By Bruce, Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods (J-BIG)

Saturday, September 10th

Looks like Monmouth Street will soon have an empty shop, as six months ago, news broke that Ahava’s landlord refused to renew their lease when it expires at the end of this month.

During Saturday’s Ahava protest, many human rights activists who once again far outnumbered the Zios were curious how many of them would turn up after the action at the BBC Proms on September 1st at the Royal Albert Hall where the decision was taken by BBC Radio 3 to pull the concert off the air.

Despite all the hysteria coming from the Zionist camp and a few sectors of the right wing media claiming that this was cultural vandalism, protesters neither disrupted the music nor did our action cancel the Prom. Concert-goers continued to enjoy their music, as well as witness a demonstration. This carefully planned and thought out action was highly successful, as it made headlines around the world, while at the same time sending out a strong statement about the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s support of the Zionist regime.

AHAVA

Later this month we will be celebrating along with other peacemakers and truthtellers around the world Ahava’s departure from Monmouth Street, which is the result of two years of protests, direct actions and legal challenges.

I spent the time standing on the corner of Seven Dials and Monmouth Street and attracted attention wearing my BOYCOTT ISRAELI GOODS t-shirt and J-BIG Kippa.

One woman said to me: “I wish there were more Jewish people like you.” To which I replied: “there are - and many more too!”

After a lengthy explanation of the reasons behind the boycott campaign, another woman said: “I will never go into THAT shop or buy any more Dead Sea products again.” 

"There's nothing more Jewish than standing up for human rights."

The few Zios that turned up were unusually subdued, the exception being Jonathan Hoffman, Co-Vice Chair of the UK Zionist Federation, who shouted out several times “Cultural Terrorists!” Hoffman, who has a history of disrupting events, was unceremoniously thrown out of the Royal Albert Hall for going berserk with an Israeli flag during the IPO’s performance on September 1st. 

THE ZIONIST FEDERATION’S NEW FRIEND – THE GRAND PRIX PRIEST

Neil Horan

Earlier that evening outside the Royal Albert Hall, Hoffman probably saw a man wearing a kilt adorned with a Star of David, dancing a jig who was entertaining the Zionists and their right-wing EDL allies.

Few were aware that this darling of the Zionist Federation-organised counter-demonstration was a former Britain’s Got Talent contestant named Neil Horan, a defrocked Catholic priest nicknamed ‘The Grand Prix Priest’ or ‘The Dancing Priest.’ Horan earned his nickname by disrupting the 2003 British Grand Prix by running onto the track at Silverstone directly into the path of oncoming race cars carrying a religious banner. 

Horan at the 2003 British Grand Prix.

During the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Horan pushed a Brazilian runner who was in the lead into the crowd watching the race, costing the runner the gold medal.

Later that year, Horan was acquitted of child abuse allegations and celebrated by performing a traditional Irish jig outside the Old Bailey (the Central Criminal Court in England) wearing his costume.

I’m certain that Horan didn’t tell the Zionists about the two months he spent in a German prison for writing to Chancellor Angela Merkel informing her that he intended to dance a peace jig in Berlin during the 2006 World Cup carrying a poster saying “Adolf Hitler was a good leader who was following the word of Christ.” Horan also planned to give the Hitler salute and light a candle for him at the site of Gestapo Headquarters. 

As they say, like attracts like.

CHECK THE LABEL

Outside the nearby TESCO supermarket, human rights campaigners leafleted and encouraged consumers not to purchase either Israeli or West Bank settlement produce.   

One unkempt Zionist specimen who was wearing sunglasses and a hat to hide his identity, was struggling to give away what appeared to be fly infested Israeli dates, but there weren’t any takers.

Alongside, holding a bunch of what seemed to be half-eaten dates in his hand was Ian Sternberg, a member of the Zionist Federation’s National Council who laughingly describes himself as a ‘socialist‘ and ‘trade unionist.’ In 2010, Sternberg unashamedly counter-demonstrated alongside the ultra-right Islamophobic EDL  outside Ahava on several occasions. That same year, he was also photographed alongside Roberta Moore, at that time head of the EDL’s Jewish Division.   

Joining Sternberg was Sharon Klaff, a middle-aged, dark-haired Zio who frequently contributes to internet hate sites. South-African born Klaff once openly called a human rights campaigner a “dirty little Jew-boy” outside Ahava in front of witnesses and was promptly reported to the police (see photo, below).

Rounding off this strange group of hasbara experts was a woman who continuously yelled ”F*ck you” in an American accent whilst gesturing at me with her middle finger. The commotion attracted the attention of the police who had a word with her about her anti-social behaviour. I was keen to find out why she acted the way she did, but sadly I never got the opportunity.

An incredulous 'Sharon Klaff' being given a warning on Monmouth Street by the police while the Zionist Federation's Ian Sternberg, behind in blue shirt, watches.

Her language and gestures reminded me of some of the American Zionists whose actions I witnessed outside the AIPAC conference in Washington DC four months ago. These US Zionists not only used similar obscene language and gestures, but they also seemed to enjoy spitting on demonstrators and even used violence on several occasions.

If you think that American Zionists have cornered the market in uncouth and disgusting behaviour, guess again. You don’t have to look much further than the Co-Vice Chair of the UK Zionist Federation – and several of the Zionist Ahava counter-demonstrators could give their counterparts from across the pond a run for their money.

Afterwards, as we were walking to a nearby café, I heard rapping coming from the inside of a shop window. Turning sideways, I saw a man inside pointing to my BOYCOTT ISRAELI GOODS t-shirt giving me the thumbs up.  

That man I’m sure, represents most people in Britain today.