Tag: Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Vigils, Violence and Votes: How Palestine Shapes Britain’s Debate


Palestine becoming ‘an election issue’ claim

September 2026

Palestine Solidarity Campaign have made the claim that ‘public anger over Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and Britain’s response was increasingly being expressed‘. The claim was made by Aimee Shalan who will become director in November.

She said Palestine becoming an electoral issue both domestically and nationally. She pointed to Ed Miliband’s recent statement and the change in policy towards the West Bank in particular. The West Bank appeared in the news in recent days because of the latest incident of severe violence involving over 100 militant settlers who overwhelmed security forces in an attack on the village of Jalud.

Several senior politicians, including the president Isaac Herzog, have condemned the violence but there is an element of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. Settler violence has been overtly and covertly supported by politicians and the security forces have up to now, stood by while Palestinians were attacked and their properties destroyed. It is a bit late to complain now when the scale of violence and ethnic cleansing has become so extreme.

Miliband spoke at the Labour conference but there is still concern about how real British actions are. It is reported that British diplomats have told the Americans the actions are merely ‘symbolic‘. It is noted that he did not accuse the Israelis of genocide.

Vigil
Two individuals holding protest signs. One sign reads 'Honk for Gaza' and the other says 'Honk for Peace.'

The 147th vigil was held on Saturday with nearly 40 in attendance. There was a good response to the invitation to ‘honk for peace’. The Salisbury MP, Mr John Glen. has not appeared and there was no mention of the vigil again in his weekly column courtesy of the Salisbury Journal. He is a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel group.

Film update – Because …

Our film Because ... is progressing well and will be finished ready for the 150th vigil. Most interviews have been completed.

Picture courtesy of Peter Gloyns

Sources: Middle East Eye, Guardian, Haaretz, Palestine Solidarity Campaign

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Salisbury vigil #127 well attended


Good turnout for the latest vigil. High level of recognition from passers-by

Excellent turnout to today’s vigil with around 35 coming. There was also a fairly steady flow of car horns from passing motorists. A larger number than usual of people stopped to take note – nearly a hundred – which is encouraging. In a few days it is Nakba Day, which commemorates the expulsion and death of at least 700,000 Arabs and Palestinians following the establishing of Jewish state in 1948 at the end of the British mandate. Prior to that event and the violence which took place in 1948/49, Jews and Palestinians lived side by side in the area together with other communities.

It is important to remember the events of 1948 which cast a shadow over what is happening today. In the photo below you’ll notice a key which has symbolic importance. When people were evicted from their homes by Israeli forces or the Hagana, they kept their keys in the hope of returning one day. It never happened as most of the settlements were destroyed. Much of our media focus on the terrible events of October 7th and ignore the considerably more massive events of an earlier era.

Nakba event

There will be an event run by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in London on 16 May, see the Salisbury CND site for further details and background. Following the terrible events and attacks in Golders Green, there have been calls for a ban on marches such as this.

Being able to protest is an important right we have and governments of all persuasions have been keen to limit or control them. Labour has introduced further legislation and controls and left to their own devices would probably cancel this one. They are aided by some elements of the media labelling them ‘hate’ or ‘terror’ marches.

Once again we must note the absence of the local MP Mr John Glen at this or any of the previous 126 vigils. In a letter to the Salisbury Journal, which provides him with a column each week, he said he was a ‘proud member’ of the Conservative Friends of Israel lobby organisation in Westminster. Labour and LibDem MPs are also members of their respective friends groups making it the largest such lobby organisation.

A video of the vigil can be seen here, courtesy of Peter Gloyns (and the photo).

We shall be at People in the Park next Saturday 16th, so if you are interested in joining us or saying ‘hello’ that would be a good opportunity to do so.

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