[quote]
The investigative journalist Janine Robert rightfully believes that the Israeli lobby in Britain has been more successful than its counterparts in the United States.
She argues that in the US, the voting patterns of most of the 14 Jewish Senators in the Senate and 30 Jewish Congressmen and Congresswomen in the House of Representatives appear to be Pro-Israeli, while in the UK, where we have a Jewish community 20 times smaller, there appears to be 18 Pro-Israeli MPs in the House of Commons and 41 Pro-Israeli Lords in the House of Lords. This is the highest Pro-Israeli representation in the West.
She also believes that this achievement is due in part to Tony Blair's patronage. One of Blair's first acts on becoming an MP in 1983 was to join Labour Friends of Israel. But the major change only occurred after he became Prime Minister.
But what exactly is a Pro-Israeli lobby group?
The term Israel lobby in the United Kingdom (also known as the Zionist lobby) is a term used to describe the coalition of groups and individuals who attempt to influence British foreign policy to support Israel and its strategies.
Many decisions made in both Houses of Parliament are made as a direct result of lobbying at the hands of parliamentary colleagues, constituents or even outside pressure groups, including "private companies known as lobbyists" employed by organisations.
These establishments include non-ethnic political groups in addition to grassroots ethnic organisations whether Christian, secular or Jewish-Britons, all of which have seen increasing growth and influence in recent years.
Without a doubt the pro-Israeli lobby in Britain is increasingly spreading its influence within the politicians, media and even celebrities .
Labour Friends of Israel (LFI)
LFI is a UK Parliament-based lobby group promoting support within the British Labour Party for a strong bilateral relationship between Britain and Israel. It also seeks to strengthen ties between the British and the Israeli Labour party.
The lobby was founded in October 1957 at a public rally at the Labour Party Conference; it has since developed into one of the largest special interest groups in the Labour Party, drawing wide support from Members of Parliament and Government Ministers.
According to their manifesto, Labour Friends of Israel supports a two-state solution with Israel recognised and secure within its borders and the establishment of a viable Palestinian state. They have been described as "less unquestioning in its support of the Israeli government than the other parties' Zionist lobbies". Between 2001 and 2009 they sponsored more than 60 MPs to visit occupied Palestine.
They have strongly and powerfully lobbied for the UK and EU to cut off financial aid to the Gaza Strip as long as the elected Hamas government is in power. Many of those who are aware of this blame LFI as they share responsibility with Israel for the current atrocious and miserable living conditions in the Gaza Strip.
So who are the prominent figures of the group? One of the most influential figures involved is no other than the former PM Tony Blair, shortly after, Gordon Brown followed in his footsteps. The group's chair is Andrew Gwynne, while other members include the former Home Secretaries David Blunkett and John Reid, former Minister of Europe Chris Bryant, former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Stephen Byers and other high ranking labour politicians.
Conservative friends of Israel (CFI)
According to the lobby's website, it is one of fastest growing lobbies in The United Kingdom currently chaired by Stuart Polak, who in 2009, was named the 61st most-influential right-winger in the United Kingdom. Moreover, reliable statistics show that around 80% of Conservative MPs are members of the CFI.
The group was founded by Conservative MP Michael Fidler and its members include the current British Prime Minister David Cameron, who expressed his pride at being a member of CFI and his admiration for the lobby's key role within the Conservative party.
Other figures include Defence Secretary Liam Fox, who describes Israel's enemies as Britain's enemies tying the Zionist atrocities to British national interests, Foreign Secretary William Hague, who joined CFI at the age of just 15, the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, the Home Secretary Theresa May and Secretary of State for Justice Kennett Clarke.
The existence of so many cabinet ministers has raised concern among political activists and observers who are worried about the influence of a foreign government lobby in the heart of the British political establishment.
Perhaps such worry is in place given the CFI sponsors 6 delegations to Israel each year and maintains constant contact with the Israeli embassy in London.
Liberal Friends of Israel
The Liberal Democrats have in place a parliamentary 'Friends of Israel Group'. In fact it was the liberal democrats who first gave life to primary 'Friends of Israel' group to be born in the British Parliament operating room. The group's website seems stridently Pro-Israel, much more than the websites of the Labour or Conservative groups respectively.
Despite the party's left approach to political issues this lobby has a quite hawkish stance over the Zionist regime . The lobby states its prime objective is "to influence the Party's Middle East policy so it places a high priority on Israel's right to security".
It also attempts to strip statements such as 'Israel "occupies" the West Bank' and 'the Jews created the refugee problem by expelling the Palestinians' reducing them to nothing other than "Myths"
There seems to be other pro-Israeli lobbies within the United Kingdom influencing our ancient democratic political system and lobbying our politicians.
These are lobbying groups such as British Christian Friends of Israel, Northern Ireland Friends of Israel, Scottish Friends of Israel and many more. In its long and distinguished history, Great Britain has never been under the influence of a foreign government lobby group as it currently is. These groups have formed marital relationships with policy makers while simultaneously attempting to stifle criticism of Israel in the press and media regardless of whether or not such criticism is based on our national interests as a sovereign nation.
Whether we like it or not, Israel is a liability for Britain and is not the strategic asset that the Pro-Israeli lobby has long claimed it was.
For example, Israel's atrocities in the Middle East and Africa are doing serious damage to UK's interests in the region. At the height of the matter, British political figures have attempted to exempt Israeli officials from the British Law on their visits to the UK. Against the needs of British Citizens, British politicians are for supporting the Israeli regime and appear ready to change the national laws for the sake of those charged with the crimes against humanity.
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Source: [url]http://www.presstv.ir/detail/141064.html[/url]
You serious? An Iranian news source on a topic about Israel?
[editline]11:14PM[/editline]
[quote]Great Britain has never been under the influence of a foreign government lobby group as it currently is[/quote]
What a bunch of shit.
The Islam Fundamentalist lobby groups have as much power as the Zionists groups: none.
[QUOTE=DogGunn;24565393]You serious? An Iranian news source on a topic about Israel?
[editline]11:14PM[/editline]
What a bunch of shit.
The Islam Fundamentalist lobby groups have [u]as much power as the Zionists groups: none[/u].[/QUOTE]
Yeah, sure.
Go ahead and believe a biased news source if you want, Israel won't get shit from the uk, and hasn't got shit from us recently from my knowledge.
This is (at least) your third anti-Israeli news thread within the past hour. I'm by no means trying stick up for them, but I question the integrity of the articles, as well as your motives...
[QUOTE=FreeThinker;24565427]Yeah, sure.[/QUOTE]
There are many Labour MPs that are "Labour Friends of Palestine" too.
You may call them lobby groups, but they don't have much power.
You sure are a FreeThinker with your sources.
[QUOTE=David29;24565461]This is (at least) your third anti-Israeli news thread within the past hour. I'm by no means trying stick up for them, but I question the integrity of the articles, as well as your motives...[/QUOTE]
My motive is to opress nationalism.
Zionists are going to destroy our Great Country!
Come on, I don't like Israel all the same as the next person on this board, but this is really pushing it. Why don't you go get a Chinese press article on Tibetan liberation, huh?
This is no secret, Israel lobbyists have always pushed for other nations to support them despite their atrocities.
[QUOTE=DogGunn;24565465]There are many Labour MPs that are "Labour Friends of Palestine" too.
You may call them lobby groups, but they don't have much power.
You sure are a FreeThinker with your sources.[/QUOTE]
If it's a news page from Iranian news source about Israel it doesn't mean it's untrue. Most of the time, they just undereport or overreport things.
What news source should I trust? US one? US supports Israel, so they overreport and underreport things too, but it doesn't mean they're untrue at all.
[QUOTE=FreeThinker;24566769]My motive is to opress nationalism.[/QUOTE]
That completely goes against you username, since everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and free speech. If someone believes in nationalism, it is not for you to 'oppress' it. I disagree that anarchy could ever be successful and I think it is a stupid concept, but I would never deny someone else the right to agree with it.
"I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire
[QUOTE=David29;24568499]That completely goes against you username, since everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and free speech. If someone believes in nationalism, it is not for you to 'oppress' it. I disagree that anarchy could ever be successful and I think it is a stupid concept, but I would never deny someone else the right to agree with it.
"I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire[/QUOTE]
I'm not an anarchist.
[QUOTE=FreeThinker;24570145]I'm not an anarchist.[/QUOTE]
He never said you are, read again, you totally missed the point.
[QUOTE=BBKF;24570184]He never said you are, read again, you totally missed the point.[/QUOTE]
I have, but anarchism is often anti-nationalistic and he mentioned it, I just wanted to make sure he knew that I'm not an anarchist, as I felt that he probably thought I was one.
[editline]07:40PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=David29;24568499]That completely goes against you username, since everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and free speech. If someone believes in nationalism, it is not for you to 'oppress' it. I disagree that anarchy could ever be successful and I think it is a stupid concept, but I would never deny someone else the right to agree with it.
"I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire[/QUOTE]
When something has a goal and can be defined by logic and reason, there's only one most correct answer, and this answer is the only right one.
Nationalism does far more damage than benefit, so in my opinion, it should be destroyed along with the concept of national identity.
[QUOTE=FreeThinker;24570224]I have, but anarchism is often anti-nationalistic and he mentioned it, I just wanted to make sure he knew that I'm not an anarchist, as I felt that he probably thought I was one.[/quote]
No, I don't think you are an anarchist. I was using anarchy purely to point out that even though I disagree with something, I believe in forcing others to do the same.
[QUOTE=FreeThinker;24570224]When something has a goal and can be defined by logic and reason, there's only one most correct answer, and this answer is the only right one.
Nationalism does far more damage than benefit, [b]so in my opinion[/b], it should be destroyed along with the concept of national identity.[/QUOTE]
Exactly. It is [b]your[/b] opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own, and just because it may conflict with yours does not make it wrong (although it may seem so in your eyes).
[QUOTE=FreeThinker;24570224]I have, but anarchism is often anti-nationalistic and he mentioned it, I just wanted to make sure he knew that I'm not an anarchist, as I felt that he probably thought I was one.
[editline]07:40PM[/editline]
When something has a goal and can be defined by logic and reason, there's only one most correct answer, and this answer is the only right one.
Nationalism does far more damage than benefit, so in my opinion, it should be destroyed along with the concept of national identity.[/QUOTE]
You could easily argue that religion does more harm than good and isn't defined by logic and reason, do you also think that religion must be eradicated?
I agree that religion is ultimately bad for the world, but you can't force people to do it. You can preach against it or whatever, but punishing people for doing something you think is wrong, which doesn't directly hurt you, is also wrong.
[QUOTE=FreeThinker;24568277]What news source should I trust? US one? US supports Israel, so they overreport and underreport things too, but it doesn't mean they're untrue at all.[/QUOTE]
None of them.
And what you said about "overreporting or underreporting" - you're kidding yourself if you believe that is how their bias is delivered to print.
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