Israel

Farha: destruction of a dream - review

Controversy has raged this week over a new movie showing on Netflix. Michael Lavalette urges you to watch it
Do Jews count?

David Baddiel’s Channel 4 film focusing on antisemitism and the progressive left promotes a hierarchy of racism that only benefits the right argues Leah Levane
Contradictions in the US and Israel's special relationship

The needs of the Israeli settler-colonial state and US imperialism are not perfectly aligned, argues John Clarke
Whatever Happened to Antisemitism? Redefinition and the Myth of the ‘Collective Jew’ - book review

Mizanur Rahman welcomes Antony Lerman’s new book on the ‘new antisemitism’ and the use of the concept against supporters of Palestine
Palestine on fire

Israel is conducting a brutal crackdown on Palestinian communities, largely to media silence, but resistance is growing again, reports Don Davies
Palestinians in Gaza are cannon fodder for Israeli political games

The Israeli military has once again launched a barbaric aerial offensive on the besieged Gaza strip killing at least 43 Palestinians ahead of November's Israeli elections, writes Alex Snowdon
Dismantling apartheid: How can Palestine be free? - video

Lowkey and Alex Snowdon discuss the Israeli occupation, western imperialism and the struggle for Palestinian liberation
The revolutionary life of Ghassan Kanafani: 50 years after Israel assassinated him

Michael Lavalette remembers the Palestinian revolutionary leader Ghassan Kanafani and his contribution to the struggle for Palestinian liberation 50 years on from his murder by Israeli forces
Apartheid under pressure – weekly briefing

Alex Snowdon on Palestine, economics and education
'From London to Jenin, justice for Shireen': thousands march for Palestine

Fatimah Ahmed reports on the national demonstration commemorating 74 years of Israel's ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people and in response to the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
The murder of Shireen Abu Akleh: Israel's war on Palestinian journalists

Israel's murder of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in occupied Jenin is part of an escalation of violence against Palestinians and particularly on journalists, writes Sara Sammak
The struggle for liberation: Palestinians, Israeli apartheid and imperialism

Michael Lavalette explains why Israel has escalated its violence against Palestinians and how Palestinians are resisting
We won't pay for their war - Counterfire freesheet May 2022

The Palestinian struggle for liberation, code red for the climate, interview with a Russian anti-war activist, resisting the cost of living crisis and more in this month's Counterfire freesheet
Hands off Al Aqsa: London stands up for Palestine

Following the recent escalation of violence by Israel forces against Palestinians, protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy to show their opposition, reports John McGrath
The bitter fruits of settler colonialism: Israeli violence and Palestinian resistance

Michael Lavalette reports on the violent clashes and Israeli incursions in the West Bank that have killed four Palestinians in 24 hours
Introduction – A short guide to Israeli apartheid excerpt

In this introduction, Alex Snowdon explains the roots of the apartheid state, laying out the ground that the book covers
A Short Guide to Israeli Apartheid

Alex Snowdon examines the grim reality of Israel as an apartheid state: how it was constructed, what it means for those who suffer under it, and how it is sustained
Shahd Abusalama: How the IHRA definition is being used to silence Palestinians - video

Shahd Abusalama speaks to Counterfire's Dave Randall about how she has been treated by Sheffield Hallam University, how the silencing of Palestinians is rooted in the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestine and why she is continuing to fight for justice
Calling it what it is: Amnesty's bold stand against Israeli apartheid

Amnesty International’s damning new report which details Israeli apartheid and calls for sanctions reflects a historic shift, writes Alex Snowdon
Palestinian prisoners’ struggles take a militant turn

Palestinian prisoners and the international solidarity movement are stepping up the campaign for freedom, reports Michael Lavalette
Solidarity is a verb: hundreds protest in London against Sheikh Jarrah evictions

Londoners sent a strong message to Israel and its enablers in Downing Street that we will not stand by while it ethnically cleanses Palestinians, reports Shabbir Lakha
Palestinian season on Netflix

Michael Lavalette reviews a number of Palestinian films currently streaming on Netflix
Academic freedom is under attack

Trade unionists should defend workers against management attack, and defend academic freedom in universities, argues Mike Wayne
Palestine is still the issue: take the fight to the Tories in Manchester

Alex Snowdon explains how the People's Assembly demonstration outside the Tory conference in October presents another opportunity to build solidarity with Palestine
Changing the narrative on Palestine: The Big Ride 2021 - photo essay pt 2

The Big Ride for Palestine 2021 arrives in London. Orlando Hill reports from the road, Carole Vincent from the London rally
France-Israel relations: a tale of intimacy, with no end in sight

France has been a key contributor to Project Israel and its lethal, life-destroying remit, writes Susan Ram
Changing the narrative on Palestine: The Big Ride 2021 – photo essay

The Big Ride for Palestine 2021 arrives tomorrow in Tower Hamlets. Orlando Hill is reporting on the road, noting the upsurge in support for Palestinian liberation
Decolonising Israel, Liberating Palestine - book review

Halper’s Decolonising Israel, Liberating Palestine shows Israel as a settler-colonial state, but achieving a single democratic state requires international solidarity, argues Sybil Cock
Trade unions belong at the forefront of Palestine solidarity – Interview with Louise Regan

After the recent revival of mass resistance for Palestine, David McAllister interviews Louise Regan of the NEU and Palestine Solidarity Campaign about the crucial role of trade unions
Israel’s new far right leader will double down on apartheid and racism - CounterBlast

Israel’s incoming prime minister Naftali Bennett makes clear that the extreme oppression of the Palestinians has always been deeper than Netanyahu, writes Sean Ledwith
Mahmoud Darwish: Poet of the Palestinian Resistance - video

Michael Lavalette launches his new book Palestinian Cultures of Resistance with a discussion about the life, politics and poetry of Mahmoud Darwish
Resist G7: justice for Palestine

Thousands of protesters descended on Whitehall to confront Britain’s complicity in Israeli apartheid, reports Cici Washburn
To Biden and the G7 leaders: Palestine is still the issue

Without Western support, Israel wouldn't be able to oppress the Palestinians with impunity, that's why our protests during the G7 summit are important, argues Shabbir Lakha
How the Irish trade union movement is building solidarity with Palestine - interview

Jim Clarke spoke to Eamon McMahon, the Northern Secretary of Trade Union Friends of Palestine, Ireland, about how trade unionists are showing solidarity with Palestine
Tony Cliff: Roots of Israel’s violence

We repost Tony Cliff's 1982 article on Zionism and the foundations of the state of Israel, introduced by Alex Snowdon
Israeli apartheid and the rebirth of Palestinian mass resistance

The current wave of Palestinian revolt is especially threatening to Israel because it is characterised by a high level of mobilisation, including a general strike, by Palestinians in Israel, explains Alex Snowdon
The French state couldn’t stop solidarity with Palestine

A protester in France describes how thousands defiantly took the streets of France in solidarity with Palestine despite the initial bans
Zionism and the origins of Israeli apartheid

The key to understanding Israel is to situate it as a settler-colonialist project requiring the dispossession of the Palestinians, argues Alex Snowdon
How British imperialism shaped Israel’s birth

The British Empire’s central role in the Zionist project and the subsequent violent displacement of the Palestinians is described by Alex Snowdon
Palestine solidarity is back and stronger than ever

Thousands took to the streets across the country as widespread opposition to Israeli apartheid continues to grow
Palestine: return of the resistance – weekly briefing

Lindsey German on a bad week for Israel and one of its leading allies, Sir Keir Starmer
Existence is Resistance: Palestine, Israel and the West - video

Jonathon Shafi, Sybil Cock, Shabbir Lakha and Mona Kamal discuss Palestine, imperialism and the global solidarity movement
The Israeli War Machine is deliberately destroying Palestinian families - CounterBlast

Terrorising civilians has always been part of Zionist military doctrine and is not accidental, writes Sean Ledwith
From Scotland to Palestine in solidarity

Conter reports from the weekend's protests in solidarity with Palestine in Edinburgh and Glasgow
The week that exposed the President: what we’ve learned about Biden

Biden’s uncompromising defence of Israel while it kills Palestinians shatters any myths of a progressive President, argues John Westmoreland
France: tens of thousands rally for Palestine on Nakba Day

Defying bans and military-style policing, solidarity with Palestine is building across the country, reports Susan Ram
Palestine: a movement reborn - weekly briefing

Lindsey German on the centrality of resistance to Israeli oppression and US imperialism
Palestine solidarity reborn: thousands demonstrate nationwide

Nakba Day saw the biggest wave of protests for Palestine in years, as thousands turned out against the attacks on Sheikh Jarrah and Gaza
Palestine rises against the Iron Dome of Israeli’s apartheid state – CounterBlast

The latest upsurge of resistance to the Zionist state demands the support of anti-imperialists and socialists everywhere, writes Sean Ledwith
Why we must stand with Palestine

Western imperialism is allowing Israel to bomb and lynch Palestinians with impunity, it's our job to stand up and resist, argues Shabbir Lakha
Stand with Palestine: Save Sheikh Jarrah, Stop Bombing Gaza - Counterfire Bulletin May 2021

As Israel continues to attack Palestinians in Jerusalem and Gaza, we must stand in solidarity with Palestine
This is what solidarity is about: thousands rally in London for Palestine

In response to the Sheikh Jarrah evictions and bombing of Gaza, thousands gathered in London to show their outrage, reports Cici Washburn
How Palestinians in Jerusalem took on the Israeli military and won - interview

Counterfire's Shabbir Lakha spoke to Ahmad Muna, a resident of East Jerusalem, on the recent protests against the closure of Damascus Gate which were met with violence from the IDF and far right settlers
Jerusalem Declaration: a rebuttal against the weaponising of antisemitism

The new Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism could be a useful tool in opposing the silencing of free speech on Palestine, writes John Clarke
A day in the life of a Palestinian: The Present review

Farah Nabulsi’s Oscar-nominated The Present shows the daily oppression faced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, finds Sybil Cock
The ICC decision on Israeli war crimes – what does it change?

The International Criminal Court plans to investigate Israeli war crimes, but legalism is seriously limited against apartheid, argues Sybil Cock
Five reasons why Israel is an apartheid state

Following a recent report by Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem which called Israel an apartheid state, Sybil Cock explains why the label fits
Biden's presidency, the warmakers and the anti-war movement in the US

Anti-war sentiment has already impacted on the incoming Biden administration, but it will have to be mobilised to deliver change, argues Chris Nineham
Stop blaming people’s behaviour for this catastrophe – weekly briefing

Alex Snowdon on the Tory game of Covid-shaming and the persistence of the Palestinian cause
Palestine: a Covid Christmas under occupation

Detrimental conditions for Palestinians have worsened because of Covid, but they're caused by the Israeli occupation, argues Shabbir Lakha
Issa Amro update: Palestine’s permanent state of oppression

The Israeli state’s clampdown on Youth Against Settlements is relentless but our side isn’t taking it lying down, reports Natalie Strecker
Will Biden make a difference to the Israeli occupation of Palestine?

As Trump’s presidency comes to an end, Sybil Cock assesses what Palestinians can expect from the incoming Biden administration
Antisemitism is weaponised in Ontario

As the IHRA definition becomes law in Ontario, and attacks on our ability to fight for Palestine and criticise Israel intensify, the left mustn't give an inch, argues John Clarke
Donald Trump is no 'peace president'

Trump is once again claiming he has an anti-war foreign policy in his election campaign, but his record doesn't back it up, argues Chris Nineham
Glasgow shows Israel the red card

Recent actions by football fans in Glasgow in solidarity with Palestine are a source of inspiration for boycotting Israeli apartheid, writes Mark Porciani
'Enough' is enough: an interview with Slovo's Dave Randall

The author of Sound System: The Political Power of Music and founder of south London music collective Slovo speaks to Mayer Wakefield
Gaza under attack: Palestine needs our solidarity

As Gaza comes under another round of brutal attacks, we must continue to build solidarity with Palestine, argues Sybil Gertraud Cock
The Big Ride for Palestine: Lockdown edition

In spite of the coronavirus lockdown, many rode out in solidarity for the Big Ride for Palestine, writes Lucy Nichols
Sacking Long-Bailey accelerates Labour’s drive to the right - CounterBlast

The sacking of the shadow cabinet’s only prominent socialist is a milestone in Labour’s move to the right, argues Alex Snowdon
Maxine Peake is right: US and Israeli state violence is linked

Pointing out the link between US police brutality and Israel’s barbaric tactics against Palestinians is no conspiracy theory, argues Shabbir Lakha
Sacking Long-Bailey is a disgrace: it's proof Starmer is leading a witch-hunt against the left - CounterBlast 25 June

There can no longer be any doubt, Starmer is leading a witch-hunt against the left in Labour at a time when the Tories are in maximum disarray, writes Chris Nineham
Israel annexation of West Bank will be the final nail in the Oslo Accord

What the annexation would mean to Palestinians and Israelis and why we should oppose it, explains Sybil Cock
Israel wants to legalise its illegal occupation

Netanyahu's proposed annexation shines a light on Israeli apartheid, argues Reuben Bard-Rosenberg
Wheelchair-bound Palestinian brutally attacked by Israeli Defence Forces

Adnan Hamarsheh and his family were severely beaten in the latest attack they've faced at the hands of the Israeli military, reports Ellen Graubart
Nakba Day 72 years on: the fight for peace continues

On the 72^nd anniversary of the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, Palestinians continue to suffer under occupation and apartheid and are now braced for further Israeli annexation, writes Sara Sammak
Starmer’s foreign policy and the spirit of Blairism

Dragan Plavšić considers what Labour’s foreign policy will look like under Starmer’s leadership
Gaza finds itself embroiled in another kind of seige

Gaza still needs our help, let us not give up on it in these testing times, argues Maddalena Dunscombe
Raining accusations: Ken Loach under attack

Britain's best known socialist filmmaker has been under attack for weeks as part of the continued assault on our ability to organise for Palestinian rights, argues Sybil Cock
The setbacks for Palestine solidarity and the need to fight back

The setbacks in the movement for solidarity with Palestine and the failure of militant anti-racism is a catastrophe for the left, and one that must be quickly rectified, argues David Jamieson
The weaponisation of antisemitism in Canada continues

If we are to confront the reality Israeli apartheid, false charges of antisemitism cannot go unchallenged, writes John Clarke
Trump’s deal of the century is a catastrophe for Palestinians

Trump's proposal for Israel and Palestine flies in the face of international law and actually marks the death of the two state solution, writes Shabbir Lakha
Tony Cliff: The Jews, Israel and the Holocaust

Tony Cliff was a Palestinian Jew and leading revolutionary socialist in Britain. On Holocaust Memorial Day, and the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp, we republish an article that he wrote in 1998.
Why we will not be silent on Palestine

The fight for a free Palestine will not stop until there is justice and equality for all, writes Gabriel Polley
Another reason to protest Trump's visit: recognition of illegal Israeli settlements

Sybil Cock looks at the US's recognition of Israeli settlements, what this change represents and why it's another reason to protest Trump's visit
Israel vs human rights: IDF raids Ramallah NGO

Attacking a human rights organisation is a brazen attempt to hide the brutal reality of the occupation, writes Richard Pratt
Israel's electoral stalemate shows Palestine is still the issue

The divides in Israeli civil society are still rooted in the state’s dispossession of the Palestinians, writes Kevin Ovenden
Netanyahu and Pence: Boris Johnson's warmonger allies

Boris Johnson's meetings with Netanyahu and Pence were about coordinating the drive to war with Iran, writes Lucy Nichols
Free Palestine: Londoners protest Netanyahu visit

Even with only a day's notice, London can make Netanyahu feel unwelcome, reports Ellen Graubert
Profiting from death and destruction: DSEI 2019

The world's worst arms dealers will be gathering to exhibit their instruments of death at London's ExCel Centre once again, writes Lucy Nichols
Evasive 'democracy': Israel bans Omar and Tlaib

Israel's refusal of two US congresswomen is unacceptable but highlights the strength of BDS, writes Richard Pratt
The poisonous politics of Priti Patel

The disgraced former minister Priti Patel is back in government with her own brand of toxic politics that must be opposed by the left, argues David McAllister
Tower Hamlets ban should be a wake up call on Palestine

The IHRA definition is being used to stifle Palestine activism, exactly as activists had warned it would, report Chris Nineham and Sybil Cock
Attack on Palestine solidarity turned back in Vancouver

When the left steps up and organises against the attacks, it can win, as shown in Vancouver, reports John Clarke
The Big Ride for Palestine

A personal account of a magnificent day of solidarity and internationalism from Orlando da Rocha Hill
Britain is following Trump and escalating the threat of war with Iran

The British Navy's seizing of an Iranian oil tanker shows Britain following Trump, trading in diplomacy for the threat of military confrontation, argues Lindsey German
BBC Panorama hatchet job on Labour antisemitism is a farce

The BBC's Panorama on antisemitism in the Labour Party provides no real evidence and shows how cynical the smear campaign is, argues David McAllister
Canada joins campaign to stifle criticism of Israel

Canada becomes the next major player in the international drive to weaponise false allegations of antisemitism to protect Israel, writes John Clarke
Slap of the Century: Trump’s crooked deal for Palestine

Following the grand unveiling of its economic elements in Bahrain, Sean Ledwith picks apart Kushner's sham 'Deal of the Century'
Palestinians protest against Kushner and Trump’s sham economic deal

As protests against Trump's bogus 'peace' plan erupt across the world, Shabbir Lakha reports from Ramallah
Anti-Zionism is the antidote to Trump and Netanyahu

Shabbir Lakha calls on the movement to be loud and clear in its opposition to Zionism
It's time for the Labour left to step up to the plate

For Labour to beat the right, the left must stop retreating, argues John Rees
Dump Trump: Protest the State Visit, June 3/4/5 - Counterfire freesheet May 2019

Protest against Trump's state visit, austerity and record levels of inequality, Algeria in revolt, Marxism made easy, Palestine, eco-demands and more in this month's Counterfire Freesheet
We stand with Palestine: thousands march in solidarity

Thousands of protesters marched through London on Saturday showing that solidarity with Palestine in Britain hasn't gone anywhere, reports Shabbir Lakha
Why we're marching for Palestine on 11 May

Ahead of the Exist! Resist! Return! demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May, Counterfire asked leading activists about why joining this protest is so important
Israel's attacks on the Palestinians started before any rockets

Israel is not acting in self-defence, it's the Palestinian people who are under attack and we need to stand with them, argues Shabbir Lakha
Gaza under attack: why we must stand up for Palestine

Israel's deadly assault on Gaza on the weekend should be a reminder to all that solidarity with Palestine is urgent, argues Richard Pratt
Skateboarding and Palestine Solidarity

Ahead of the National Demonstration for Palestine, Morgan Daniels speaks to Dani Abulhawa about SkatePal
Solidarity with Palestine is needed now more than ever

With Trump and Netanyahu wreaking havoc, it's time for mass solidarity with Palestine, argues Lindsey German
Israeli elections: apartheid or apartheid-lite

Israelis have voted for their preferred version of apartheid - we must stand with the Palestians, writes Sybil Cock
The weaponising of antisemitism

The smears against Corbyn and the left are part of a concerted effort to undermine a potential left government and must be opposed, argues Alex Snowdon
March for Palestine: exist, resist, return

11 May is the mobilisation that the movement’s been waiting for, reports Sybil Cock
Keep fighting for Corbyn: Stop the attacks - Counterfire freesheet March 2019

The soft coup against Corbyn and the weaponisation of antisemitism, Tory Brexit crisis, Winston Churchill, Venezuela, climate change, Palestine and more in this month's Counterfire Freesheet
Hebron – the heart of the occupation

Justice for Palestine is central to the left. The situation in Hebron is a good example why, argues Sybil Cock
5 facts about Aipac and the Israel lobby that prove Ilhan Omar is right

Ilhan Omar is being attacked because she's a radical anti-imperialist, black, Muslim woman on the left, and deserves unconditional solidarity argues Shabbir Lakha
Conspiracy theory: the answer is more left-wing theory not less

Ruling class power can’t be understood as a conspiracy, argues John Rees
Labour and antisemitism: separating facts from fiction

The campaign to destabilise Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party has accelerated. We must oppose the attacks and defend the left, argues Kara Bryan.
Conflating anti-Zionism and antisemitism - Macron’s dangerous game

The French President’s conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism should be seen in the context of the Yellow Vest movement, the crisis of Macronism, and pervasive, state-facilitated Islamophobia, argues Susan Ram
India and Pakistan must pull back from the brink of war - SASG statement

Indians, Pakistanis, Kashmiris and UK citizens of South Asian origin issue a statement calling on the Indian and Pakistani governments to work for peace not war
Time to talk about Palestine

In the first of a monthly series, Sybil Cock lays out what Palestine solidarity must look like in practice
Israeli Eurovision boycott: let the battle begin

With the contest taking place in Tel Aviv this year, we must supercharge campaigners’ demands for a full boycott, argues Dave Randall
They've got to go! General election now - Counterfire freesheet January 2019

Tory Brexit crisis, the fightback against austerity, Eurovision boycott campaign, Trump and Syria, remembering Rosa Luxemburg, Yellow Vests and protests across Europe in this month's Counterfire Freesheet
Operation Cast Lead: the 22 day massacre in Gaza

Ten years on since the massacre of Operation Cast Lead, conditions in Gaza are worse than ever, argues Shabbir Lakha
Has the BBC smuggled a critique of Israel past the thought police? - TV review

BBC One's Little Drummer Girl manages to cut through some of the usual BBC bias when it comes to Israel and even criticises Britain's role, argues Sofie Mason
Gaza: An Inquest into its Martyrdom - book review

Gaza: An Inquest into its Martyrdom is a passionate and painstaking attempt to counter Israeli deception over the Palestinian struggle, finds Oliver Eagleton
Israel's crimes cannot go unanswered

The ongoing assault on the Palestinian people is intensifying, and we need to up our response, argues Mona Kamal
End Foodbank Britain: General Election Now - Counterfire Freesheet December 2018

Brexit crisis, arms sales to Yemen, the devastation caused by austerity, tackling the far right, Palestine, books of the year and more in this month's Counterfire freesheet
Palestine: a history of colonialism, occupation and resistance - Counterfire Media Podcast

Shabbir Lakha on the history of Palestine and Tom Lock Griffiths on the excellent release They Came To a City' (1944) on DVD and Blu Ray in the fourth episode of Counterfire Media's Podcast
Adieu, Nikki Haley (but she’ll be back…)

Haley’s signature contribution to international affairs during her ambassadorship has been her trumpet-section support for Israel, writes Susan Ram
Justice for Palestine: a report from the Labour Party conference

Conference shows strong support among Labour members for the Palestinian cause, reports Terina Hine
Palestinians resist home demolitions by Israeli military - video

Israeli armed forces attacked Palestinian demonstrators as they demolished four homes, continuing a programme of hundreds this year. Jamie Naylor reports from the West Bank
Israel's wall in Bethlehem: militarising Rachel's Tomb

Palestinians are increasingly restricted in daily life and access to the holy site due to an illegal wall and military raids, reports Jamie Naylor
Racism, war and Trump: the Stop the War Coalition AGM

Far from being an ‘isolationist’, Donald Trump has increased bombings, sanctions and war, argues Lindsey German
Labour, antisemitism and the damage done

The attacks on Corbyn and the left this summer have been damaging, and can only be dealt with through political struggle, argues Kevin Potter
Is Israel a racist endeavour?

Supporting Palestine is an anti-racist, anti-colonial struggle; Israel is and always has been a racist state, argues Shabbir Lakha
The attacks on Corbyn can only end if they're confronted

Apologies and appeasement won’t stop the witch-hunt against Corbyn
The Palestinians deserve better than this – weekly briefing

Any concessions on anti-imperialism will not only weaken Jeremy Corbyn but the whole of the radical left, argues Lindsey German
Why Israel is an apartheid state

Israel’s history, from its origins in 1948's Nakba, is characterised by racism, violence and apartheid policies towards Palestinians, explains Sybil Cock
The fightback is on: hundreds rally behind Corbyn in London

Hundreds of Londoners rallied against the attacks on Jeremy Corbyn and Palestine on Tuesday, Shabbir Lakha reports
What's wrong with the IHRA definition? - video

A short video explaining why adopting the full IHRA definition would be a mistake for Labour
Back the NEC code: why compromising is the wrong thing to do

Labour's NEC is under pressure to adopt the IHRA definition and some on the left are supporting this move. Alex Snowdon explains what's wrong with this logic
Defend Jeremy Corbyn: time to fight back - Counterfire statement

Corbyn is right – the left needs to fight back against the slander of antisemitism
Eyewitness account of Israeli attack on aid boat to Gaza

A detailed account from Dr Swee Ang who was on board the boat that was intercepted and invaded by Israeli forces on its way to Gaza with medical aid
Stand firm in attacks against Corbyn, or lose the fight

Right wing attacks on Corbyn have intensified. If we lose ground now, we will pay heavily in the future, argues Alex Snowdon
Hodge case shows why Labour Right needs to be confronted - and defeated

The only appropriate response to Margaret Hodge and her co-conspirators is to take them on politically and defeat them argues Alex Snowdon
Ahed Tamimi released! What her story tells us about Palestinian resistance

The confrontation between Tamimi and the illiberal Israeli state is only one example of a system of violent persecution met by a relentless struggle, writes John Clarke
Antisemitism and apartheid

As Israel enshrines apartheid into law and Jeremy Corbyn is labelled an antisemite, Shabbir Lakha assesses the situation
Why Labour must oppose Israel’s racist apartheid

The Labour Party must not endorse Israeli violence, racism and apartheid policies as MPs have voted to do, argues Alex Snowdon
Israel enshrines apartheid into law

While the Labour right try to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism, Israel just enshrined apartheid into law argues Mark Porciani
Dump Trump and the special relationship, too

Theresa May's support for Trump is a faultline we must fully exploit, argues Jonathan Maunders
We cannot let Iran become another US powder keg

Trump's policies point towards regime change in Iran. The anti-war movement must stand firm, argues Shabbir Lakha
London says end the massacre in Gaza, freedom for Palestine

Thousands of people poured into Whitehall on Tuesday to oppose the killing of unarmed protesters in Gaza, reports Richard Pratt
Gaza massacre: Trump’s embassy move legitimises murder of Palestinians

Israel’s massacre of unarmed civilians shows that there’s no right kind of resistance for Palestinians and that Trump has legitimised their murder, argues Shabbir Lakha
Palestine: remembrance and resistance

As the resistance of Palestinians in Gaza continues despite horrific violence against them, we must continue to show solidarity and protest, argues Shabbir Lakha
Trump's ditching of Iran deal is paving the way to war

Trump pulling the US out of the Iran nuclear deal is a step on the path to more war in the Middle East argues Shabbir Lakha
As Gaza rebels, how can Palestine be free? With Kevin Ovenden - video

Speaking at a London Counterfire event, Kevin Ovenden discusses what the protests in Gaza are about and how Palestine can be free
Lies, damn lies, and Boris Johnson - weekly briefing

This floundering ruling class operative personifies an exposed and rotten regime, writes Lindsey German
More Palestinian protesters killed on ‘Friday of Tires’ by the Israeli military

Israeli soldiers fired live rounds and teargas into thousands of Palestinians rallying for a second week for the right to return to occupied lands
Bloody Friday in Gaza: a great return massacre

An unarmed, civilian protest from a people who have been oppressed for decades, results in bloodshed and massacre.
Palestine 'Great Return March' in images: mass protest met with 16 killings by Israeli military

Tens of thousands marched peacefully for the right to return to the occupied territories, but IDF soldiers shot to kill, reports Jack Sherwood, with 6 weeks of protest ahead
For International Women’s Day my hero is Ahed Tamimi

International Women's Day is not just about the struggles of the past. It is about the recognition of women fighting now
Palestine: the open wound

Shabbir Lakha reflects on the twentieth century imperial imposition that continues to blight global justice
Ahed Tamimi's indictment paints a clear picture of apartheid Israel

The treatment of Ahed Tamimi is not uncommon for the children of Palestine and shows Israel's systemic oppression of Palestinians clearly argues Shabbir Lakha
Ahed Tamimi: the 16-year-old Palestinian girl Israel is afraid of

The arrest of Ahed Tamimi, a symbol of resistance to ongoing Israeli occupation, has put systemic maltreatment and detention of Palestinian children in the spotlight argues Huda Ammori
I'm a Palestinian from Jerusalem, where's my say?

Trump's announcement last week marks the end of the peace process and once again Palestinians have been left in the dark argues Ahmad Muna from Jerusalem
The Irish Question, the EU and the debate about borders - weekly briefing

The end of the first phase of Brexit negotiations is neither the restoring of Theresa May's fortunes nor an indication that the Irish situation is stable argues Lindsey German
Save our village from Israeli bulldozers: an open letter from Susiya

The villagers of Susiya appeal to the international community to stand with them in the face of enforced expulsion by the Israeli state
Why is Trump recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital a big deal?

Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital has international law implications, infringes on Palestinian rights and could be a calculated move argues Shabbir Lakha
Charges dropped against activists that shut down Israel arms factory

Having had the criminal charges for shutting down an Israeli arms factory against her dropped, Huda Ammori explains why this is a victory for BDS
Labour needs a new foreign policy

Jeremy Corbyn's long-held views ought to become Labour policy
Friends of Israel: influencing British politics

The coverage of the Priti Patel affair has been largely focused on the breach of the Ministerial code, but it goes deeper than that argues Shabbir Lakha
The Israel Factor: Priti Patel and Emily Thornberry

Priti Patel's secret meetings have put Israeli influence in British politics in the spotlight, but we need a wider conversation, including about Emily Thornberry argues Shabbir Lakha
A government that is not fit to govern at home or abroad

This government is rotten to the core, with a duplicitous Foreign Office representing the worst of it
From London to Palestine with solidarity - photos

Marking the centenary of the Balfour Declaration, thousands of people marched in London to show solidarity with Palestine
Letter to Theresa May from a Palestinian refugee

A letter from an 11 year old Palestinian refugee to Theresa May asking her to rethink celebrating the Balfour Declaration centenary.
Balfour 100 years on - nothing to celebrate

The Balfour Declaration was the prelude to violent settler colonialism in Palestine argues Alex Snowdon and explains why thousands will be protesting not celebrating.
The Balfour Declaration: Palestine, Empire and Resistance - video

Bernard Regan launches his new book "The Balfour Declaration" as the centenary of the infamous event that started the Israel-Palestine conflict approaches.
BDS: a response to the University of Manchester's Balfour Celebration

The University of Manchester's decision to celebrate a document that has led to a hundred years of crimes against the Palestinians cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged, argues Huda Ammori
We will not be silenced: Palestine will be free

The demand for change is growing
Macron and Netanyahu: the shadow of Zionism

Macron’s readiness to equate anti-Zionism with antisemitism and endow it with the full force of French state power shows his true colours, argues Susan Ram
Why Radiohead are wrong to play in Israel

By ignoring the pleas of Palestinians, the band will help the Israeli government’s propaganda effort, writes Dave Randall
Silent boycott: the media blackout on the Palestinian hunger strike

The media’s refusal to report on the plight of the Palestinians works to normalise the Israeli occupation, writes Jen Izaakson
SOAS community statement: Apartheid off campus

As Mark Regev prepares to speak at SOAS later this month, students have called a protest against his proposed visit
The Walled-Off Hotel opens in Bethlehem: Banksy strikes again

The world famous graffitist is using his fame and fortune to challenge hegemony on the West Bank, notes Kara Bryan
The Trump factor: Israel, settlements and antisemitism

Trump and Netanyahu usher in a new level of US-Israel cooperation, but as far right antisemitism grows the narrative cracks argues Shabbir Lakha
Netanyahu, May’s force is with you

Theresa May is up to her neck in the old business of ignoring Israeli crimes, argues Kara Bryan
The spy who came in from the shadows

Compare the Trump spy scandal and the Israeli spy scandal and it tells us a lot about the media and the political establishment, argues Kara Bryan
'Left-wing antisemitism': anatomy of an accusation

Leo Fischer argues the best response to accusations of antisemitism is to educate, organise and emphasise the continuing human rights abuses committed in Palestine
Like Mandela, Palestinians are prisoners of an apartheid system

The occupation of Palestine by Israeli forces is not dissimilar to apartheid South Africa, argues Koos Mohammed
NUS: against antisemitism and for freedom for Palestine

Defending Malia Bouattia's record as an anti-racist campaigner, Shelly Asquith argues that the NUS has the right to criticse Israeli politics
War Against the People

Jeff Halper’s War Against the People exposes the global role of Israel’s military and security industry, finds Kit Klarenberg
The Jews, Israel and the Holocaust - key texts

The Blairites' crocodile tears are about defending empire, writes David Moyles in this introduction to The Jews, Israel and the Holocaust
Stop the War: official statement on anti-Semitism and Palestine

In response to claims of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party, Stop the War condemns the double standards applied to those who oppose Israeli oppression
Stop this cynical attack: Corbyn, anti-semitism and the right

We repost the Jewish Socialists' Group's response to claims that Jeremy Corbyn is tolerating a growth of antisemitism in the Labour Party
Protesters show solidarity with Palestinians

Palestinians, with their incredible courage and hope, will fight for their survival. Ellen Graubert reports from the demonstration on Saturday
Shellshocked. On the ground under Israel’s Gaza assault

This first-hand account of life on the ground under Operation Protective Edge shows the suffering, resilience and dignity of the people of Gaza, finds Adam Tomes
Arming Apartheid: the UK arms trade and Israel

Campaigners are targeting UK arms companies as a new report exposes their role in supporting the infrastructure of Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine reports Elliot Murphy
Appeal: documenting the occupation

An appeal for funding for a trip to Palestine, to bear witness to the everyday violence of war and occupation
Praying for storms: a review of 'Method and Madness'

Israel needs enemies if its current state form is to survive, according to Norman Finkelstein, explaining the motivation for its atrocities. Kit Klarenberg reviews Method and Madness
A punch in the right places: Operation Protective Edge seven months on

As Israel goes to the polls Elliot Murphy looks at the ongoing cost of last year's assault on Gaza
Taken for a Ride: has Mark Gardener been tricked by the pro-Israel lobby?

Ride frontman Mark Gardener has agreed to perform in Tel Aviv. Tommy Mack looks at the arguments around the cultural boycott of Israel

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Israel

Israel

Controversy has raged this week over a new movie showing on Netflix. Michael Lavalette urges you to watch it

David Baddiel’s Channel 4 film focusing on antisemitism and the progressive left promotes a hierarchy of racism that only benefits the right argues Leah Levane

The needs of the Israeli settler-colonial state and US imperialism are not perfectly aligned, argues John Clarke

Mizanur Rahman welcomes Antony Lerman’s new book on the ‘new antisemitism’ and the use of the concept against supporters of Palestine

Israel is conducting a brutal crackdown on Palestinian communities, largely to media silence, but resistance is growing again, reports Don Davies

The Israeli military has once again launched a barbaric aerial offensive on the besieged Gaza strip killing at least 43 Palestinians ahead of November's Israeli elections, writes Alex Snowdon

Lowkey and Alex Snowdon discuss the Israeli occupation, western imperialism and the struggle for Palestinian liberation

Michael Lavalette remembers the Palestinian revolutionary leader Ghassan Kanafani and his contribution to the struggle for Palestinian liberation 50 years on from his murder by Israeli forces

Alex Snowdon on Palestine, economics and education

Fatimah Ahmed reports on the national demonstration commemorating 74 years of Israel's ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people and in response to the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

Israel's murder of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in occupied Jenin is part of an escalation of violence against Palestinians and particularly on journalists, writes Sara Sammak

Michael Lavalette explains why Israel has escalated its violence against Palestinians and how Palestinians are resisting

The Palestinian struggle for liberation, code red for the climate, interview with a Russian anti-war activist, resisting the cost of living crisis and more in this month's Counterfire freesheet

Following the recent escalation of violence by Israel forces against Palestinians, protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy to show their opposition, reports John McGrath

Michael Lavalette reports on the violent clashes and Israeli incursions in the West Bank that have killed four Palestinians in 24 hours

In this introduction, Alex Snowdon explains the roots of the apartheid state, laying out the ground that the book covers

Alex Snowdon examines the grim reality of Israel as an apartheid state: how it was constructed, what it means for those who suffer under it, and how it is sustained

Shahd Abusalama speaks to Counterfire's Dave Randall about how she has been treated by Sheffield Hallam University, how the silencing of Palestinians is rooted in the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestine and why she is continuing to fight for justice

Amnesty International’s damning new report which details Israeli apartheid and calls for sanctions reflects a historic shift, writes Alex Snowdon

Palestinian prisoners and the international solidarity movement are stepping up the campaign for freedom, reports Michael Lavalette

Londoners sent a strong message to Israel and its enablers in Downing Street that we will not stand by while it ethnically cleanses Palestinians, reports Shabbir Lakha

Michael Lavalette reviews a number of Palestinian films currently streaming on Netflix

Trade unionists should defend workers against management attack, and defend academic freedom in universities, argues Mike Wayne

Alex Snowdon explains how the People's Assembly demonstration outside the Tory conference in October presents another opportunity to build solidarity with Palestine

The Big Ride for Palestine 2021 arrives in London. Orlando Hill reports from the road, Carole Vincent from the London rally

France has been a key contributor to Project Israel and its lethal, life-destroying remit, writes Susan Ram

The Big Ride for Palestine 2021 arrives tomorrow in Tower Hamlets. Orlando Hill is reporting on the road, noting the upsurge in support for Palestinian liberation

Halper’s Decolonising Israel, Liberating Palestine shows Israel as a settler-colonial state, but achieving a single democratic state requires international solidarity, argues Sybil Cock

After the recent revival of mass resistance for Palestine, David McAllister interviews Louise Regan of the NEU and Palestine Solidarity Campaign about the crucial role of trade unions

Israel’s incoming prime minister Naftali Bennett makes clear that the extreme oppression of the Palestinians has always been deeper than Netanyahu, writes Sean Ledwith

Michael Lavalette launches his new book Palestinian Cultures of Resistance with a discussion about the life, politics and poetry of Mahmoud Darwish

Thousands of protesters descended on Whitehall to confront Britain’s complicity in Israeli apartheid, reports Cici Washburn

Without Western support, Israel wouldn't be able to oppress the Palestinians with impunity, that's why our protests during the G7 summit are important, argues Shabbir Lakha

Jim Clarke spoke to Eamon McMahon, the Northern Secretary of Trade Union Friends of Palestine, Ireland, about how trade unionists are showing solidarity with Palestine

We repost Tony Cliff's 1982 article on Zionism and the foundations of the state of Israel, introduced by Alex Snowdon

The current wave of Palestinian revolt is especially threatening to Israel because it is characterised by a high level of mobilisation, including a general strike, by Palestinians in Israel, explains Alex Snowdon

A protester in France describes how thousands defiantly took the streets of France in solidarity with Palestine despite the initial bans

The key to understanding Israel is to situate it as a settler-colonialist project requiring the dispossession of the Palestinians, argues Alex Snowdon

The British Empire’s central role in the Zionist project and the subsequent violent displacement of the Palestinians is described by Alex Snowdon

Thousands took to the streets across the country as widespread opposition to Israeli apartheid continues to grow

Lindsey German on a bad week for Israel and one of its leading allies, Sir Keir Starmer

Jonathon Shafi, Sybil Cock, Shabbir Lakha and Mona Kamal discuss Palestine, imperialism and the global solidarity movement

Terrorising civilians has always been part of Zionist military doctrine and is not accidental, writes Sean Ledwith

Conter reports from the weekend's protests in solidarity with Palestine in Edinburgh and Glasgow

Biden’s uncompromising defence of Israel while it kills Palestinians shatters any myths of a progressive President, argues John Westmoreland

Defying bans and military-style policing, solidarity with Palestine is building across the country, reports Susan Ram

Lindsey German on the centrality of resistance to Israeli oppression and US imperialism

Nakba Day saw the biggest wave of protests for Palestine in years, as thousands turned out against the attacks on Sheikh Jarrah and Gaza

The latest upsurge of resistance to the Zionist state demands the support of anti-imperialists and socialists everywhere, writes Sean Ledwith

Western imperialism is allowing Israel to bomb and lynch Palestinians with impunity, it's our job to stand up and resist, argues Shabbir Lakha

As Israel continues to attack Palestinians in Jerusalem and Gaza, we must stand in solidarity with Palestine

In response to the Sheikh Jarrah evictions and bombing of Gaza, thousands gathered in London to show their outrage, reports Cici Washburn

Counterfire's Shabbir Lakha spoke to Ahmad Muna, a resident of East Jerusalem, on the recent protests against the closure of Damascus Gate which were met with violence from the IDF and far right settlers

The new Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism could be a useful tool in opposing the silencing of free speech on Palestine, writes John Clarke

Farah Nabulsi’s Oscar-nominated The Present shows the daily oppression faced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, finds Sybil Cock

The International Criminal Court plans to investigate Israeli war crimes, but legalism is seriously limited against apartheid, argues Sybil Cock

Following a recent report by Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem which called Israel an apartheid state, Sybil Cock explains why the label fits

Anti-war sentiment has already impacted on the incoming Biden administration, but it will have to be mobilised to deliver change, argues Chris Nineham

Alex Snowdon on the Tory game of Covid-shaming and the persistence of the Palestinian cause

Detrimental conditions for Palestinians have worsened because of Covid, but they're caused by the Israeli occupation, argues Shabbir Lakha

The Israeli state’s clampdown on Youth Against Settlements is relentless but our side isn’t taking it lying down, reports Natalie Strecker

As Trump’s presidency comes to an end, Sybil Cock assesses what Palestinians can expect from the incoming Biden administration

As the IHRA definition becomes law in Ontario, and attacks on our ability to fight for Palestine and criticise Israel intensify, the left mustn't give an inch, argues John Clarke

Trump is once again claiming he has an anti-war foreign policy in his election campaign, but his record doesn't back it up, argues Chris Nineham

Recent actions by football fans in Glasgow in solidarity with Palestine are a source of inspiration for boycotting Israeli apartheid, writes Mark Porciani

The author of Sound System: The Political Power of Music and founder of south London music collective Slovo speaks to Mayer Wakefield

As Gaza comes under another round of brutal attacks, we must continue to build solidarity with Palestine, argues Sybil Gertraud Cock

In spite of the coronavirus lockdown, many rode out in solidarity for the Big Ride for Palestine, writes Lucy Nichols

The sacking of the shadow cabinet’s only prominent socialist is a milestone in Labour’s move to the right, argues Alex Snowdon

Pointing out the link between US police brutality and Israel’s barbaric tactics against Palestinians is no conspiracy theory, argues Shabbir Lakha

There can no longer be any doubt, Starmer is leading a witch-hunt against the left in Labour at a time when the Tories are in maximum disarray, writes Chris Nineham

What the annexation would mean to Palestinians and Israelis and why we should oppose it, explains Sybil Cock

Netanyahu's proposed annexation shines a light on Israeli apartheid, argues Reuben Bard-Rosenberg