U.K. 'Sleaze Committee' Infiltrated By 'Friends Of Israel' Refused To Investigate
Greeny Tonystein | 23.01.2008 10:51 | Anti-racism | Palestine | Terror War
Parliamentary sleaze watchdog the Committee on Standards in Public Life initially turned down a request by a group of 20 top academics, surgeons and others to investigate the influence of Israel lobby groups like Friends of Israel at the heart of British government.
Parliamentary sleaze watchdog the Committee on Standards in Public Life initially turned down a request by a group of 20 top academics, surgeons and others to investigate the influence of Israel lobby groups like Friends of Israel at the heart of British government. The submission, addressed to the Committee's new chairman Sir Christopher Kelly, was rejected in a note from an administrator on the grounds that it was "a matter of general policy for others" but admitted that the remit of the body she suggested (the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards) did not fit the circumstances.
The three main political parties in the UK each have a 'Friends of Israel' lobby group that ensures pro-Israel members are embedded at all key levels in Parliament and government. For example, the Foreign Office minister responsible for the Middle East is a former chairman of Labour Friends of Israel. His opposition 'shadow' is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel. Campaigners argue that this paralyses the government when it comes to taking a principled stance on issues such as Israel's vicious and unlawful blockade of Gaza, which is taking the lives of many innocent civilians and children.
The group is adamant that the Israel lobby falls squarely within the Standards Committee’s remit. "The man in the street is entitled to look at the Seven Principles of Public Life and say that the activities of lobbies like Friends of Israel are against the declared intentions of the Principles both in word and spirit. Otherwise what is the purpose of having them enshrined in the Committee's constitution?" They have pushed it back to Sir Christopher insisting that the case be put before the Committee for proper consideration.
The claim of undue influence is causing embarrassment in Westminster because the watchdog Committee has itself been infiltrated by Friends of Israel. The pro-lobby media are already disturbed. The Jewish Chronicle, for example, reports a "smear" on Isreal lobby MPs, one of whom suggests that if the Committee fails to investigate it might be accused of being part of a Jewish conspiracy. The director of Conservative Friends of Israel, a would-be MP, confidently predicts there will be no investigation, his cocksure posture leading one to suppose that he and his like are a protected species within the Westminster village (see
http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m11&SecId=11&AId=57452&ATypeId=1 ).
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Dr Liam Fox makes the group's case for them. He is quoted on the CFoI website as saying: "...We must remember that in the battle for the values that we stand for, for democracy against theocracy, for democratic liberal values against repression - Israel’s enemies are our enemies and this is a battle in which we all stand together or we will all fall divided.”
Spokesman for the group is David Halpin, a trauma surgeon who last year led a team of 7 UK doctors to Gaza. He said: "Dr Fox presumably speaks for all Friends of Israel in the party that hopes to form the next government. The group includes the party leader and future prime minister and many on the front bench. He would have Parliament and the public believe that Israel's enemy, Iran, must become Britain's enemy. Such dangerous and irresponsible nonsense could lead this country to disaster.
"Claims that the Israel lobby’s activities are transparent are untrue since seldom, if ever, do its members declare an interest when speaking or writing about the Middle East. That is unacceptable in the 'Mother of Parliaments'."
Stuart Littlewood, who was in Gaza two months ago, said: "The Israel lobby is embedded in the parties and in government. It blows the Principles of Public Life - integrity, honesty, accountability and so on - to smithereens. The Standards Committee is supposed to uphold those Principles. I'm afraid its new chairman is off to a bad start."
The group say that British people should not have to tolerate dual allegiance in their Parliament and Government, since obviously it puts national security at risk. They quote one peer who wrote: “I ask over and over again why Israel is allowed to get away with breaking International Law and the answer is silence from the government… they are afraid of the Israel Lobby who label anyone who speaks out as anti-Semitic and withdraw their support.”
-ends-
More from David Halpin (44) (0)1364 661115 or Stuart Littlewood 44 (0)1760 755349.
Note (1) The Seven Principles of Public Life
The Committee has set out ‘Seven Principles of Public Life’ which it believes should apply to all in the public service. These are:
Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.
Integrity
Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.
Objectivity
In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
Openness
Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
Honesty
Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
Leadership
Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
Note (2) Text of letter.......
21 January 2008
Dear Sir Christopher,
The Israel Lobby
Twenty signatories, mostly senior professionals, took the trouble to write to you on 9 January in furtherance of a submission, on 19 December, about the undue influence of the Israel lobby at the heart of British government. They expect the courtesy of a personal reply, please, rather than a dismissive note from your administrator.
It had already been made clear that we are not asking the Committee to investigate individual cases, or specific allegations of misconduct, so to be told yet again that the Committee is precluded from doing so is perplexing.
You are now saying the subject is a matter of general policy for others but admit that the remit of the body you suggest (the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards) does not fit the circumstances.
It is plain to us that the matter falls squarely within the Standards Committee’s remit. The man in the street is entitled to look at the Seven Principles and say that the activities of lobbies like Friends of Israel are against the declared intentions of the Principles both in word and spirit. Otherwise what is the purpose of having them enshrined in the Committee's constitution?
The lobby media are already disturbed. The Jewish Chronicle, for example, reports a "smear" on Isreal lobby MPs, one of whom suggests that if the Committee fails to investigate it might be accused of being part of a Jewish conspiracy. The director of Conservative Friends of Israel, a would-be MP, confidently predicts there will be no investigation, his cocksure posture leading one to suppose that he and his like are a protected species within the Westminster village (see
http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m11&SecId=11&AId=57452&ATypeId=1 ). Moreover, claims that the lobby’s activities are transparent are untrue since seldom, if ever, do its members declare an interest when speaking or writing about the Middle East. This is an unacceptable state of affairs in the ‘Mother of Parliaments’.
The aim of Friends of Israel is to promote the interests of Israel and its government, which is racist in its treatment of its own Arab population, the Palestinians and the Bedouin. MPs who align themselves with Israel are not acting in the public interest of the UK but against our own anti-racist laws.
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Dr Liam Fox proves the point. He is quoted on the CFoI website as saying: "...We must remember that in the battle for the values that we stand for, for democracy against theocracy, for democratic liberal values against repression - Israel’s enemies are our enemies and this is a battle in which we all stand together or we will all fall divided.” He presumably speaks for all Friends of Israel in the party that hopes to form the next government. The group includes the party leader and future prime minister and many on the front bench. Dr Fox would have Parliament and public believe that Israel's enemy, Iran, must become Britain's enemy - dangerous and irresponsible nonsense which could lead this country to disaster.
The Israel lobby and associated Friends of Israel groups, in supporting a racist regime with racist policies in contravention of international law and human rights, are a disgrace to Parliament and an insult to the people whose Parliamentary democracy this is. We note that they even use the House of Commons logo when advertising for officers.
Furthermore the British people should not have to tolerate dual allegiance in their Parliament and Government, since obviously it puts national security at risk. As one peer wrote: “I ask over and over again why Israel is allowed to get away with breaking International Law and the answer is silence from the government… they are afraid of the Israel Lobby who label anyone who speaks out as anti-Semitic and withdraw their support.”
The subject for investigation has little or nothing to do with the Jewish community in Britain. It is about the activities of the Israel lobby – groups of political activists and MPs who are, for the most part, non-Jews. It is disturbing to see their support of a racist, foreign government, which is also in defiance of numerous United Nations resolutions, so high on their agenda within the sovereign government they represent. The Committee’s job is to "make recommendations as to any changes in present arrangements which might be required to ensure the highest standards of propriety in public life." Accordingly we insist, please, that our case is put before the Committee for proper consideration.
For truth and justice,
(Signatories)
Mona Baker, Professor of Translation Studies, BA, MA, DSc
Sally FitzHarris, MA (Oxon)
Karl Sabbagh, writer
Sara T A Wood, MA (Oxon)
Derek Summerfield, Hon Senior Lecturer, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College and Teaching Associate, Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford
David Halpin, MB, BSc, FRCS,
Stuart Littlewood, BA, MInstM
Martin Birnstingl, MS FRCS, previously senior surgeon at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London
Felicity Arbuthnot, Hon PhD
Rich Wiles, Artist
Dr.C.J.Burns-Cox, MD, FRCP
Dr Nur Masalha, Reader in Religion and Politics and Editor of Holy Land Studies: A Multidisciplinary Journal
David Seddon, MA PhD
Professorial Fellow, University of East Anglia
Robert Shearer, MB BS FRCS, Consultant Urological Surgeon (retd)
Medical Director, Royal Marsden Hospital, London 1994-2000.
James Goddard, MBE and Tricia Goddard
Sue Fanous, BSc, MA
Colin Imber, formerly Reader in Turkish Studies, University of Manchester
Mary Bedforth
Oren Ben-Dor, Lecturer in law, School of Law, Southampton University
Dr Andrew Rouse, MB, BS MPH, FFPHM, Consultant in Public Health,
Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust
The three main political parties in the UK each have a 'Friends of Israel' lobby group that ensures pro-Israel members are embedded at all key levels in Parliament and government. For example, the Foreign Office minister responsible for the Middle East is a former chairman of Labour Friends of Israel. His opposition 'shadow' is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel. Campaigners argue that this paralyses the government when it comes to taking a principled stance on issues such as Israel's vicious and unlawful blockade of Gaza, which is taking the lives of many innocent civilians and children.
The group is adamant that the Israel lobby falls squarely within the Standards Committee’s remit. "The man in the street is entitled to look at the Seven Principles of Public Life and say that the activities of lobbies like Friends of Israel are against the declared intentions of the Principles both in word and spirit. Otherwise what is the purpose of having them enshrined in the Committee's constitution?" They have pushed it back to Sir Christopher insisting that the case be put before the Committee for proper consideration.
The claim of undue influence is causing embarrassment in Westminster because the watchdog Committee has itself been infiltrated by Friends of Israel. The pro-lobby media are already disturbed. The Jewish Chronicle, for example, reports a "smear" on Isreal lobby MPs, one of whom suggests that if the Committee fails to investigate it might be accused of being part of a Jewish conspiracy. The director of Conservative Friends of Israel, a would-be MP, confidently predicts there will be no investigation, his cocksure posture leading one to suppose that he and his like are a protected species within the Westminster village (see
![](/img/extlink.gif)
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Dr Liam Fox makes the group's case for them. He is quoted on the CFoI website as saying: "...We must remember that in the battle for the values that we stand for, for democracy against theocracy, for democratic liberal values against repression - Israel’s enemies are our enemies and this is a battle in which we all stand together or we will all fall divided.”
Spokesman for the group is David Halpin, a trauma surgeon who last year led a team of 7 UK doctors to Gaza. He said: "Dr Fox presumably speaks for all Friends of Israel in the party that hopes to form the next government. The group includes the party leader and future prime minister and many on the front bench. He would have Parliament and the public believe that Israel's enemy, Iran, must become Britain's enemy. Such dangerous and irresponsible nonsense could lead this country to disaster.
"Claims that the Israel lobby’s activities are transparent are untrue since seldom, if ever, do its members declare an interest when speaking or writing about the Middle East. That is unacceptable in the 'Mother of Parliaments'."
Stuart Littlewood, who was in Gaza two months ago, said: "The Israel lobby is embedded in the parties and in government. It blows the Principles of Public Life - integrity, honesty, accountability and so on - to smithereens. The Standards Committee is supposed to uphold those Principles. I'm afraid its new chairman is off to a bad start."
The group say that British people should not have to tolerate dual allegiance in their Parliament and Government, since obviously it puts national security at risk. They quote one peer who wrote: “I ask over and over again why Israel is allowed to get away with breaking International Law and the answer is silence from the government… they are afraid of the Israel Lobby who label anyone who speaks out as anti-Semitic and withdraw their support.”
-ends-
More from David Halpin (44) (0)1364 661115 or Stuart Littlewood 44 (0)1760 755349.
Note (1) The Seven Principles of Public Life
The Committee has set out ‘Seven Principles of Public Life’ which it believes should apply to all in the public service. These are:
Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.
Integrity
Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.
Objectivity
In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
Openness
Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
Honesty
Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
Leadership
Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
Note (2) Text of letter.......
21 January 2008
Dear Sir Christopher,
The Israel Lobby
Twenty signatories, mostly senior professionals, took the trouble to write to you on 9 January in furtherance of a submission, on 19 December, about the undue influence of the Israel lobby at the heart of British government. They expect the courtesy of a personal reply, please, rather than a dismissive note from your administrator.
It had already been made clear that we are not asking the Committee to investigate individual cases, or specific allegations of misconduct, so to be told yet again that the Committee is precluded from doing so is perplexing.
You are now saying the subject is a matter of general policy for others but admit that the remit of the body you suggest (the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards) does not fit the circumstances.
It is plain to us that the matter falls squarely within the Standards Committee’s remit. The man in the street is entitled to look at the Seven Principles and say that the activities of lobbies like Friends of Israel are against the declared intentions of the Principles both in word and spirit. Otherwise what is the purpose of having them enshrined in the Committee's constitution?
The lobby media are already disturbed. The Jewish Chronicle, for example, reports a "smear" on Isreal lobby MPs, one of whom suggests that if the Committee fails to investigate it might be accused of being part of a Jewish conspiracy. The director of Conservative Friends of Israel, a would-be MP, confidently predicts there will be no investigation, his cocksure posture leading one to suppose that he and his like are a protected species within the Westminster village (see
![](/img/extlink.gif)
The aim of Friends of Israel is to promote the interests of Israel and its government, which is racist in its treatment of its own Arab population, the Palestinians and the Bedouin. MPs who align themselves with Israel are not acting in the public interest of the UK but against our own anti-racist laws.
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Dr Liam Fox proves the point. He is quoted on the CFoI website as saying: "...We must remember that in the battle for the values that we stand for, for democracy against theocracy, for democratic liberal values against repression - Israel’s enemies are our enemies and this is a battle in which we all stand together or we will all fall divided.” He presumably speaks for all Friends of Israel in the party that hopes to form the next government. The group includes the party leader and future prime minister and many on the front bench. Dr Fox would have Parliament and public believe that Israel's enemy, Iran, must become Britain's enemy - dangerous and irresponsible nonsense which could lead this country to disaster.
The Israel lobby and associated Friends of Israel groups, in supporting a racist regime with racist policies in contravention of international law and human rights, are a disgrace to Parliament and an insult to the people whose Parliamentary democracy this is. We note that they even use the House of Commons logo when advertising for officers.
Furthermore the British people should not have to tolerate dual allegiance in their Parliament and Government, since obviously it puts national security at risk. As one peer wrote: “I ask over and over again why Israel is allowed to get away with breaking International Law and the answer is silence from the government… they are afraid of the Israel Lobby who label anyone who speaks out as anti-Semitic and withdraw their support.”
The subject for investigation has little or nothing to do with the Jewish community in Britain. It is about the activities of the Israel lobby – groups of political activists and MPs who are, for the most part, non-Jews. It is disturbing to see their support of a racist, foreign government, which is also in defiance of numerous United Nations resolutions, so high on their agenda within the sovereign government they represent. The Committee’s job is to "make recommendations as to any changes in present arrangements which might be required to ensure the highest standards of propriety in public life." Accordingly we insist, please, that our case is put before the Committee for proper consideration.
For truth and justice,
(Signatories)
Mona Baker, Professor of Translation Studies, BA, MA, DSc
Sally FitzHarris, MA (Oxon)
Karl Sabbagh, writer
Sara T A Wood, MA (Oxon)
Derek Summerfield, Hon Senior Lecturer, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College and Teaching Associate, Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford
David Halpin, MB, BSc, FRCS,
Stuart Littlewood, BA, MInstM
Martin Birnstingl, MS FRCS, previously senior surgeon at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London
Felicity Arbuthnot, Hon PhD
Rich Wiles, Artist
Dr.C.J.Burns-Cox, MD, FRCP
Dr Nur Masalha, Reader in Religion and Politics and Editor of Holy Land Studies: A Multidisciplinary Journal
David Seddon, MA PhD
Professorial Fellow, University of East Anglia
Robert Shearer, MB BS FRCS, Consultant Urological Surgeon (retd)
Medical Director, Royal Marsden Hospital, London 1994-2000.
James Goddard, MBE and Tricia Goddard
Sue Fanous, BSc, MA
Colin Imber, formerly Reader in Turkish Studies, University of Manchester
Mary Bedforth
Oren Ben-Dor, Lecturer in law, School of Law, Southampton University
Dr Andrew Rouse, MB, BS MPH, FFPHM, Consultant in Public Health,
Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust
Greeny Tonystein
Comments
Hide the following 8 comments
Was that so painful?
23.01.2008 14:24
Shame though, you had to come across as a petulant child by using the post to make a personal slight against someone. But at least you are learning.
Net Nanny
my my
23.01.2008 15:16
What is it that you presume to teach us oh wise one?
Spare us the pompous bit though.
the real net nanny
Well I'll say it again...
24.01.2008 03:09
So I hope the committee do report, as they could use the above as a one-line refutation of your main charge.
It was also Monroe Palmer chair of LDFI who told last autumn's Lib Dem conference "that Israeli academics were at the forefront of opposition to "illiberal" Israeli government policies."
Your JC reference reminds me. Professor Mona Baker who leads the petitioners actually fired two Israeli academics from the board of her journals because they refused to condemn Israeli policies (not just because of their nationality, as the JC article suggests).
Funny, I never heard of British academics being sacked, even abroad, for not declaring opposition to the Iraq invasion (which by any measure had less to do with self-defence than Israeli actions in neighbouring territories, whatever you may say about Israeli excesses).
YET another example of the 'triple standard' being applied to Israel and Israelis.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quetzal
Queztal - a fan of a racist, patriarchal state
24.01.2008 04:47
He said Mr Blair, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and government ministers were united in trying to find a solution to the crisis, and reiterated that "gestures" like calling for a ceasefire would not produce peace."
How is that 'breaking ranks'?
Britain has always talked the talk with Israel's neighbours, whilst walking the walk with Israel...
"Illiberal" is an understatement for a regime that commits war crimes on a daily basis.
latzeuQ
Sounds like admitting differences with Kim Howells
24.01.2008 12:13
Ad hominem will get you nowhere
Atzmon's anti-Semites at it again
26.01.2008 20:43
I think that the decision to highlight the role of the Friends of Israel groups was a serious political mistake. I don't doubt the fact that those who signed are sincere in their opposition to the horrific things that Israel is doing in Gaza and to the Palestinians - they are - but instead of writing letters to the press in their professional capacity or articles, they chased a hare and in the process diverted attention away from those who most need solidarity and support, the Palestinians.
In the process it enabled the Zionists to change the focus from Palestinians under siege to anti-Semitism.
This is a good example of how the loons around the fringes of the Palestine solidarity movement can only weaken that movement.
Tony Greenstein
e-mail:
tonygreenstein@yahoo.com
Ignore them? And then?
26.01.2008 22:00
Lord Levy was also Tony Blair's 'Special Envoy to the Middle East'.
Levy is a former chairman of the Jewish Care Community Foundation, a member of the Jewish Agency World Board of Governors, and a trustee of the Holocaust Educational Trust.
One of Blair's first acts after his election as Prime Minister was to join LFI.
Tony Blair is now the Quartet's Envoy to the Middle East.
One of Gordon Brown's first acts after assuming the Prime Minister's role was to accept a role as Patron of the Jewish National Fund
(
Since then he has appointed a number of rabid LFIers to key positions.
(
It's all very well saying that drawing attention to the problems that LFI creates is distracting from the real issue - ie the Palestinians, but it is hard to deny that any appeal to the British State to take action to address the injustices and war crimes being perpetrated against the Palestinians, is unlikely to get a sympathetic response from those who have chosen to join LFI, and are now in a position to ensure that such appeals do not get acted upon.
"In the process it enabled the Zionists to change the focus from Palestinians under siege to anti-Semitism."
Its a stock standard response Greenie, you should know, you use it all the time.
There is no point in pretending that there is any impartiality in the UK state, it sides 100% with the injustice and the war crimes - and it does seem necessary therefore to highlight that fact.
Writing letters to an MP is not going to help anyone while the MPs are out there openly befriending the war criminals.
Thats why the signatories note:
"As one peer wrote: “I ask over and over again why Israel is allowed to get away with breaking International Law and the answer is silence from the government… they are afraid of the Israel Lobby who label anyone who speaks out as anti-Semitic and withdraw their support.”
The subject for investigation has little or nothing to do with the Jewish community in Britain. It is about the activities of the Israel lobby – groups of political activists and MPs who are, for the most part, non-Jews. It is disturbing to see their support of a racist, foreign government, which is also in defiance of numerous United Nations resolutions, so high on their agenda within the sovereign government they represent. The Committee’s job is to "make recommendations as to any changes in present arrangements which might be required to ensure the highest standards of propriety in public life." Accordingly we insist, please, that our case is put before the Committee for proper consideration."
But hey humour me. Tell me how we can offer meaningful support to the Palestinians whilst pretending that the Lobby doesn't exist............
ftp
ho ho ho
27.01.2008 11:38
You have been attempting to sling yer weight and gravitas around here, castigating one and all for percieved failings with regard to the unconditional support that you require for your 'jewish world view' and its singularly valid method of solving[sic] the vast problems created for the Palestinians by it.
And now your suprised that nobody wants to engage you in the long whine that takes the place of debate in your world?
Elephants in living rooms, will be noted, discussed and acted upon from now on, and long poles on traitors gate is a tradition that needs to be revived for LFI, CFI and all the rest of the zionist power hydra that acts as one for a foreign power against not only the Palestinian aspiration for peace and nationhood, but against the interests of the people of this country - who would be better served by those not encumbered with strange debts to zionist powerbrokers or dragged into illegal wars by their highly placed operatives.
There are plenty of jewish people who are willing to confront and deconstruct the racism, xenophobia and general sky ghost nonsense that infests the zionist/talmudic world view - and like those 17/18thC christians who did the same against a rabid, centralised and newly empowered christian notion of 'manifest destiny' (kick johnny foreigner off his land) and 'race' (gods way of organising us) - they will be persecuted hard by those zionist/talmudists not willing to give up their irrational grip on temperal power, here down on dark earth.
It is noted which side of this confrontation you are militating for Greeny Tonystein.
Greeny Tonystein