Author: Imran Mulla

The Charity Commission in the UK has rejected a request by Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) to investigate the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), a pro-Israel charity. The complaint, filed in April 2020, accused the CAA of being politically partisan and not deserving charitable status. Despite this, the regulator found that JVL did not meet the criteria to bring the complaint forward. JVL had previously been targeted by the CAA, which accused them of being on the fringes of the Jewish community and supportive of extreme elements. JVL considered these accusations defamatory. The group alleged that the CAA conflated antisemitism with…

In April, a Jewish student delegate at a National Union of Students (NUS) conference in Blackpool called for a non-binding vote on recognizing a pro-Israel body as the legitimate representative of Jewish students, challenging the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) that excludes critical views of Zionism. The incident escalated into a media frenzy in early May, with the Jewish identity of the delegates often ignored. Government figures expressed concern over the incident, describing it as a “disgraceful act” and questioning if NUS is institutionally antisemitic. Despite the uproar, NUS later apologized for allowing the motion, acknowledging it as a breach…

Cambridge City Council, with a Labour majority, made history as the first in the UK to pass a motion for a Gaza ceasefire and to stop arming Israel. The council unanimously agreed to press the government for a ceasefire, revoke arms export licenses to Israel, and halt arms sales. They also vowed to explore the possibility of cutting ties with Barclays due to the bank’s investments in companies linked to Israel’s military. Labour councillor Alice Gilderdale emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that they couldn’t stay silent amidst the tragedies in Gaza. This bold move sets Cambridge apart from…

Shocking revelations have emerged about the extent of pro-Israel influence in Britain’s ruling Conservative Party. A report by Declassified uncovered that a third of Conservative MPs have received funding from pro-Israel lobby groups, totaling over £430,000 in donations and hospitality. These lobby groups, including the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI), have orchestrated 187 trips to Israel for MPs, with some visits to the occupied Palestinian territories. The CFI has even taken MPs on tours of arms factories run by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms manufacturer. The influence of pro-Israel groups has led to allegations of active lobbying against MPs with…

Trinity College Cambridge’s Student Union recently passed a motion calling for divestment from companies profiting from Israel’s war on Gaza. The motion, passed unanimously, extends beyond the college council’s decision to divest from arms manufacturers, demanding divestment from all companies involved in the conflict. The student union aims to ensure Trinity’s investments align with ethical guidelines and support affected students. In response to revelations about investments in arms companies, the union seeks wider divestment from all complicit companies. The student union advocates for peaceful discussions on Israeli government actions and supports Palestinian students and academics in Gaza. Trinity College continues…