Dear Sir

Your report "Unite Against Fascism borders 'on anti-Semitism'" is erroneous in stating that Searchlight severed links with Unite Against Fascism because remarks from leading figures in the organisation had "bordered on anti-Semitism" (JC 15 July 2005). You also misquote the editor of Searchlight, Steve Silver, that there is a hard core of antisemitism on the left.

What Mr Silver said was that one sometimes comes across anti-Zionism on the left. Your reporter changed this to antisemitism, but it is by no means the same thing and it is not what Mr Silver said. After your reporter spoke to Mr Silver, he promised to phone back and check the accuracy of the quotes, but he did not do so and consequently the error appeared in the article and its headline.


Our letter of resignation from UAF and articles from the July edition of Searchlight explaining our differences with UAF, including the question of leadership, can be read on our website, www.stopthebnp.com. You quote a UAF spokeswoman saying that it does not call for a specifically black leadership; this is contrary to what the group's leaders said at their last national conference in London.

Searchlight has not tried to influence others to leave UAF and groups such as the Jewish Labour Movement should look to their own consciences.

Yours for Hope not Hate


Gerry Gable

Publisher, Searchlight