirely falsely, claimed to be under threat by pro-Palestine campaigners.

HJJ believes the escalation in violence reflects an increasingly volatile and unhealthy atmosphere, locally and nationally, in which those who are criticising Israel and highlighting the genocide in Gaza are being vilified and accused of anti-Semitism and of being terrorists, despite their non-violent campaigning. This is not new but such a virulent reaction can only foster hatred, racism and violence, particularly from extreme far-right groups. 

Commenting on the attacks, Hastings Mosque has expressed solidarity and called for a community response based on compassion and justice, where people of all faiths, ethnicities or cause can express their views without fear. 

HJJ stands with Hastings Mosque in this expression of solidarity and refuses to be intimidated by these mindless attacks. We will continue to express our opposition to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and our unwavering support for the Palestinians.

Many of us will be present at the next fundraising walk for Al Mawasi and we affirm that all our expressions of support and solidarity for Palestine are motivated by love and shared humanity. We will not stand by as Israel destroys the people of Gaza. It is our duty to do everything in our power to stand up for every precious life and we will continue to do so.

Members of Hastings Jews for Justice will walk again to raise funds for Al Mawasi - join us!