Powerbase - User contributions [en]

Israel Lobby Portal

2016-04-19T14:04:56Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner:

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! <h2 style="margin:0; background:#d9f7d4; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #7ba06d; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Welcome to the Israel Lobby Portal on Powerbase</h2>
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Welcome to the Israel Lobby Portal on [[Powerbase:About|Powerbase]]—your guide to networks of power, lobbying and deceptive PR.

Powerbase has a policy of [[Powerbase:A Guide to Referencing|strict referencing]] and is overseen by a [[User:Melissa Jones|managing editor]], a [[User:David|Sysop]] and various associate portal editors.

The editor of the Israel Lobby Portal is [[User:Hilary Aked|Hilary Aked]].

'''See an A-Z list of all [http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Israel_Lobby Israel Lobby Portal pages].'''
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! <h2 style="margin:0; background:#d9f7d4; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #7ba06d; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">What is the Israel Lobby?</h2>
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The Israel Lobby in the United States has been described as "a loose coalition of individuals and organizations that actively works to move U.S. foreign policy in a pro-Israel direction... it is not a single unified movement with a central leadership". It is "a powerful interest group, made up of both Jews and gentiles, whose acknowledged purpose is to press Israel's case within the United States and influence American foreign policy in ways that its members believe will benefit the Jewish state. The various groups that make up the lobby do not agree on every issue, although they share the desire to promote a special relationship between the United States and Israel" (John Mearsheimer & Stephen Walt, 2007: 5).

Mearsheimer & Walt make a clear distinction between the Israel Lobby and anti-Israel conspiracy theories, arguing: 'The Israel lobby is the antithesis of a cabal or conspiracy; it operates out in the open and proudly advertises its own clout. In its basic operations, the Israel lobby is no different from interest groups like the farm lobby, steel and textile workers, and a host of ethnic lobbies, although the groups and individuals who comprise the Israel lobby are in an unusually favourable position to influence U.S. foreign policy. What sets it apart, in short, is its extraordinary effectiveness' (Mearsheimer & Walt, 2007:150).

===The Israel Lobby and the media===

Philo & Berry's study into the news coverage of the conflict between Israel and Palestine found that “The news framework and presentational structure, which was most frequently used in reporting events, tended to favour the Israeli perspective” (Philo & Berry 2004:160). They explain the effect the Israel Lobby have on the news coverage of the conflict:

:The pressures of organised public relations, lobbying and systematic criticism together with the privileging of Israeli perspectives by political and public figures, can affect the climate within which journalists operate. There is no total control and there are areas of the media where the debate is relatively open. But these factors go some way to explaining why journalists sometimes have difficulty in giving a clear account of the Palestinian perspective, while they can apparently more easily facilitate that of the Israelis. (Philo & Berry 2004:256).

Herman and Chomsky's propaganda model describe this phenomenon of organised negative responses to media coverage as "flak"; they argue that powerful governments and corporations can use their influence to pressurise the media into being uncritical of their activities (Herman & Chomsky 1994:28). UK Journalist Nick Davies describes this type of flak as an electric fence which journalists are unable to cross; he says "the most potent electric fence in the world is the one erected on behalf of the Israeli government"(Davies 2008:124).

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! <h2 style="margin:0; background:#c9d7f0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #7ba06d; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Priority pages</h2>
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=====Israeli government and intelligence connections=====
*[[Reuven Erlich]], former spook, what is he doing now?
*[[B'nai B'rith International]]
=====US Lobby=====
*[[Saban Center for Middle East Policy]] what is its role?
*[[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]]
*[[American Enterprise Institute]]
=====UK groups=====
*[[BICOM]] | [[Northern Ireland Friends of Israel]]
=====European lobby =====
*[[European Friends of Israel]]
=====Israeli think tanks=====
*[[Shalem Center]] | [[Institute for National Security Studies]] | [[Reut Institute]] | [[Jewish People Policy Institute]]
=====Media Pressure Groups=====
[[HonestReporting]] | [[Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America]] | [[Give Israel Your United Support]] | [[Middle East Media Research Institute]] | [[Palestinian Media Watch]] | [[Anti-Defamation League]] | [[Champollion]] | [[Stop the Boycott]]
=====Issues=====
*[[Zionism]] | [[Anti-Semitism]] |

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! <h2 style="margin:0; background:#c9d7f0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #7ba06d; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Associated categories</h2>
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Israel Israel] ([http://www.powerbase.info/index.php?title=Special:Recentchangeslinked&target=Category:Israel&days=7&limit=50&hideminor=1 Recent Changes to pages on Israel])


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! <h2 style="margin:0; background:#c9d7f0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #435c7a; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Latest Israel Lobby updates</h2>
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php?title=Special:Recentchangeslinked&target=Category:Israel_Lobby&days=7&limit=50&hideminor=1 Recent Changes to Israel Lobby pages]


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! <h2 style="margin:0; background:#c9d7f0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #435c7a; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">References and Resources</h2>
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===Books===
* Mearsheimer & Walt (2007), ''The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy'', Penguin: London
* Philo, G & Berry, M (2004), ''Bad News from Israel'', Pluto Press: London
* Davies, N (2008), ''Flat Earth News'', Chatto & Windus: London

===Articles===
*Craig Unger, [http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/03/whitehouse200703?printable=true&currentPage=all From the Wonderful Folks Who Brought You Iraq], ''Vanity Fair'', March 2007
*James Bamford, [http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/10962352/iran_the_next_war Iran: The Next War], ''Rolling Stone'', August 10, 2006
*Richard Silverstein, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/09/israel-foreign-ministry-media Hasbara spam alert], ''The Guardian'', 9-January-2009

===Videos===
*[http://fanonite.org/2007/08/22/the-fifth-estate-the-lies-that-led-to-war/ The Fifth Estate: The Lies That Led To War], ''CBC'', 7 March 2007

===Resources===
*[http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/neocon/index.html Empire Builders: Neoconservatives and their blueprint for US Power], ''Christian Science Monitor''.

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! <h2 style="margin:0; background:#ddcef2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #afa3bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Getting Started</h2>
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<h4>Looking for somewhere to start?</h4>
To learn how ''you'' can edit any article right now, visit [[Powerbase:About]], [[Powerbase:Contributing|Welcome, newcomers]], our [[Powerbase:Help|Help page]], [[Powerbase:FAQ|Frequently Asked Questions]], [[Powerbase:Quick Guide to Editing|A quick guide to editing]] or experiment in the [[Powerbase:sandbox|sandbox]].

Or contribute a new article: go to [[Quick Guide to Getting Started]].

<h4>Research and Writing Tips</h4>
[[How to research front groups]] | [[Resources for studying propaganda]] | [[Research using the web]]


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! <h2 style="margin:0; background:#c9d7f0; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #435c7a; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Can you help?</h2>
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Powerbase can be made more effective if more people join the project. If you have research or writing skills or just spare time, you can help.

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! <h2 style="margin:0; background:#fffacd; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #dad26d; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Powerbase history</h2>
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Powerbase is a collaborative venture initiated by [http://www.spinwatch.org Spinwatch] in collaboration with [http://www.lobbywatch.org Lobbywatch], [http://www.gmwatch.org GM Watch] [http://www.red-star-research.org.uk/ Red Star Research] and [http://www.corporatewatch.org Corporate Watch], but put into effect by a wide variety of volunteers and independent researchers.

Contributors are now working on {{NUMBEROFARTICLES}} articles.
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===References===
<references/>

[[Category:Middle East Watch]]

About Powerbase

2016-04-19T14:03:12Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Editorial structure of Powerbase */

{{Powerbase:Help}}
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Charles Bronfman

2015-02-11T22:43:58Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Family */

'''Charles Bronfman''' is a wealthy Canadian businessman. He has donated to several Israel lobby groups both personally and through philanthropic organisations founded with his second wife Andrea.

He was a co-founder of [[Birthright Israel]]<ref>[http://birthrightisrael.haaretz.com/friend_1.asp Charles Bronfman - Sharing the wealth to make magic], Birthright Israel, accessed 8 August 2012</ref> and the [[Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies]]<ref>[http://www.dayan.org/sites/default/files/Bulletin-55-web.pdf Bulletin 55], Moshe Dayan Center, accessed June 26, 2012</ref>.

==Family==
His father was [[Samuel Bronfman]] and his siblings include [[Edgar Bronfman]]. Hs is uncle to [[Edgar Bronfman, Jr.]], [[Matthew Bronfman]] and [[Adam Bronfman]].<ref>Nathanial Popper, [http://forward.com/articles/3284/keeping-alive-a-philanthropic-family-tradition/ Keeping Alive a Philanthropic Family Tradition], Jewish Daily Forward, accessed 8 August 2012</ref>

In February 2015, it was reported that Bronfman's son, [[Stephen Bronfman]], plans to invest tens of millions in Israeli high-tech companies through the newly established [[Claridge CDPQ Israel]] - a joint venture, based in Tel Aviv, between his [[Claridge]] and [[la Caisse]], another Canadian company. Claridge has previously invested in many Israeli firms, including [[Koor Industries]], [[Better Place]] (led by [[Shai Agassi]] and [[Viola Group]].<ref>Idan Rabi, '[http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-stephen-bronfman-sets-up-israel-investment-fund-1001009263 Stephen Bronfman sets up Israel investment fund]', Globes (11 February, 2015).</ref>

==Affiliations==
*[[Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies]] (ACBP) - founder
*[[Andrea and Charles Bronfman Fund at Brandeis]] - founder
*[[Birthright Israel]] - co-chairman<ref>[http://www.thecharlesbronfmanprize.com/about-the-prize/charles-bronfman CHarles Bronfman - A Lifetime of Giving], thecharlesbronfmanprize.com, accessed 8 August 2012</ref>

==Donor to==
*[[Birthright Israel]]
*[[Foundation for Defense of Democracies]]
*[[Institute for National Security Studies]]
*[[Eighth Herzliya Conference]]<ref>The Annual Herzliya Conference Series: on the Balance of Israel's National Security (2008) [http://www.herzliyaconference.org/Eng/_Uploads/2154ExecutiveSummaryEnglish.pdf Conference Conclusions]. Accessed 12th August 2008</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>
[[category:Israel Lobby]][[Category:Israeli Think Tanker|Bronfman, Charles]]

Charles Bronfman

2015-02-11T22:43:24Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Family */

'''Charles Bronfman''' is a wealthy Canadian businessman. He has donated to several Israel lobby groups both personally and through philanthropic organisations founded with his second wife Andrea.

He was a co-founder of [[Birthright Israel]]<ref>[http://birthrightisrael.haaretz.com/friend_1.asp Charles Bronfman - Sharing the wealth to make magic], Birthright Israel, accessed 8 August 2012</ref> and the [[Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies]]<ref>[http://www.dayan.org/sites/default/files/Bulletin-55-web.pdf Bulletin 55], Moshe Dayan Center, accessed June 26, 2012</ref>.

==Family==
His father was [[Samuel Bronfman]] and his siblings include [[Edgar Bronfman]]. Hs is uncle to [[Edgar Bronfman, Jr.]], [[Matthew Bronfman]] and [[Adam Bronfman]].<ref>Nathanial Popper, [http://forward.com/articles/3284/keeping-alive-a-philanthropic-family-tradition/ Keeping Alive a Philanthropic Family Tradition], Jewish Daily Forward, accessed 8 August 2012</ref>

In February 2015, it was reported that Bronfman's son, [[Stephen Bronfman]], plans to invest in Israeli high-tech companies through the newly established [[Claridge CDPQ Israel]] - a joint venture, based in Tel Aviv, between his [[Claridge]] and [[la Caisse]], another Canadian company. Claridge has previously invested in many Israeli firms, including [[Koor Industries]], [[Better Place]] (led by [[Shai Agassi]] and [[Viola Group]].<ref>Idan Rabi, '[http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-stephen-bronfman-sets-up-israel-investment-fund-1001009263 Stephen Bronfman sets up Israel investment fund]', Globes (11 February, 2015).</ref>

==Affiliations==
*[[Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies]] (ACBP) - founder
*[[Andrea and Charles Bronfman Fund at Brandeis]] - founder
*[[Birthright Israel]] - co-chairman<ref>[http://www.thecharlesbronfmanprize.com/about-the-prize/charles-bronfman CHarles Bronfman - A Lifetime of Giving], thecharlesbronfmanprize.com, accessed 8 August 2012</ref>

==Donor to==
*[[Birthright Israel]]
*[[Foundation for Defense of Democracies]]
*[[Institute for National Security Studies]]
*[[Eighth Herzliya Conference]]<ref>The Annual Herzliya Conference Series: on the Balance of Israel's National Security (2008) [http://www.herzliyaconference.org/Eng/_Uploads/2154ExecutiveSummaryEnglish.pdf Conference Conclusions]. Accessed 12th August 2008</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>
[[category:Israel Lobby]][[Category:Israeli Think Tanker|Bronfman, Charles]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T10:34:52Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* 2015 Antisemitism poll */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As well as its [http://antisemitism.uk/ website] ([http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com former URL]), the CAA maintains an active [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Communities Secretary [[Eric Pickles]] issued a bland response to the report, affirming that the government will 'continue to take a zero-tolerance approach' to prosecuting 'hate crimes'.<ref>Eric Pickles MP, '[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/campaign-against-antisemitism-survey Statement from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles following the publication of a survey by the Campaign Against Antisemitism]', Gov.uk (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.26am.</ref>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism, including from more established Jewish organisations, many of whom were reportedly 'absolutely furious' with its unprofessionalism.<ref>Marcus Dysch, [https://twitter.com/MarcusDysch/status/555342429264814080 Tweet] (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 10.07am.</ref>

Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]] (JPR), dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed'.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref> In a detailed critique, the JPR found the CAA's survey to be 'littered with flaws' and 'irresponsible'. Due to 'quite basic methodological flaws and weaknesses', its poll of British Jews had 'very limited capacity' to assess the representativeness of its sample. The survey of British attitudes towards Jews conducted by YouGov was methodologically 'much better', but its findings had been presented by the CAA in a 'sensationalist' manner. Whereas the CAA claimed that nearly half of Britons harbour antisemitic views,

<blockquote>A far more accurate and honest read of the YouGov data would highlight the fact that between 75% and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold antisemitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterised as clearly antisemitic when looking at individual measures of antisemitism. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014 which estimated the level of antisemitic attitudes at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least antisemitic countries in the world.<ref>Institute for Jewish Policy Research, '[http://www.jpr.org.uk/newsevents/article.1012 Researching antisemitism]' (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Community Security Trust]] deputy director of communications [[Dave Rich]] dismissed CAA's poll as 'essentially repeat[ing]... the findings of last year’s [http://global100.adl.org/#country/united-kingdom ADL Global 100 Survey]: a stubborn minority of British people – between 10 per cent and 20 per cent – clings onto stereotypical ways of thinking about Jews'. 'This does not', he added, 'necessarily translate into conscious or active dislike of Jews... So much for the numbers'. He emphasised, as against CAA's alarmism, that 'most of the time, most British Jews do not encounter antisemitism and are able to live whatever Jewish lives they choose'.<ref>Dave Rich, '[http://leftfootforward.org/2015/01/we-must-ensure-that-antisemitism-gets-no-foothold-in-britain/ We must ensure that antisemitism gets no foothold in Britain]', Left Foot Forward (14 January, 2015).</ref> In a radio interview, CST director of communications [[Mark Gardner]] commented of the survey that 'the methodology is not perhaps as good as it should be'. He continued:

<blockquote>The survey asks seven different questions, and it says if you answer 'yes' to one of them, then that makes you some kind of antisemite'... and 45% of British people are therefore antisemites. And that's not the case... For example, 'I would be unhappy if a family member married a Jew' [this was one of the statements polled]. Is it antisemitic if you say 'yes'?... If a Jewish person says, 'I would be unhappy if a family member married a non-Jew', would that make that Jewish person a racist?'<ref>Mark Gardner, '[http://tlv1.fm/so-much-to-say/2015/01/14/keep-calm-and-carry-on-the-future-of-britains-jews/ Keep Calm and Carry On: The future of Britain’s Jews]', TLV1 radio interview (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.51am.</ref></blockquote>

In a joint statement, the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] and [[Board of Deputies]] noted the 'methodological flaws' of the CAA's poll of Jewish attitudes but agreed that 'we should not be complacent'. It insisted, however, that 'it is important to remember that the current level and nature of antisemitism in Britain is not as bad as we have seen in France and other European countries and incidents of a violent nature are much lower than they have been in previous years', and concluded that Britain is 'unquestionably' a 'safe place for Jews to live'.<ref>'[http://www.thejlc.org/2015/01/the-jewish-leadership-council-and-the-board-of-deputies-of-british-jews-respond-to-poll-of-jewish-attitudes/ The Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews Response To "Poll of Jewish Attitudes"'], Jewish Leadership Council (14 January, 2015).</ref>

Dr. Keith Kahn-Karris, lecturer at Leo Baeck College and Birkbeck College and editor of the [[Jewish Quarterly]] and [[Jewish Journal of Sociology]], dismissed the CAA survey of British Jewish opinion as 'methodologically invalid. There can be no confidence in its representativeness'.<ref>'[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/128162/jc-poll-reveals-88-cent-british-jews-have-not-considered-leaving-uk JC poll reveals 88 per cent of British Jews have not considered leaving UK]', Jewish Chronicle (14 January, 2015).</ref>

The results of a more robustly sampled survey by the Jewish Chronicle were published shortly after the CAA's report, and painted a far less pessimistic picture of Anglo-Jewish opinion. Whereas the CAA survey had found that one in four Jews have considered leaving Britain, the JC poll returned a figure of just 11%.<ref>'[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/128162/jc-poll-reveals-88-cent-british-jews-have-not-considered-leaving-uk JC poll reveals 88 per cent of British Jews have not considered leaving UK]', Jewish Chronicle (14 January, 2015); Stephen Pollard, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/128163/a-better-way-report-views-british-jews A better way to report the views of British Jews]', Jewish Chronicle (14 January, 2015).</ref>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. (Notably, the CAA was not represented at a meeting organised by the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] of leading Jewish organisations with Prime Minister David Cameron.)<ref>'[http://www.thejlc.org/2015/01/jewish-community-leaders-meet-with-prime-minister-david-cameron-3/ Jewish Community Leaders Meet With Prime Minister David Cameron]]', Jewish Leadership Council (13 January, 2015).</ref> Falter reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists an additional four members:<ref name="About" />

* [[Nathan Hopstein]] - Head of Monitoring and Research
* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Angela Levin]]
* [[Tony Morris]]

Previously listed members include:<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism
:Email: info@antisemitism.uk
:Telephone: +44 (0)330 822 0321

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T10:24:29Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* 2015 Antisemitism poll */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As well as its [http://antisemitism.uk/ website] ([http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com former URL]), the CAA maintains an active [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Communities Secretary [[Eric Pickles]] issued a bland response to the report, affirming that the government will 'continue to take a zero-tolerance approach' to prosecuting 'hate crimes'.<ref>Eric Pickles MP, '[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/campaign-against-antisemitism-survey Statement from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles following the publication of a survey by the Campaign Against Antisemitism]', Gov.uk (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.26am.</ref>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism, including from more established Jewish organisations, many of whom were reportedly 'absolutely furious' with its unprofessionalism.<ref>Marcus Dysch, [https://twitter.com/MarcusDysch/status/555342429264814080 Tweet] (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 10.07am.</ref>

Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Community Security Trust]] deputy director of communications [[Dave Rich]] dismissed CAA's poll as 'essentially repeat[ing]... the findings of last year’s [http://global100.adl.org/#country/united-kingdom ADL Global 100 Survey]: a stubborn minority of British people – between 10 per cent and 20 per cent – clings onto stereotypical ways of thinking about Jews'. 'This does not', he added, 'necessarily translate into conscious or active dislike of Jews... So much for the numbers'. He emphasised, as against CAA's alarmism, that 'most of the time, most British Jews do not encounter antisemitism and are able to live whatever Jewish lives they choose'.<ref>Dave Rich, '[http://leftfootforward.org/2015/01/we-must-ensure-that-antisemitism-gets-no-foothold-in-britain/ We must ensure that antisemitism gets no foothold in Britain]', Left Foot Forward (14 January, 2015).</ref> In a radio interview, CST director of communications [[Mark Gardner]] commented of the survey that 'the methodology is not perhaps as good as it should be'. He continued:

<blockquote>The survey asks seven different questions, and it says if you answer 'yes' to one of them, then that makes you some kind of antisemite'... and 45% of British people are therefore antisemites. And that's not the case... For example, 'I would be unhappy if a family member married a Jew' [this was one of the statements polled]. Is it antisemitic if you say 'yes'?... If a Jewish person says, 'I would be unhappy if a family member married a non-Jew', would that make that Jewish person a racist?'<ref>Mark Gardner, '[http://tlv1.fm/so-much-to-say/2015/01/14/keep-calm-and-carry-on-the-future-of-britains-jews/ Keep Calm and Carry On: The future of Britain’s Jews]', TLV1 radio interview (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.51am.</ref></blockquote>

In a joint statement, the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] and [[Board of Deputies]] noted the 'methodological flaws' of the CAA's poll of Jewish attitudes but agreed that 'we should not be complacent'. It insisted, however, that 'it is important to remember that the current level and nature of antisemitism in Britain is not as bad as we have seen in France and other European countries and incidents of a violent nature are much lower than they have been in previous years', and concluded that Britain is 'unquestionably' a 'safe place for Jews to live'.<ref>'[http://www.thejlc.org/2015/01/the-jewish-leadership-council-and-the-board-of-deputies-of-british-jews-respond-to-poll-of-jewish-attitudes/ The Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews Response To "Poll of Jewish Attitudes"'], Jewish Leadership Council (14 January, 2015).</ref>

Dr. Keith Kahn-Karris, lecturer at Leo Baeck College and Birkbeck College and editor of the [[Jewish Quarterly]] and [[Jewish Journal of Sociology]], dismissed the CAA survey of British Jewish opinion as 'methodologically invalid. There can be no confidence in its representativeness'.<ref>'[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/128162/jc-poll-reveals-88-cent-british-jews-have-not-considered-leaving-uk JC poll reveals 88 per cent of British Jews have not considered leaving UK]', Jewish Chronicle (14 January, 2015).</ref>

The results of a more robustly sampled survey by the Jewish Chronicle were published shortly after the CAA's report, and painted a far less pessimistic picture of Anglo-Jewish opinion. Whereas the CAA survey had found that one in four Jews have considered leaving Britain, the JC poll returned a figure of just 11%.<ref>'[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/128162/jc-poll-reveals-88-cent-british-jews-have-not-considered-leaving-uk JC poll reveals 88 per cent of British Jews have not considered leaving UK]', Jewish Chronicle (14 January, 2015); Stephen Pollard, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/128163/a-better-way-report-views-british-jews A better way to report the views of British Jews]', Jewish Chronicle (14 January, 2015).</ref>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. (Notably, the CAA was not represented at a meeting organised by the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] of leading Jewish organisations with Prime Minister David Cameron.)<ref>'[http://www.thejlc.org/2015/01/jewish-community-leaders-meet-with-prime-minister-david-cameron-3/ Jewish Community Leaders Meet With Prime Minister David Cameron]]', Jewish Leadership Council (13 January, 2015).</ref> Falter reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists an additional four members:<ref name="About" />

* [[Nathan Hopstein]] - Head of Monitoring and Research
* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Angela Levin]]
* [[Tony Morris]]

Previously listed members include:<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism
:Email: info@antisemitism.uk
:Telephone: +44 (0)330 822 0321

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T10:08:21Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* 2015 Antisemitism poll */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As well as its [http://antisemitism.uk/ website] ([http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com former URL]), the CAA maintains an active [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Communities Secretary [[Eric Pickles]] issued a bland response to the report, affirming that the government will 'continue to take a zero-tolerance approach' to prosecuting 'hate crimes'.<ref>Eric Pickles MP, '[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/campaign-against-antisemitism-survey Statement from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles following the publication of a survey by the Campaign Against Antisemitism]', Gov.uk (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.26am.</ref>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism, including from more established Jewish organisations, many of whom were reportedly 'absolutely furious' with its unprofessionalism.<ref>Marcus Dysch, [https://twitter.com/MarcusDysch/status/555342429264814080 Tweet] (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 10.07am.</ref>

Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Community Security Trust]] deputy director of communications [[Dave Rich]] dismissed CAA's poll as 'essentially repeat[ing]... the findings of last year’s [http://global100.adl.org/#country/united-kingdom ADL Global 100 Survey]: a stubborn minority of British people – between 10 per cent and 20 per cent – clings onto stereotypical ways of thinking about Jews'. 'This does not', he added, 'necessarily translate into conscious or active dislike of Jews... So much for the numbers'. He emphasised, as against CAA's alarmism, that 'most of the time, most British Jews do not encounter antisemitism and are able to live whatever Jewish lives they choose'.<ref>Dave Rich, '[http://leftfootforward.org/2015/01/we-must-ensure-that-antisemitism-gets-no-foothold-in-britain/ We must ensure that antisemitism gets no foothold in Britain]', Left Foot Forward (14 January, 2015).</ref> In a radio interview, CST director of communications [[Mark Gardner]] commented of the survey that 'the methodology is not perhaps as good as it should be'. He continued:

<blockquote>The survey asks seven different questions, and it says if you answer 'yes' to one of them, then that makes you some kind of antisemite'... and 45% of British people are therefore antisemites. And that's not the case... For example, 'I would be unhappy if a family member married a Jew' [this was one of the statements polled]. Is it antisemitic if you say 'yes'?... If a Jewish person says, 'I would be unhappy if a family member married a non-Jew', would that make that Jewish person a racist?'<ref>Mark Gardner, '[http://tlv1.fm/so-much-to-say/2015/01/14/keep-calm-and-carry-on-the-future-of-britains-jews/ Keep Calm and Carry On: The future of Britain’s Jews]', TLV1 radio interview (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.51am.</ref></blockquote>

In a joint statement, the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] and [[Board of Deputies]] noted the 'methodological flaws' of the CAA's poll of Jewish attitudes but agreed that 'we should not be complacent'. It insisted, however, that 'it is important to remember that the current level and nature of antisemitism in Britain is not as bad as we have seen in France and other European countries and incidents of a violent nature are much lower than they have been in previous years', and concluded that Britain is 'unquestionably' a 'safe place for Jews to live'.<ref>'[http://www.thejlc.org/2015/01/the-jewish-leadership-council-and-the-board-of-deputies-of-british-jews-respond-to-poll-of-jewish-attitudes/ The Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews Response To "Poll of Jewish Attitudes"'], Jewish Leadership Council (14 January, 2015).</ref>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. (Notably, the CAA was not represented at a meeting organised by the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] of leading Jewish organisations with Prime Minister David Cameron.)<ref>'[http://www.thejlc.org/2015/01/jewish-community-leaders-meet-with-prime-minister-david-cameron-3/ Jewish Community Leaders Meet With Prime Minister David Cameron]]', Jewish Leadership Council (13 January, 2015).</ref> Falter reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists an additional four members:<ref name="About" />

* [[Nathan Hopstein]] - Head of Monitoring and Research
* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Angela Levin]]
* [[Tony Morris]]

Previously listed members include:<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism
:Email: info@antisemitism.uk
:Telephone: +44 (0)330 822 0321

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T10:04:35Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* 2015 Antisemitism poll */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As well as its [http://antisemitism.uk/ website] ([http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com former URL]), the CAA maintains an active [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Communities Secretary [[Eric Pickles]] issued a bland response to the report, affirming that the government will 'continue to take a zero-tolerance approach' to prosecuting 'hate crimes'.<ref>Eric Pickles MP, '[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/campaign-against-antisemitism-survey Statement from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles following the publication of a survey by the Campaign Against Antisemitism]', Gov.uk (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.26am.</ref>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism, including from more established Jewish organisations:

[[File:CAAtweet.png]]

Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Community Security Trust]] deputy director of communications [[Dave Rich]] dismissed CAA's poll as 'essentially repeat[ing]... the findings of last year’s [http://global100.adl.org/#country/united-kingdom ADL Global 100 Survey]: a stubborn minority of British people – between 10 per cent and 20 per cent – clings onto stereotypical ways of thinking about Jews'. 'This does not', he added, 'necessarily translate into conscious or active dislike of Jews... So much for the numbers'. He emphasised, as against CAA's alarmism, that 'most of the time, most British Jews do not encounter antisemitism and are able to live whatever Jewish lives they choose'.<ref>Dave Rich, '[http://leftfootforward.org/2015/01/we-must-ensure-that-antisemitism-gets-no-foothold-in-britain/ We must ensure that antisemitism gets no foothold in Britain]', Left Foot Forward (14 January, 2015).</ref> In a radio interview, CST director of communications [[Mark Gardner]] commented of the survey that 'the methodology is not perhaps as good as it should be'. He continued:

<blockquote>The survey asks seven different questions, and it says if you answer 'yes' to one of them, then that makes you some kind of antisemite'... and 45% of British people are therefore antisemites. And that's not the case... For example, 'I would be unhappy if a family member married a Jew' [this was one of the statements polled]. Is it antisemitic if you say 'yes'?... If a Jewish person says, 'I would be unhappy if a family member married a non-Jew', would that make that Jewish person a racist?'<ref>Mark Gardner, '[http://tlv1.fm/so-much-to-say/2015/01/14/keep-calm-and-carry-on-the-future-of-britains-jews/ Keep Calm and Carry On: The future of Britain’s Jews]', TLV1 radio interview (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.51am.</ref></blockquote>

In a joint statement, the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] and [[Board of Deputies]] noted the 'methodological flaws' of the CAA's poll of Jewish attitudes but agreed that 'we should not be complacent'. It insisted, however, that 'it is important to remember that the current level and nature of antisemitism in Britain is not as bad as we have seen in France and other European countries and incidents of a violent nature are much lower than they have been in previous years', and concluded that Britain is 'unquestionably' a 'safe place for Jews to live'.<ref>'[http://www.thejlc.org/2015/01/the-jewish-leadership-council-and-the-board-of-deputies-of-british-jews-respond-to-poll-of-jewish-attitudes/ The Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews Response To "Poll of Jewish Attitudes"'], Jewish Leadership Council (14 January, 2015).</ref>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. (Notably, the CAA was not represented at a meeting organised by the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] of leading Jewish organisations with Prime Minister David Cameron.)<ref>'[http://www.thejlc.org/2015/01/jewish-community-leaders-meet-with-prime-minister-david-cameron-3/ Jewish Community Leaders Meet With Prime Minister David Cameron]]', Jewish Leadership Council (13 January, 2015).</ref> Falter reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists an additional four members:<ref name="About" />

* [[Nathan Hopstein]] - Head of Monitoring and Research
* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Angela Levin]]
* [[Tony Morris]]

Previously listed members include:<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism
:Email: info@antisemitism.uk
:Telephone: +44 (0)330 822 0321

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

File:CAAtweet.png

2015-01-16T10:04:09Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: Marcus Dysch tweeting about Jewish organisations' anger at the clownish CAA antisemitism poll

Marcus Dysch tweeting about Jewish organisations' anger at the clownish CAA antisemitism poll

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T09:58:53Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* 2015 Antisemitism poll */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As well as its [http://antisemitism.uk/ website] ([http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com former URL]), the CAA maintains an active [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Communities Secretary [[Eric Pickles]] issued a bland response to the report, affirming that the government will 'continue to take a zero-tolerance approach' to prosecuting 'hate crimes'.<ref>Eric Pickles MP, '[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/campaign-against-antisemitism-survey Statement from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles following the publication of a survey by the Campaign Against Antisemitism]', Gov.uk (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.26am.</ref>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Community Security Trust]] deputy director of communications [[Dave Rich]] dismissed CAA's poll as 'essentially repeat[ing]... the findings of last year’s [http://global100.adl.org/#country/united-kingdom ADL Global 100 Survey]: a stubborn minority of British people – between 10 per cent and 20 per cent – clings onto stereotypical ways of thinking about Jews'. 'This does not', he added, 'necessarily translate into conscious or active dislike of Jews... So much for the numbers'. He emphasised, as against CAA's alarmism, that 'most of the time, most British Jews do not encounter antisemitism and are able to live whatever Jewish lives they choose'.<ref>Dave Rich, '[http://leftfootforward.org/2015/01/we-must-ensure-that-antisemitism-gets-no-foothold-in-britain/ We must ensure that antisemitism gets no foothold in Britain]', Left Foot Forward (14 January, 2015).</ref> In a radio interview, CST director of communications [[Mark Gardner]] commented of the survey that 'the methodology is not perhaps as good as it should be'. He continued:

<blockquote>The survey asks seven different questions, and it says if you answer 'yes' to one of them, then that makes you some kind of antisemite'... and 45% of British people are therefore antisemites. And that's not the case... For example, 'I would be unhappy if a family member married a Jew' [this was one of the statements polled]. Is it antisemitic if you say 'yes'?... If a Jewish person says, 'I would be unhappy if a family member married a non-Jew', would that make that Jewish person a racist?'<ref>Mark Gardner, '[http://tlv1.fm/so-much-to-say/2015/01/14/keep-calm-and-carry-on-the-future-of-britains-jews/ Keep Calm and Carry On: The future of Britain’s Jews]', TLV1 radio interview (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.51am.</ref></blockquote>

In a joint statement, the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] and [[Board of Deputies]] noted the 'methodological flaws' of the CAA's poll of Jewish attitudes but agreed that 'we should not be complacent'. It insisted, however, that 'it is important to remember that the current level and nature of antisemitism in Britain is not as bad as we have seen in France and other European countries and incidents of a violent nature are much lower than they have been in previous years', and concluded that Britain is 'unquestionably' a 'safe place for Jews to live'.<ref>'[http://www.thejlc.org/2015/01/the-jewish-leadership-council-and-the-board-of-deputies-of-british-jews-respond-to-poll-of-jewish-attitudes/ The Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews Response To "Poll of Jewish Attitudes"'], Jewish Leadership Council (14 January, 2015).</ref>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. (Notably, the CAA was not represented at a meeting organised by the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] of leading Jewish organisations with Prime Minister David Cameron.)<ref>'[http://www.thejlc.org/2015/01/jewish-community-leaders-meet-with-prime-minister-david-cameron-3/ Jewish Community Leaders Meet With Prime Minister David Cameron]]', Jewish Leadership Council (13 January, 2015).</ref> Falter reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists an additional four members:<ref name="About" />

* [[Nathan Hopstein]] - Head of Monitoring and Research
* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Angela Levin]]
* [[Tony Morris]]

Previously listed members include:<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism
:Email: info@antisemitism.uk
:Telephone: +44 (0)330 822 0321

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T09:51:56Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* 2015 Antisemitism poll */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As well as its [http://antisemitism.uk/ website] ([http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com former URL]), the CAA maintains an active [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Communities Secretary [[Eric Pickles]] issued a bland response to the report, affirming that the government will 'continue to take a zero-tolerance approach' to prosecuting 'hate crimes'.<ref>Eric Pickles MP, '[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/campaign-against-antisemitism-survey Statement from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles following the publication of a survey by the Campaign Against Antisemitism]', Gov.uk (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.26am.</ref>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Community Security Trust]] deputy director of communications [[Dave Rich]] dismissed CAA's poll as 'essentially repeat[ing]... the findings of last year’s [http://global100.adl.org/#country/united-kingdom ADL Global 100 Survey]: a stubborn minority of British people – between 10 per cent and 20 per cent – clings onto stereotypical ways of thinking about Jews'. 'This does not', he added, 'necessarily translate into conscious or active dislike of Jews... So much for the numbers'. He emphasised, as against CAA's alarmism, that 'most of the time, most British Jews do not encounter antisemitism and are able to live whatever Jewish lives they choose'.<ref>Dave Rich, '[http://leftfootforward.org/2015/01/we-must-ensure-that-antisemitism-gets-no-foothold-in-britain/ We must ensure that antisemitism gets no foothold in Britain]', Left Foot Forward (14 January, 2015).</ref> In a radio interview, CST director of communications [[Mark Gardner]] commented of the survey that 'the methodology is not perhaps as good as it should be'. He continued:

<blockquote>The survey asks seven different questions, and it says if you answer 'yes' to one of them, then that makes you some kind of antisemite'... and 45% of British people are therefore antisemites. And that's not the case... For example, 'I would be unhappy if a family member married a Jew' [this was one of the statements polled]. Is it antisemitic if you say 'yes'?... If a Jewish person says, 'I would be unhappy if a family member married a non-Jew', would that make that Jewish person a racist?'<ref>Mark Gardner, '[http://tlv1.fm/so-much-to-say/2015/01/14/keep-calm-and-carry-on-the-future-of-britains-jews/ Keep Calm and Carry On: The future of Britain’s Jews]', TLV1 radio interview (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.51am.</ref></blockquote>

In a joint statement, the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] and [[Board of Deputies]] noted the 'methodological flaws' of the CAA's poll of Jewish attitudes but agreed that 'we should not be complacent'. It insisted, however, that 'it is important to remember that the current level and nature of antisemitism in Britain is not as bad as we have seen in France and other European countries and incidents of a violent nature are much lower than they have been in previous years', and concluded that Britain is 'unquestionably' a 'safe place for Jews to live'.<ref>'[http://www.thejlc.org/2015/01/the-jewish-leadership-council-and-the-board-of-deputies-of-british-jews-respond-to-poll-of-jewish-attitudes/ The Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews Response To "Poll of Jewish Attitudes"'], Jewish Leadership Council (14 January, 2015).</ref>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists an additional four members:<ref name="About" />

* [[Nathan Hopstein]] - Head of Monitoring and Research
* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Angela Levin]]
* [[Tony Morris]]

Previously listed members include:<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism
:Email: info@antisemitism.uk
:Telephone: +44 (0)330 822 0321

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T09:45:06Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* 2015 Antisemitism poll */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As well as its [http://antisemitism.uk/ website] ([http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com former URL]), the CAA maintains an active [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Communities Secretary [[Eric Pickles]] issued a bland response to the report, affirming that the government will 'continue to take a zero-tolerance approach' to prosecuting 'hate crimes'.<ref>Eric Pickles MP, '[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/campaign-against-antisemitism-survey Statement from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles following the publication of a survey by the Campaign Against Antisemitism]', Gov.uk (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.26am.</ref>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Community Security Trust]] deputy director of communications [[Dave Rich]] dismissed CAA's poll as 'essentially repeat[ing]... the findings of last year’s [http://global100.adl.org/#country/united-kingdom ADL Global 100 Survey]: a stubborn minority of British people – between 10 per cent and 20 per cent – clings onto stereotypical ways of thinking about Jews'. 'This does not', he added, 'necessarily translate into conscious or active dislike of Jews... So much for the numbers'. He emphasised, as against CAA's alarmism, that 'most of the time, most British Jews do not encounter antisemitism and are able to live whatever Jewish lives they choose'.<ref>Dave Rich, '[http://leftfootforward.org/2015/01/we-must-ensure-that-antisemitism-gets-no-foothold-in-britain/ We must ensure that antisemitism gets no foothold in Britain]', Left Foot Forward (14 January, 2015).</ref>

In a joint statement, the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] and [[Board of Deputies]] noted the 'methodological flaws' of the CAA's poll of Jewish attitudes but agreed that 'we should not be complacent'. It insisted, however, that 'it is important to remember that the current level and nature of antisemitism in Britain is not as bad as we have seen in France and other European countries and incidents of a violent nature are much lower than they have been in previous years', and concluded that Britain is 'unquestionably' a 'safe place for Jews to live'.<ref>'[http://www.thejlc.org/2015/01/the-jewish-leadership-council-and-the-board-of-deputies-of-british-jews-respond-to-poll-of-jewish-attitudes/ The Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews Response To "Poll of Jewish Attitudes"'], Jewish Leadership Council (14 January, 2015).</ref>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists an additional four members:<ref name="About" />

* [[Nathan Hopstein]] - Head of Monitoring and Research
* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Angela Levin]]
* [[Tony Morris]]

Previously listed members include:<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism
:Email: info@antisemitism.uk
:Telephone: +44 (0)330 822 0321

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T09:27:06Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* 2015 Antisemitism poll */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As well as its [http://antisemitism.uk/ website] ([http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com former URL]), the CAA maintains an active [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Communities Secretary [[Eric Pickles]] issued a bland response to the report, affirming that the government will 'continue to take a zero-tolerance approach' to prosecuting 'hate crimes'.<ref>Eric Pickles MP, '[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/campaign-against-antisemitism-survey Statement from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles following the publication of a survey by the Campaign Against Antisemitism]', Gov.uk (14 January, 2015); accessed: 16 January 2015, at 9.26am.</ref>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists an additional four members:<ref name="About" />

* [[Nathan Hopstein]] - Head of Monitoring and Research
* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Angela Levin]]
* [[Tony Morris]]

Previously listed members include:<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism
:Email: info@antisemitism.uk
:Telephone: +44 (0)330 822 0321

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T09:11:32Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Contact */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As well as its [http://antisemitism.uk/ website] ([http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com former URL]), the CAA maintains an active [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists an additional four members:<ref name="About" />

* [[Nathan Hopstein]] - Head of Monitoring and Research
* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Angela Levin]]
* [[Tony Morris]]

Previously listed members include:<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism
:Email: info@antisemitism.uk
:Telephone: +44 (0)330 822 0321

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T09:09:42Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner:

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As well as its [http://antisemitism.uk/ website] ([http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com former URL]), the CAA maintains an active [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists an additional four members:<ref name="About" />

* [[Nathan Hopstein]] - Head of Monitoring and Research
* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Angela Levin]]
* [[Tony Morris]]

Previously listed members include:<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T09:08:56Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* People */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As well as its [http://antisemitism.uk/ website] ([http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com former URL]), the CAA maintains an active [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists an additional four members:<ref name="About Us" />

* [[Nathan Hopstein]] - Head of Monitoring and Research
* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Angela Levin]]
* [[Tony Morris]]

Previously listed members include:<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T09:04:58Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Facebook campaigns */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As well as its [http://antisemitism.uk/ website] ([http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com former URL]), the CAA maintains an active [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists nine organisers.<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

Campaign Committee

* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Gideon Falter]]
* [[Nussi Hopstein]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

Spokesman

* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T09:03:41Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Facebook campaigns */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As well as its [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com website], the CAA maintains an active [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists nine organisers.<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

Campaign Committee

* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Gideon Falter]]
* [[Nussi Hopstein]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

Spokesman

* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T09:02:16Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Establishment */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

In an account of his involvement, current CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] describes having been outraged during the Gaza conflict by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As of mid-September 2014, the most recent post on the CAA [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com website] was dated 25 August.

Its [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes, is more active. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists nine organisers.<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

Campaign Committee

* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Gideon Falter]]
* [[Nussi Hopstein]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

Spokesman

* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T08:59:07Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Reources */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As of mid-September 2014, the most recent post on the CAA [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com website] was dated 25 August.

Its [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes, is more active. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists nine organisers.<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

Campaign Committee

* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Gideon Falter]]
* [[Nussi Hopstein]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

Spokesman

* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism

==Resources==
* Ben Quinn, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', The Guardian, 14 January, 2015.
* Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-16T08:57:15Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Contact */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the [[Board of Deputies]]. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the [[Tricycle Theatre]] against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As of mid-September 2014, the most recent post on the CAA [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com website] was dated 25 August.

Its [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes, is more active. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. CAA spokesperson [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] said of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists nine organisers.<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

Campaign Committee

* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Gideon Falter]]
* [[Nussi Hopstein]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

Spokesman

* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/ | http://antisemitism.uk/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism
:Twitter: https://twitter.com/caantisemitism

==Reources==
*Ben Quinn, [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests], The Guardian, 14 January 2015.

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-15T22:07:41Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner:

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref> It is led by [[Gideon Falter]] (chairman).<ref name="About" />

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the Board of Deputies. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the Tricycle Theatre against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson Sacerdoti urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As of mid-September 2014, the most recent post on the CAA [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com website] was dated 25 August.

Its [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes, is more active. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. Said CAA spokesperson Jonathan Sacerdoti of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists nine organisers.<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

Campaign Committee

* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Gideon Falter]]
* [[Nussi Hopstein]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

Spokesman

* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism

==Reources==
*Ben Quinn, [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests], The Guardian, 14 January 2015.

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Gideon Falter

2015-01-15T22:06:50Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner:

'''Gideon Falter''' is chairman of the [[Campaign Against Antisemitism UK]] (CAA), and former president of the [[University of Warwick Jewish/Israeli Society]] (JSoc).

==Education==
Falter graduated in law at the University of Warwick.<ref name="About Us" />

==Activities==

===Student politics===
While at Warwick, Falter was president of the student Jewish/Israeli Society, or JSoc.<ref name="About Us" /> By his own account, he spent his time in office 'fighting Israel's corner',<ref> Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref> whilst 'fighting off opposition within the Students‘ Union'.<ref name="About Us">CAA, '[http://antisemitism.uk/about/ About Us]'; accessed: 15 January 2015, at 7.24pm.</ref> For instance, under his leadership the JSoc campaigned for the anti-Zionist ultra Orthodox Jewish sect [[Neturei Karta]] to be banned from university events, and for students who had invited speakers from the group to be punished;<ref>Gaby Wine, '[http://website.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=20050&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=gideon%20falter&srchtxt=0&srchhead=1&srchauthor=0&srchsandp=0&scsrch=0 J-Socs want ban on Neturei Karta]', Jewish Chronicle (7 March, 2003).</ref> and in 2002, Falter helped defeat a student union motion for boycotting Israeli goods, which he branded 'racism'.<ref>Gaby Wine and Rachel S. Harris, '[http://website.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=20938&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=gideon%20falter&srchtxt=0&srchhead=1&srchauthor=0&srchsandp=0&scsrch=0 Anti-Israel motions defeated]', Jewish Chronicle (6 December, 2002).</ref>

He was subsequently elected the student union's Anti-Racism Officer and 'appointed to the Race and Religion Incident Review Panel of Warwickshire Police and West Midlands Police's Key Individuals Network'.<ref name="About Us" /> When a Warwick student union motion to twin with the student council of Birzeit University in the West Bank was rejected, Falter, in his capacity as student union anti-racism officer, praised the result as 'a major victory for tolerance and decency' on the grounds that many Birzeit union members were supporters of Hamas.<ref>'[http://website.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=3993&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=gideon%20falter&srchtxt=0&srchhead=1&srchauthor=0&srchsandp=0&scsrch=0 Twin rejected]', Jewish Chronicle (4 February, 2005).</ref>

In 2005, Falter stood unsuccessfully for president of the [[Union of Jewish Students]].<ref>'[http://website.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=7650&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=gideon%20falter&srchtxt=0&srchhead=1&srchauthor=0&srchsandp=0&scsrch=0 UJS election]', Jewish Chronicle (25 February, 2005); '[http://website.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=12105&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=%22oliver%20rosenberg%22%20UJS%20&srchtxt=1&srchhead=0&srchauthor=0&srchsandp=0&scsrch=0 UJS’s new chair calls for activism]', Jewish Chronicle (4 March, 2005).</ref>

===Rowan Laxton incident===
In 2009, senior Foreign Office official [[Rowan Laxton]] was exercising in the gym when, hearing a news report about a farmer killed by Israeli armed forces, he allegedly exclaimed, '******* Israelis, ******* Jews'. Gideon Falter and William Lemaine were in the gym at the time, and complained to staff. Falter also 'tipped off the media' and testified against Laxton in court.<ref>'[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3778167,00.html British diplomat suspended for cursing Israel: I'm not racist]', Ynet (17 September, 2009); cf. Geoffrey K. Pullum, '[http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2803 The diplomat, the bishop, the bomber, and the fruit bat]', Language Log (25 November, 2010).</ref> Laxton was suspended from his job<ref>Gillian Meron MP, 'Rowan Laxton', [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090227/text/90227w0025.htm Hansard] Column 1206W (27 February, 2009); via Denry, '[http://denryblog.com/2009/10/18/4/ Rowan Laxton - Undiplomatic]' (18 October, 2009).</ref> and in September 2009 was found guilty of racially aggravated public disorder at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court and fined.<ref>'[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/6226053/Civil-servant-fined-for-racist-outburst-against-Jews.html Civil servant fined for racist outburst against Jews]', Daily Telegraph (24 September, 2009).</ref> On appeal (in effect, a re-trial) the following year, the conviction was overturned; Laxton resumed work at the Foreign Office.<ref>Geoffrey K. Pullum, '[http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2803 The diplomat, the bishop, the bomber, and the fruit bat]', Language Log (25 November, 2010); Leon Symons, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/29826/foreign-office-man-wins-appeal-against-race-abuse-claim Foreign Office man wins appeal against race abuse claim]', Jewish Chronicle (25 March, 2010).</ref>

===Campaign Against Antisemitism UK===
In the summer of 2014 Falter helped to establish a new organisation, [[Campaign Against Antisemitism UK]] (CAA). In an account of his involvement, Falter describes having been outraged during Israel's 2014 [[Operation Protective Edge]] assault on Gaza by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

As of January 2015, Falter was listed at the CAA's Chairman.<ref name="About Us" />

==Affiliations==
* [[Campaign Against Antisemitism UK]] - chairman
* [[University of Warwick Student Union]] - anti-racism officer
* [[University of Warwick Jewish/Israeli Society]] - former president
* [[Rowan Laxton]]
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]]
* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Nathan Hopstein]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]
* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]

==Contact details==
* Website: [http://antisemitism.uk/ http://antisemitism.uk/]
* Twitter: [https://twitter.com/gideonfalter" https://twitter.com/gideonfalter]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Gideon Falter

2015-01-15T22:05:06Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: New page on chairman of Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

'''Gideon Falter''' is chairman of the [[Campaign Against Antisemitism UK]] (CAA), and former president of the [[University of Warwick Jewish/Israeli Society]] (JSoc).

==Education==
Falter graduated in law at the University of Warwick.<ref name="About Us" />

==Activities==

===Student politics===
While at Warwick, Falter was president of the student Jewish/Israeli Society, or JSoc.<ref name="About Us" /> By his own account, he spent his time in office 'fighting Israel's corner',<ref> Gideon Falter, '[ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref> whilst 'fighting off opposition within the Students‘ Union'.<ref name="About Us">CAA, '[http://antisemitism.uk/about/ About Us]'; accessed: 15 January 2015, at 7.24pm.</ref> For instance, under his leadership the JSoc campaigned for the anti-Zionist ultra Orthodox Jewish sect [[Neturei Karta]] to be banned from university events, and for students who had invited speakers from the group to be punished;<ref>Gaby Wine, '[http://website.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=20050&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=gideon%20falter&srchtxt=0&srchhead=1&srchauthor=0&srchsandp=0&scsrch=0 J-Socs want ban on Neturei Karta]', Jewish Chronicle (7 March, 2003).</ref> and in 2002, Falter helped defeat a student union motion for boycotting Israeli goods, which he branded 'racism'.<ref>Gaby Wine and Rachel S. Harris, '[http://website.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=20938&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=gideon%20falter&srchtxt=0&srchhead=1&srchauthor=0&srchsandp=0&scsrch=0 Anti-Israel motions defeated]', Jewish Chronicle (6 December, 2002).</ref>

He was subsequently elected the student union's Anti-Racism Officer and 'appointed to the Race and Religion Incident Review Panel of Warwickshire Police and West Midlands Police's Key Individuals Network'.<ref name="About Us" /> When a Warwick student union motion to twin with the student council of Birzeit University in the West Bank was rejected, Falter, in his capacity as student union anti-racism officer, praised the result as 'a major victory for tolerance and decency' on the grounds that many Birzeit union members were supporters of Hamas.<ref>'[http://website.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=3993&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=gideon%20falter&srchtxt=0&srchhead=1&srchauthor=0&srchsandp=0&scsrch=0 Twin rejected]', Jewish Chronicle (4 February, 2005).</ref>

In 2005, Falter stood unsuccessfully for president of the [[Union of Jewish Students]].<ref>'[http://website.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=7650&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=gideon%20falter&srchtxt=0&srchhead=1&srchauthor=0&srchsandp=0&scsrch=0 UJS election]', Jewish Chronicle (25 February, 2005); '[http://website.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=12105&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=%22oliver%20rosenberg%22%20UJS%20&srchtxt=1&srchhead=0&srchauthor=0&srchsandp=0&scsrch=0 UJS’s new chair calls for activism]', Jewish Chronicle (4 March, 2005).</ref>

===Rowan Laxton incident===
In 2009, senior Foreign Office official [[Rowan Laxton]] was exercising in the gym when, hearing a news report about a farmer killed by Israeli armed forces, he allegedly exclaimed, '******* Israelis, ******* Jews'. Gideon Falter and William Lemaine were in the gym at the time, and complained to staff. Falter also 'tipped off the media' and testified against Laxton in court.<ref>'[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3778167,00.html British diplomat suspended for cursing Israel: I'm not racist]', Ynet (17 September, 2009); cf. Geoffrey K. Pullum, '[http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2803 The diplomat, the bishop, the bomber, and the fruit bat]', Language Log (25 November, 2010).</ref> Laxton was suspended from his job<ref>Gillian Meron MP, 'Rowan Laxton', [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090227/text/90227w0025.htm Hansard] Column 1206W (27 February, 2009); via Denry, '[http://denryblog.com/2009/10/18/4/ Rowan Laxton - Undiplomatic]' (18 October, 2009).</ref> and in September 2009 was found guilty of racially aggravated public disorder at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court and fined.<ref>'[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/6226053/Civil-servant-fined-for-racist-outburst-against-Jews.html Civil servant fined for racist outburst against Jews]', Daily Telegraph (24 September, 2009).</ref> On appeal (in effect, a re-trial) the following year, the conviction was overturned; Laxton resumed work at the Foreign Office.<ref>Geoffrey K. Pullum, '[http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2803 The diplomat, the bishop, the bomber, and the fruit bat]', Language Log (25 November, 2010); Leon Symons, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/29826/foreign-office-man-wins-appeal-against-race-abuse-claim Foreign Office man wins appeal against race abuse claim]', Jewish Chronicle (25 March, 2010).</ref>

===Campaign Against Antisemitism UK===
In the summer of 2014 Falter helped to establish a new organisation, [[Campaign Against Antisemitism UK]] (CAA). In an account of his involvement, Falter describes having been outraged during Israel's 2014 [[Operation Protective Edge]] assault on Gaza by the British media's 'insistence on holding Israel to exceptional, impossible standards', which 'helped to feed the oldest hatred'. The result was that in Britain 'Israel's case was deliberately stifled', while expressing 'support for Israel was enough to make the disinterested "right thinking" mainstream of British society wince'. His discomfort grew, he says, when pro-Palestinian protestors did not object to some in their midst who chanted antisemitic slogans. He was dismayed to find that the antisemites, at rallies and online, 'were not arrested'. At this point, [[Joseph Cohen]], [[Darren Borg]], [[Justin Chorn]] and [[Jordan Jay]] created a Facebook group, Campaign Against Antisemitism. When the Tricycle Theatre then decided to boycott the UK Jewish Film Festival (which was funded by the Israeli state), [[Rupert Nathan]] launched a Facebook campaign, which 'soon joined forces' with the CAA. [[Nathan Hopstein]] and [[Mandy Blumenthal]] also 'entered the fray'.

Falter sent the group a Facebook message with advice, and they admitted him as a member. He called in [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] as a 'media man', and within a week, they had 'developed a plan': to call for 'zero tolerance enforcement of existing laws against anti-Semitism by the police'. According to Falter, the group and the subsequent rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice it organised was set up by a 'group of like-minded people who did not know each other just a month before'.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-lets-turn-fear-anti-semitism/ Let’s turn fear of anti-Semitism into fight]', Jewish News (3 September, 2014).</ref>

As of January 2015, Falter was listed at the CAA's Chairman.<ref name="About Us" />

==Affiliations==
* [[Campaign Against Antisemitism UK]] - chairman
* [[University of Warwick Student Union]] - anti-racism officer
* [[University of Warwick Jewish/Israeli Society]] - former president
* [[Rowan Laxton]]
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]]
* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Nathan Hopstein]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]
* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]

==Contact details==
* Website: [http://antisemitism.uk/ http://antisemitism.uk/]
* Twitter: [https://twitter.com/gideonfalter" https://twitter.com/gideonfalter]

==Notes==
<references/>
[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-15T18:56:27Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* 2015 Antisemitism poll */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref>

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the Board of Deputies. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the Tricycle Theatre against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson Sacerdoti urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As of mid-September 2014, the most recent post on the CAA [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com website] was dated 25 August.

Its [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes, is more active. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology of CAA's survey of British Jews as leading to an unrepresentative sample. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention. In an op-ed published in the wake of the report, Gideon Falter wrote:

<blockquote>In three separate questions 80% linked antisemitism with anti-Israel activity and media bias. These figures will now feed into our discussions with the government.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-campaign-antisemitism-freedom-litmus-test/ ‘Campaign Against Antisemitism is the freedom litmus test’]', Jewish News (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

In another such op-ed, he wrote:

<blockquote>What many will probably seek to brush aside from our survey is the crossover between anti-Israel activism and anti-Semitism. 84% of Jews think boycotts of Israeli businesses are intimidatory. 82% of Jews think anti-Semitism has been fuelled by biased reporting on Israel. 77% have personally witnessed anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel activism.

The tone of debate around Israel has become one of pure hatred – there is no debate. When thugs enter shops and throw all of the kosher food on the ground because it’s ‘Israeli’ or stand outside Jewish events shouting “Baby killers!”, it’s not hard to understand what is really happening. Anti-Israel protests are increasingly the scene of anti-Semitic acts, and we must cease to allow the perpetrators to get away with saying that they only meant to criticise Israel.<ref>Gideon Falter, '[http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/britains-tsunami-of-anti-semitism/ Britain’s tsunami of anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

Pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. Said CAA spokesperson Jonathan Sacerdoti of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists nine organisers.<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

Campaign Committee

* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Gideon Falter]]
* [[Nussi Hopstein]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

Spokesman

* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism

==Reources==
*Ben Quinn, [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests], The Guardian, 14 January 2015.

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-15T18:46:29Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* 2015 Antisemitism poll */

The '''Campaign Against Antisemitism UK''' (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref>

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the Board of Deputies. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

===Demonstrations===
The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* '''7 August, 2014''': the group staged a protest outside the Tricycle Theatre against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* '''31 August, 2014''': the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson Sacerdoti urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* '''4 September, 2014''': CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

* '''11 January, 2015''': CAA invited its Facebook followers to attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square organised by the French Embassy in response to an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, in which four hostages were killed.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/events/773578589389484/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular Facebook Event]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:14.</ref> The CAA designed placards reading Je Suis Juif - a reference to the 'Je Suis Charlie' slogan widely voiced to express solidarity with the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, 12 of whose staff were killed in an attack by two gunmen on 7 January, 2015.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1540446192900984 Facebook post]' (11 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10:18.</ref>

===Facebook campaigns===

As of mid-September 2014, the most recent post on the CAA [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com website] was dated 25 August.

Its [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 14 January 2015 has 6,518 likes, is more active. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

===2015 Antisemitism poll===

In January 2015, newspaper headlines reported that nearly half of Britons subscribe to at least one antisemitic belief.<ref name="Guardian">E.g. Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015).</ref> They were based on the findings of a [[YouGov]] survey commissioned by CAA,<ref name="barometer">CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> which polled, inter alia, the following beliefs: 'Jews chase money more than other British people'; 'Jews' loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other British people'; 'Jews think they are better than other people' and 'have too much power in the media'; and 'Jews talk about the Holocaust too much in order to get sympathy'. The poll found, CAA claimed, that 45% of British adults believe at least one of the polled statements; 26% believe at least two and 17% believe at least three.

In news reports, [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] was quoted as CAA spokesperson.<ref name="Guardian" /> A foreword to the CAA report, co-authored by Sacerdoti (Director of Communications) and [[Gideon Falter]] (Chairman) claimed:

<blockquote>Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref name="barometer" /></blockquote>

The poll also conducted an online survey of British Jews, finding high levels of fear and insecurity.

In the context of the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre the findings were widely reported.<ref>E.g. Gregory Walton, '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11343209/Survey-shows-antisemitic-views-are-common-among-Britons.html Survey shows anti-Semitic views are common among Britons]', Daily Telegraph (14 January, 2015); Ben Quin, '[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests]', Guardian (14 January, 2015); Barclay McBain, '[http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-no-room-for-complacency-in-confronting-anti-semitism-the-hate-that-outlive.116203765 Agenda: No room for complacency in confronting anti-Semitism, the hate that outlives all others]', Herald Scotland (15 January, 2015); '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/1.636973 Surveys show spike in British anti-Semitism]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015); '[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909151/Warning-rising-tide-anti-Semitism-Britain-one-eight-people-claiming-Jews-talk-Holocaust-sympathy.html Warning over rising tide of anti-Semitism in Britain with one in eight people claiming that Jews talk about the Holocaust to get sympathy]', Daily Mail (14 January, 2015).</ref> The Independent, for example, ran a front-page story headlined 'The new anti-semitism', which quoted CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] as follows:

<blockquote>These results are shocking wake up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.<ref>Cahal Milmo, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-new-antisemitism-majority-of-british-jews-feel-they-have-no-future-in-uk-says-new-study-9976310.html The new anti-Semitism: Majority of British Jews feel they have no future in UK, says new study]', The Independent (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

The CAA's report also attracted serious criticism. Ha'aretz reporter [[Anshel Pfeffer]] argued that several of the allegedly antisemitic beliefs polled by YouGov do not necessarily amount to antisemitism, and criticised methodology used for the survey of British Jews as unrepresentative. He added:

<blockquote>The last finding in the survey is that 56 percent agree that 'the recent rise in anti-Semitism in Britain has some echoes of the 1930s'. If the majority of British Jews and the authors of the CAA report actually believe that, then it’s hard to take anything they say about contemporary anti-Semitism in their home country seriously. If they honestly think that the situation in Britain today echoes the 1930s when Jews were still banned from a wide variety of clubs and associations, when a popular fascist party, supported by members of the nobility and popular newspapers, were marching in support of Hitler, when large parts of the British establishment were appeasing Nazi Germany and the government was resolutely opposed to allowing Jewish refugees of Nazism in to Britain, finally relenting in 1938 to allow 10,000 children to arrive — but not their parents who were to die in the Holocaust (that shameful aspect of the Kindertransport that is seldom mentioned) — and when the situation of Jews in other European countries at the time was so much worse, then not only are they woefully ignorant of recent Jewish history but have little concept of what real anti-Semitism is beyond the type they see online.<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.637071 U.K. anti-Semitism report highlights disturbing trend - among British Jews]', Ha'aretz (14 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

[[Jonathan Boyd]], executive director of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], dismissed CAA's survey of British Jewish opinion as having 'little, if any, methodological credibility'. He also characterised the CAA's presentation of the YouGov poll as 'deeply flawed':

<blockquote>The finding, for example, that 'almost half of British adults believe at least one of the anti-Semitic statements shown to them to be true' is a deeply flawed read of the data. An accurate and honest read would rather highlight the fact that between 75 percent and 90% of people in Britain either do not hold anti-Semitic views or have no particular view of Jews either way, and only about 4% to 5% of people can be characterized as clearly anti-Semitic. This figure is similar to Pew data gathered in 2009 and 2014, which estimates the level at somewhere between 2% and 7%, and Anti-Defamation League data gathered in 2014 which, while also flawed, put it at 8%, and, more robustly, identified the UK as among the least anti-Semitic countries in the world.<ref>Jonathan Boyd, '[http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Analysis-UK-Jewry-and-a-feeling-of-insecurity-387785 Analysis: British Jewry and a feeling of insecurity]', Jerusalem Post (15 January, 2015).</ref></blockquote>

On 8 January, 2015, CAA chairman [[Gideon Falter]] attended a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May 'to address last year's recording-breaking number of antisemitic incidents' in the UK. He reportedly proposed a 'five-point plan':

<blockquote>
1. Production of a quick reference guide on how to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime for police officers and prosecutors; 
2. Strengthening oversight mechanisms within the Police and CPS to ensure that the response to antisemitism is as firm as the law will permit; 
3. Taking enforcement action against the organisers of marches and protests which become intimidatory or antisemitic; 
4. Ensuring that social networks tackle online hate crime effectively; and 
5. Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM], Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref></blockquote>

It is not clear what if anything this 'plan' adds to existing Home Office policy, nor in what specifically CAA's 'zero tolerance agenda' consists.

The fifth point of the 'plan' merits attention: pro-Israel groups have long sought to promote definitions of anti-semitism, such as the [[European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia]] (EUMC) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which threaten to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is not clear how the CAA proposes to distinguish 'antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse' from 'anti-Israel political discourse' that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. Said CAA spokesperson Jonathan Sacerdoti of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's 2015 report, Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Annual Report lists the following staff members:

* [[Gideon Falter]] - Chairman
* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] - Director of Communications<ref name="barometer" />

The CAA's website lists nine organisers.<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

Campaign Committee

* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Gideon Falter]]
* [[Nussi Hopstein]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

Spokesman

* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism

==Reources==
*Ben Quinn, [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/uk-jewish-antisemitism-rise-yougov-poll Almost half of Britons hold antisemitic view, poll suggests], The Guardian, 14 January 2015.

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-15T18:35:43Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Antisemitism poll */

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-15T18:35:27Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Antisemitism poll */

Jonathan Sacerdoti

2015-01-14T11:52:34Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Campaign Against Antisemitism */

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption="Sacerdoti on Sky News defending Israel's actions the day after its 2010 raid on the Gaza flotilla">2zrJvumvsFQ</youtube>

'''Jonathan Sacerdoti''' is a Director of the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]]<ref>[http://instmed.org/about_us/ About Us], IMED, accessed 16 July 2012</ref> based in the UK and is also registered as a director of a UK branch of the [[Simon Wiesenthal Centre]], alongside [[Marvin Hier]] - founder and dean of the orginal centre, based in the USA - and others.<ref>[http://companycheck.co.uk/company/03042000 SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM], Company Check, accessed 19 July 2012</ref> He has also worked as Director of Public Affairs at the [[Zionist Federation]]<ref>[http://zionistfederation.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/zionist-federation-condemns-tuc.html ZIONIST FEDERATION CONDEMNS TUC CONGRESS APPROVAL OF DISCRIMINATORY BOYCOTT OF ISRAELI GOODS], Zionist Federation News, accessed 19 July 2012</ref> and is currently a member of the International Division of the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]. Since August 2014, Sacerdoti has been the spokesperson for the [[Campaign Against Antisemitism UK]].<ref name="Who">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

==Education==
Sacerdoti studied English Language and Literature at Balliol College, Oxford University.<ref>[http://www.yatedo.com/p/Jonathan+Sacerdoti/normal/6984f42b8627a6e75f3e5055f70cc015 Jonathan Sacerdoti], Yatedo, accessed 16 November 2012</ref>
[[File:Jonathan Sacerdoti - United Kingdom - LinkedIn.png|thumb|right|300px|[[Jonathan Sacerdoti]], LinkedIn profile which fails to mention his roles at the [[Zionist Federation]] and the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]. It was removed just hours after [http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza an article] mentioning these oversights was published. Screengrab taken 16 November 2012]]

==Activities==
In 4 May 2010 Sacerdoti reportedly spoke publicly about ‘ways to use Facebook, Twitter and other online resources to advocate for Israel’ at a Zionist Federation Israel advocacy event called 'Talk for Israel'.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:How_to_advocate_for_israel.jpg How to advocate for Israel], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 1 June 2010, the day after nine activists on the Mavi Marmara were killed by the Israeli military, Sacerdoti appeared on Sky News and Al Jazeera defending Israel's actions.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT8ZtjNheMk&list=UUV1sX9BjwRt0ZduDc1Umm2A&index=24&feature=plcp Jonathan Sacerdoti on Al Jazeera discussing the Gaza flotilla incident] Youtube via MrJonSac, 1 June 2010, accessed 16 November 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysbCX9NLeS8&list=UUV1sX9BjwRt0ZduDc1Umm2A&index=20&feature=plcp Jonathan Sacerdoti, live interview on Sky News regarding the flotilla incident], Youtube via MrJonSac, 1 June 2010, accessed 16 November 2012</ref>

On 6 July 2010 Sacerdoti met Israeli President [[Shimon Peres]]. He uploaded a picture of himself shaking hands with Peres, with the caption 'Jonathan Sacerdoti, of Her Majesty’s Secret Service’.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Meeting_shimon_peres_flickr.jpg Sacerdoti meeting Peres], Flickr Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 30 November 2012 Sacerdoti collaborated with [[Gili Brenner]] of [[StandWithUs]] to make a video for what they called 'Buy Israeli Goods Day', intended to counter the boycott divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Buy_israeli_goods_w_gili_brenner_swu.jpg Sacerdoti and Brenner video], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 24 February 2011 he met [[Ron Prosor]], former Israeli ambassador to the UK. A picture of him with Prosor, [[Gili Brenner]] of [[StandWithUs]] and pro-Israel blogger [[Chas Newkey-Burden]] was posted on the latter's website.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Sacerdoti_prosor.jpg Sacerdoi with Prosor], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 28 August 2011 Sacerdoti attended and spoke at a pro-Israel rally in Trafalgar Square organised by the [[British Israel Coalition]] and supported by [[StandWithUs]].<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Rally_for_israel.jpg Sacerdoti at pro-Israel rally], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

In July 2012, Sacerdoti was elected to the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]] International Division.<ref>[http://www.bod.org.uk/live/content.php?Item_ID=130&Blog_ID=425 Results of Board Divisional Elections], Board of Deputies of British Jews, accessed 31 July 2012</ref>

==Defending Israel in the media==
===Appearances on the BBC during Operation 'Pillar of Cloud'===
[[File:Aje w zf caption.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Jonathan Sacerdoti on Al Jazeera on 1 June 2010 defending Israel's attack on the flotilla for the [[Zionist Federation]]. He was opposed by another guest, Palestinian Ghada Karmi. Screengrab taken 15 November 2012]]
[[File:Jonathan Sacerdoti on discussing killing of Ahmed Jabri.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] on BBC News on 14 November 2012 where as director of the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]] he was given an unchallenged platform to defend Israel's 'Operation Pillar of Cloud'. Screengrab taken 15 November 2012]]

Sacerdoti appeared on BBC news programmes four times in two days between 14-15 November 2012 and was described as being from the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]] giving the impression that he was a neutral expert on the region. Each time he defended Israel's attacks on Gaza and each time no alternative perspective was given by the BBC.<ref>[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza/ Who is Jonathan Sacerdoti, the BBC’s Go-To Man on Gaza?], New Left Project, 16 November 2012, accessed 17 November 2012</ref>

He subsequently tried to remove evidence of his pro-Israel advocacy from the internet<ref>[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/former_zionist_federation_official_on_the_run Former Zionist Federation Official on the Run], New Left Project, 17 November 2012</ref>. The BBC eventually ruled that it had breached its own impartiality rules by presenting Sacerdoti as neutral<ref>[http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/hilary-aked/bbc-finally-admits-bias-over-pro-israel-commentator BBC finally admits bias over pro-Israel commentator], Electronic Intifada, 14 January 2015.</ref>.

==Campaign Against Antisemitism==

The [[Campaign Against Antisemitism]] was established in early August 2014 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the higher levels of anti-Israel and allegedly anti-Jewish sentiment triggered by Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge' operation in Gaza.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> Jonathan Sacerdoti is its spokesperson<ref name="Who" /> and 'Director of Communications'.<ref>CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> On 31 August 2014 the group reportedly organised a march against antisemitism of 4,000 people in Central London, backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. Said Jonathan Sacerdoti of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

Sacerdoti was widely quoted in the media speaking about the 31 August rally. He urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref>

Sacerdoti made several media appearances in the wake of the 9 January, 2015 killing by a lone gunman of four Jews in Paris kosher supermarket. BBC News introduced him as 'from the Campaign Against Antisemitism'; he presented the Paris killings in the context of a rising threat to freedom posed by 'extremist Islam' and urged a 'zero tolerance policy' to antisemitism.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVqp4XxQu_4 CAA on BBC News: Terror attack on Jewish shop in Paris and antisemitism in UK]', YouTube (uploaded 9 January, 2015), accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10.26am.</ref> To Sky News, which introduced him as 'Director of Communications at the Campaign Against Antisemitism', he opined, 'Jews in Europe don't feel safe', and urged 'leaders of the free world' to more assertively confront the threat posed by 'extremist Islam'.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTQTIcjg-qE CAA on Sky News: Terror attack on Jewish shop in Paris and antisemitism in UK]', YouTube (uploaded on 11 January, 2015), accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10.31am.</ref> To BBC Radio 5 Live, which introduced Sacerdoti as being 'from the Campaign Against Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK9cYwu4Yuw Jonathan Sacerdoti on BBC Radio 5 Live, discussing the Paris terror attacks and antisemitism]', YouTube (uploaded on ); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10.35am</ref> he suggested that 'extremist Islam... stands against everything we in the West believe in', the latter of which, he added, is 'completely non-negotiable'. In no case was Sacerdoti's background as a pro-Israel lobbyist mentioned; yet, it might thought relevant given that in the wake of the French killings, the CAA met with Home Secretary Theresa May to advocate, among other things, 'Formally adopting a definition of antisemitism which includes antisemitism disguised as anti-Israel political discourse'.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM MEETS WITH HOME SECRETARY, POLICE AND CPS CHIEFS TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM]', Facebook (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 11.12am.</ref> Sacerdoti mentioned this meeting in both his BBC News and Sky News interviews.

==Affiliations==
*[[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]
*[[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]]
*[[Simon Wiesenthal Centre]]
*[[Zionist Federation]]
* [[Campaign Against Antisemitism]]

==Resources==
*[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza Who is Jonathan Sacerdoti, the BBC’s Go-To Man on Gaza?], New Left Project, 16 November 2012
*[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/former_zionist_federation_official_on_the_run Former Zionist Federation Official on the Run], New Left Project, 17 November 2012.
*Ben White, [http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ben-white/numbers-speak-themselves The Numbers Speak for Themselves], Electronic Intifada, 1 January 2012
*[http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/hilary-aked/bbc-finally-admits-bias-over-pro-israel-commentator BBC finally admits bias over pro-Israel commentator], Electronic Intifada, 14 January 2015.

==Notes==
<references/>
[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-14T11:47:24Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Antisemitism poll */

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-14T11:07:31Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Antisemitism poll */

Jonathan Sacerdoti

2015-01-14T11:01:47Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Campaign Against Antisemitism */

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption="Sacerdoti on Sky News defending Israel's actions the day after its 2010 raid on the Gaza flotilla">2zrJvumvsFQ</youtube>

'''Jonathan Sacerdoti''' is a Director of the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]]<ref>[http://instmed.org/about_us/ About Us], IMED, accessed 16 July 2012</ref> based in the UK and is also registered as a director of a UK branch of the [[Simon Wiesenthal Centre]], alongside [[Marvin Hier]] - founder and dean of the orginal centre, based in the USA - and others.<ref>[http://companycheck.co.uk/company/03042000 SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM], Company Check, accessed 19 July 2012</ref> He has also worked as Director of Public Affairs at the [[Zionist Federation]]<ref>[http://zionistfederation.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/zionist-federation-condemns-tuc.html ZIONIST FEDERATION CONDEMNS TUC CONGRESS APPROVAL OF DISCRIMINATORY BOYCOTT OF ISRAELI GOODS], Zionist Federation News, accessed 19 July 2012</ref> and is currently a member of the International Division of the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]. Since August 2014, Sacerdoti has been the spokesperson for the [[Campaign Against Antisemitism UK]].<ref name="Who">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

==Education==
Sacerdoti studied English Language and Literature at Balliol College, Oxford University.<ref>[http://www.yatedo.com/p/Jonathan+Sacerdoti/normal/6984f42b8627a6e75f3e5055f70cc015 Jonathan Sacerdoti], Yatedo, accessed 16 November 2012</ref>
[[File:Jonathan Sacerdoti - United Kingdom - LinkedIn.png|thumb|right|300px|[[Jonathan Sacerdoti]], LinkedIn profile which fails to mention his roles at the [[Zionist Federation]] and the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]. It was removed just hours after [http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza an article] mentioning these oversights was published. Screengrab taken 16 November 2012]]

==Activities==
In 4 May 2010 Sacerdoti reportedly spoke publicly about ‘ways to use Facebook, Twitter and other online resources to advocate for Israel’ at a Zionist Federation Israel advocacy event called 'Talk for Israel'.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:How_to_advocate_for_israel.jpg How to advocate for Israel], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 1 June 2010, the day after nine activists on the Mavi Marmara were killed by the Israeli military, Sacerdoti appeared on Sky News and Al Jazeera defending Israel's actions.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT8ZtjNheMk&list=UUV1sX9BjwRt0ZduDc1Umm2A&index=24&feature=plcp Jonathan Sacerdoti on Al Jazeera discussing the Gaza flotilla incident] Youtube via MrJonSac, 1 June 2010, accessed 16 November 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysbCX9NLeS8&list=UUV1sX9BjwRt0ZduDc1Umm2A&index=20&feature=plcp Jonathan Sacerdoti, live interview on Sky News regarding the flotilla incident], Youtube via MrJonSac, 1 June 2010, accessed 16 November 2012</ref>

On 6 July 2010 Sacerdoti met Israeli President [[Shimon Peres]]. He uploaded a picture of himself shaking hands with Peres, with the caption 'Jonathan Sacerdoti, of Her Majesty’s Secret Service’.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Meeting_shimon_peres_flickr.jpg Sacerdoti meeting Peres], Flickr Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 30 November 2012 Sacerdoti collaborated with [[Gili Brenner]] of [[StandWithUs]] to make a video for what they called 'Buy Israeli Goods Day', intended to counter the boycott divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Buy_israeli_goods_w_gili_brenner_swu.jpg Sacerdoti and Brenner video], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 24 February 2011 he met [[Ron Prosor]], former Israeli ambassador to the UK. A picture of him with Prosor, [[Gili Brenner]] of [[StandWithUs]] and pro-Israel blogger [[Chas Newkey-Burden]] was posted on the latter's website.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Sacerdoti_prosor.jpg Sacerdoi with Prosor], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 28 August 2011 Sacerdoti attended and spoke at a pro-Israel rally in Trafalgar Square organised by the [[British Israel Coalition]] and supported by [[StandWithUs]].<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Rally_for_israel.jpg Sacerdoti at pro-Israel rally], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

In July 2012, Sacerdoti was elected to the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]] International Division.<ref>[http://www.bod.org.uk/live/content.php?Item_ID=130&Blog_ID=425 Results of Board Divisional Elections], Board of Deputies of British Jews, accessed 31 July 2012</ref>

==Defending Israel in the media==
===Appearances on the BBC during Operation 'Pillar of Cloud'===
[[File:Aje w zf caption.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Jonathan Sacerdoti on Al Jazeera on 1 June 2010 defending Israel's attack on the flotilla for the [[Zionist Federation]]. He was opposed by another guest, Palestinian Ghada Karmi. Screengrab taken 15 November 2012]]
[[File:Jonathan Sacerdoti on discussing killing of Ahmed Jabri.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] on BBC News on 14 November 2012 where as director of the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]] he was given an unchallenged platform to defend Israel's 'Operation Pillar of Cloud'. Screengrab taken 15 November 2012]]

Sacerdoti appeared on BBC news programmes four times in two days between 14-15 November 2012 and was described as being from the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]] giving the impression that he was a neutral expert on the region. Each time he defended Israel's attacks on Gaza and each time no alternative perspective was given by the BBC.<ref>[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza/ Who is Jonathan Sacerdoti, the BBC’s Go-To Man on Gaza?], New Left Project, 16 November 2012, accessed 17 November 2012</ref>

He subsequently tried to remove evidence of his pro-Israel advocacy from the internet<ref>[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/former_zionist_federation_official_on_the_run Former Zionist Federation Official on the Run], New Left Project, 17 November 2012</ref>. The BBC eventually ruled that it had breached its own impartiality rules by presenting Sacerdoti as neutral<ref>[http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/hilary-aked/bbc-finally-admits-bias-over-pro-israel-commentator BBC finally admits bias over pro-Israel commentator], Electronic Intifada, 14 January 2015.</ref>.

==Campaign Against Antisemitism==

The [[Campaign Against Antisemitism]] was established in early August 2014 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the higher levels of anti-Israel and allegedly anti-Jewish sentiment triggered by Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge' operation in Gaza.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> Jonathan Sacerdoti is its spokesperson<ref name="Who" /> and 'Director of Communications'.<ref>CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> On 31 August 2014 the group reportedly organised a march against antisemitism of 4,000 people in Central London, backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. Said Jonathan Sacerdoti of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

Sacerdoti was widely quoted in the media speaking about the 31 August rally. He urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref>

Sacerdoti made several media appearances in the wake of the 9 January, 2015 killing by a lone gunman of four Jews in Paris kosher supermarket. BBC News introduced him as 'from the Campaign Against Antisemitism'; he presented the Paris killings in the context of a rising threat to freedom posed by 'extremist Islam' and urged a 'zero tolerance policy' to antisemitism.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVqp4XxQu_4 CAA on BBC News: Terror attack on Jewish shop in Paris and antisemitism in UK]', YouTube (uploaded 9 January, 2015), accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10.26am.</ref> To Sky News, which introduced him as 'Director of Communications at the Campaign Against Antisemitism', he opined, 'Jews in Europe don't feel safe', and urged 'leaders of the free world' to more assertively confront the threat posed by 'extremist Islam'.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTQTIcjg-qE CAA on Sky News: Terror attack on Jewish shop in Paris and antisemitism in UK]', YouTube (uploaded on 11 January, 2015), accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10.31am.</ref> To BBC Radio 5 Live, which introduced Sacerdoti as being 'from the Campaign Against Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK9cYwu4Yuw Jonathan Sacerdoti on BBC Radio 5 Live, discussing the Paris terror attacks and antisemitism]', YouTube (uploaded on ); accessed: 14 January 2015, at 10.35am</ref> he suggested that 'extremist Islam... stands against everything we in the West believe in', the latter of which, he added, is 'completely non-negotiable'. To the BBC and Sky News, he mentioned CAA had met with the Home Secretary Theresa May to discuss antisemitism in the UK, a meeting the CAA also publicised on its Facebook page.<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1539862692959334 Facebook post]' (10 January, 2015); accessed: 14 January 2015, 10.57am.</ref>

==Affiliations==
*[[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]
*[[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]]
*[[Simon Wiesenthal Centre]]
*[[Zionist Federation]]
* [[Campaign Against Antisemitism]]

==Resources==
*[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza Who is Jonathan Sacerdoti, the BBC’s Go-To Man on Gaza?], New Left Project, 16 November 2012
*[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/former_zionist_federation_official_on_the_run Former Zionist Federation Official on the Run], New Left Project, 17 November 2012.
*Ben White, [http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ben-white/numbers-speak-themselves The Numbers Speak for Themselves], Electronic Intifada, 1 January 2012
*[http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/hilary-aked/bbc-finally-admits-bias-over-pro-israel-commentator BBC finally admits bias over pro-Israel commentator], Electronic Intifada, 14 January 2015.

==Notes==
<references/>
[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-14T10:18:55Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Demonstrations */

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-14T09:11:13Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Facebook campaigns */

Shurat HaDin—Israel Law Center

2015-01-14T09:01:31Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: ICC move

[[File:Logo-shurat-final.gif|250px|right|thumb]]
'''Shurat HaDin—Israel Law Center''' (ILC) is an Israeli-based civil rights organization.<ref name="About us">[http://www.israellawcenter.org/page.asp?id=282&show=reports About us], Shurat HaDin-Israel Law Center, accessed 13 September 2013.</ref>

The Center was founded in 2003.<ref name="About us">[http://www.israellawcenter.org/page.asp?id=282&show=reports About us], Shurat HaDin-Israel Law Center, accessed 13 September 2013.</ref>

==Intelligence links==
The Center's website claims that it 'works together with western intelligence agencies'.<ref name="About us">[http://www.israellawcenter.org/page.asp?id=282&show=reports About us], Shurat HaDin-Israel Law Center, accessed 13 September 2013.</ref>

A leaked cable sent from the US embassy in Tel Aviv in 2007, records the following conversation with the center's director [[Nitsana Darshan-Leitner]], regarding its links to Israeli intelligence:
::Leitner said that in many of her cases she receives evidence from GOI officials, and added that in its early years ILC took direction from the GOI on which cases to pursue. "The National Security Council (NSC) legal office saw the use of civil courts as a way to do things that they are not authorized to do," claimed Leitner. Among her contacts, Leitner listed Udi Levy at the NSC and Uzi Beshaya at the Mossad, both key Embassy contacts on anti-terrorist finance cooperation. Leitner offered a case against Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) as example of ILC's close cooperation with the GOI. After obtaining a judgment against PIJ for NIS 100 million (USD 25 million), ILC requested a lien for that amount against the Abu Akker Trading Company as a third party defendant. At the time, Abu Akker was one of the largest Palestinian importing companies, and Leitner said the Mossad provided her with the intelligence (similar to information provided to USG officials in a classified briefing) to prove that the company was funneling money to PIJ. According to Leitner, the ILC now decides its cases independently, but continues to receive evidence and witnesses from Israeli intelligence.<ref>[http://www.cablegatesearch.net/cable.php?id=07TELAVIV2636 Israeli Ngo Sues Terrorists, Ties Up Pa Money], US Embassy Tel Aviv, 30 August 2007, released by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.</ref>

It is possible that the 'Uzi Beshaya' mentioned in the cable actually refers to [[Uzi Shaya]].

==Bank of China affair==
According to a report by ''Yediot Ahronot'', the Israeli government solicited Shurat HaDin to mount a case against the [[Bank of China]], and the Center found a plaintiff in the family of [[Daniel Wultz]], an American citizen killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber. Wultz's mother, [[Sheryl Cantor Wultz]], is a cousin of US House Majority Leader [[Eric Cantor]].<ref name="ChineseConundrum">[http://www.dcwfoundation.org/yediot071213.htm The Chinese Conundrum], ''Yediot Ahronot'', 12 July 2013, translated at the Daniel Wultz Foundation.</ref> ''Yediot Ahronot'' reported:
::In her discussions with the intelligence agents, Darshan Leitner insisted that she receives massive assistance from the government. She demanded convicting information on the bank activities, affidavits from authorized people and a commitment to provide for the trial an authorized witness that will say that the Chinese knew about the nature of the accounts and refused to close them. The consent was given – orally.<ref name="ChineseConundrum">[http://www.dcwfoundation.org/yediot071213.htm The Chinese Conundrum], ''Yediot Ahronot'', 12 July 2013, translated at the Daniel Wultz Foundation.</ref>

''Haaretz'' reported of the case that "Israel, which approached the Wultz family and suggested filing the suits, promised that it would supply documents and affidavits by former senior Israeli defense officials, including Uzi Shaya, testifying that the Chinese were specifically warned as to the use of these specific bank accounts a year prior to the terror attack."<ref>Amos Harel and Rutie Zuta, [http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.536040 The Bank of China affair - Father of American teen killed in terror attack: Israel is trying to sabotage our case], ''Haaretz'', 17 July 2013.</ref>

The Israeli government reportedly withdrew permission for former security official [[Uzi Shaya]] to testify in the case, following Chinese pressure.<ref name="ChineseConundrum">[http://www.dcwfoundation.org/yediot071213.htm The Chinese Conundrum], ''Yediot Ahronot'', 12 July 2013, translated at the Daniel Wultz Foundation.</ref>

==BDS litigation==
In August 2013, the ''Australian Jewish News'' reported that Shurat HaDin has lodged an official complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission against Associate Professor Jake Lynch, the director of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at Sydney University, over Lynch's support of the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.<ref>[http://www.jewishnews.net.au/racism-complaint-launched-against-bds-activist-lynch/32028 Racism complaint launched against BDS activist Lynch], ''Australian Jewish News'', 13 August 2013.</ref>

==ICC==

In December 2014, the [[Palestinian Authority]] (PA) signed the Rome Statute, paving the way for Palestinian membership of the [[International Criminal Court]] (ICC).<ref>'[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-30645462 Palestinians sign up to join International Criminal Court], BBC (31 December, 2014).</ref> The move was condemned by the US<ref>Michael Wilner, '[http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/US-deeply-troubled-by-counter-productive-move-towards-ICC-membership-386290 US 'deeply troubled' by 'counter-productive' move towards ICC membership]', Jerusalem Post (31 December, 2014).</ref> and by Israel, which withheld PA tax revenues in retaliation.<ref>'[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2015/01/us-opposes-israeli-freeze-pa-tax-revenues-20151614832204731.html US opposes Israeli freeze on PA tax revenues]', Al Jazeera (6 January, 2015).</ref>

In November 2014, Shurat HaDin had filed a war crimes complaint with the ICC against PA President [[Mahmoud Abbas]], following an earlier such complain against [[Hamas]]'s [[Khaled Meshaal]]. The complaint alleged violations of international law by armed groups affiliated to [[Fatah]] (Abbas's party), in the form of rocket attacks on Israel during 2014's [[Operation Protective Edge]]. Shurat HaDin threatened further complaints should the PA proceed to sign the Rome Statute.<ref>Yonah Jeremy Bob, '[http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Shurat-Hadin-files-war-crimes-complaint-against-Abbas-with-ICC-381312 Shurat Hadin files war crimes complaint against Abbas with ICC]', Jerusalem Post (10 November, 2014); Shurat Hadin, '[http://israellawcenter.org/legal_action/icc-action-mahmoud-abbas/ ICC Action: Mahmoud Abbas], IsraelLawCenter.org [accessed: 14 January 2015, at 08:51].</ref>

This deterrent having failed, Shurat HaDin responded to Abbas's signing of the Statute by filing war crimes complaints in January 2015 against [[Palestine Liberation Organisation]] (PLO) leaders [[Jibril Rajoub]], [[Majid Faraj]] and [[Rami Hamdallah]] (the current Palestinian prime minister). The AP described the move as 'a longshot'.<ref>'[http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/01/05/world/middleeast/ap-ml-israel-palestinians-war-crimes.html?_r=1 Israeli Group Files War Crimes Claim Against Palestinians]', Associated Press (5 January, 2015).</ref>

==Affiliations and Alliances==
Pro-Israel watchdog [[HonestReporting]] notes in its 2007 report that it had worked with [[Shurat Hadin]]:
:June: HR, working with Shurat HaDin (The Israel Law Center) took on the ''[[New York Times]]'', ''[[LA Times]]'' and ''[[Washington Post]]'', raising the legality of publishing op-eds by [[Hamas]] terrorists.<ref>Honest Reporting [http://www.guidestar.org/ViewEdoc.aspx?eDocId=1116768&approved=True 2007 in Review] 2008, p. 6.</ref>

==Funding==
Shurat HaDin notes on its 'donatons' page that 'Donations are needed to assist in the funding of the terror victim litigation against the Palestinian terrorist organizations, their leaders and financial patrons. The donations will permit the survivors of the hundreds of killed and injured to seek justice and compensation through the court systems around the world.'<ref name="donations">Shurat HaDin [http://www.israellawcenter.org/page.asp?id=291 Donations]. Accessed 2 August 2014.</ref> Noting that it is 'a fully independent non-profit organization, unaffiliated with any political party or governmental body', Shurat HaDin lists three ways to donate, in the US, Canada and directly to their office in Israel.<ref name="donations"/> In the US funds are directed to be paid to the [[Central Fund of Israel]] and in Canada paid to '[[Gates of Mercy]]'. Donors are advised to 'earmark it to Shurat HaDin' In both cases payment should be sent to the [[Berkman Law Office]] 111 Livingston St., Suite 1928, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA.<ref name="donations"/>

==Resources==
*Tom Griffin and David Miller, [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/component/k2/item/5550-bds-campaigner-targeted-by-law-firm-with-links-to-israeli-intelligence BDS campaigner targeted by law firm with links to Israeli intelligence], Spinwatch, 5 October 2013

==Notes==
<references/>

[[Category:Israel]][[Category:Israel Lobby]]

StandWithUs

2015-01-14T08:34:59Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Creative Community for Peace */

[[Image:StandWithUS Situation Room 2.JPG|thumb|500px|right|The "[[Stand With Us]]" situation room at the [[Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya]] during operation 'Cast Lead'. The poster in the background depicts children in Gaza as potential terrorists. According to UNICEF some 431 children were killed and 1,872 wounded during the Israeli assault. <ref>UNICEF News note, '[http://www.unicef.org/media/media_49515.html Situation of children in Gaza remains precarious 100 days after end of conflict]', 28 April 2009</ref>]]
[[StandWithUs]] is a pro-Israel advocacy organisation.

StandWithUs was founded in Los Angeles in 2001 by [[Roz Rothstein]], her husband [[Jerry Rothstein]] and [[Esther Renzer]].<ref>Michael C. Duke, [http://www.jhvonline.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=96&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=9075&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1291&hn=jhvonline&he=.com Nine years and growing: StandWithUs building network to stand up for Israel and democracy], Jewish Herald-Voice, 27 May 2010.</ref>

The StandWithUs website describes its role as follows:
::StandWithUs is an international education organization that ensures that Israel's side of the story is told in communities, campuses, libraries, the media and churches through brochures, speakers, conferences, missions to Israel, and thousands of pages of Internet resources.<ref>[http://www.standwithus.com/ABOUT/ About], standwithus.com, accessed 18 June 2009.</ref>

The ''Middle East Times'' claimed in March 2009 that StandWithUs had been established by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.<ref>Mel Frykberg, [http://www.metimes.com/International/2009/03/11/israel_launches_new_soft_war/4604/ Israel Launches New 'Soft War'], Middle East Times, 11 March 2009.</ref>

StandWithUs is a sponsor of [[HelpUsWin.org]], a pro-Israel social networking campaign launched at the [[IDC Herzliya]] during the Israeli offensive in Gaza in January 2009.<ref>[http://www.helpuswin.org/ Help Us Win], accessed 18 June 2009.</ref><ref>Jessica Freiman, [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1230733174162 IDC students work to win media war], Jerusalem Post, 4 January 2009.</ref>

==Activities==

===Social Media Ambassadors===

In January 2015, Israeli media website The Seventh Eye reported that the Israeli [[Prime Minister's Office]] (PMO) is to pay StandWithUs (SWU) $254,000 in matching funds 'for a year-long program to disseminate hasbara, or official Israeli spin, in times of routine as well as crisis'. During Israel's recent attacks on Gaza, the PMO's [[National Information Directorate]] (NID) paid students to promote Israeli talking points online, with '"war rooms" set up on Israeli campuses'. SWU's 'Social Media Ambassadors' program is 'an expansion' of this, and will see SWU and the NID 'train Israeli, American and British students to carry out this task'.<ref name="PMO">'[http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.636953 Prime Minister's Office hires rightist Israel advocacy group for 1 million shekels]', Ha'aretz (13 January, 2015).</ref>

[[Yarden Vatikay]], NID director, said,

<blockquote>We saw during Operation Protective Edge the energy and dedication of young people who took to social media to share their experiences of living under Hamas rocket fire. This program aims to empower people with skills so they can convey their first-hand experiences about Israel to a wide audience on social media.<ref name="PMO" /></blockquote>

SWU head [[Michael Dickson]] said,

<blockquote>This is an exciting opportunity for young people to volunteer and learn for themselves about the best way to communicate Israel's message. Too often, those who know the truth about Israel's actions, especially in times of conflict, are drowned out by voices spreading misinformation on the Internet. This program could remedy that.<ref name="PMO" /></blockquote>

===Creative Community for Peace===
StandWithUs is behind the group [[Creative Community for Peace]] (CCFP) which works to counter the cultural boycott of Israel in Hollywood and beyond. SWU has channeled donations to CCFP, shares an office with it, registered its name (along with 'Israel Emergency Network' or 'Israel Emergency Alliance') and website and has a closely overlapping board. While SWU is outspokenly pro-Israel, CCFP claims it is non-political and seeking only to stop restrictions on the exchange of music and the arts.<ref>Phan Nguyen, [http://mondoweiss.net/2013/10/apolitical-organization-combatting.html '"Apolitical" arts organization combatting BDS is front for pro-settler group tied to Israeli foreign ministry'], Mondoweiss, 24 October 2013, accessed 9 September 2014</ref>

CCFP is a 501(c)3 organization that does business under the name [[Israel Emergency Alliance]]<ref>'[http://tinyurl.com/n73m3t3 Support Us]', CreativeCommunityforPeace.com (accessed 14 September, 2014)</ref>, aka StandWithUs. 

After a number of high profile celebrities expressed public criticism of Israel and/or sympathy for Gaza during 'Operation Protective Edge' (Jul-Aug 2014), Creative Community for Peace published a statement signed by nearly 200 entertainment industry workers condemning Hamas for its '[ideology] of hatred and genocide, its rocket attacks on Israel and for holding Gazans 'hostage':

<blockquote>Hospitals are for healing, not for [http://www.timesofisrael.com/finnish-tv-rockets-fired-from-gaza-hospital/ hiding weapons]. Schools are for learning, not for [http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-strongly-condemns-placement-rockets-school launching missiles]. Children are our hope, not our human [http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/496965/Gaza-ceasefire-ends-Hamas-fires-rockets-Israel-retaliates?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-world-news+(Daily+Express+%3A%3A+World+Feed) shields].<ref>'[http://tinyurl.com/n68hfhk Statement from Creative Community for Peace and Friends]', Creative Community for Peace; links in original. Cf. '[http://tinyurl.com/mxy6mof Nearly 200 Hollywood stars sign petition supporting Israel]', The Tower (25 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

Signatories included Kelsey Grammer, [[Haim Saban]], Ziggy Marley, Seth Rogen, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

On 13 September 2014 CCFP published the statement, along with a list of signatories, as a full page ad on p. A7 of the New York Times.<ref>Zach Noble, '[http://tinyurl.com/lvd7ypo Think Hollywood Is Anti-Israel? Page A7 of Saturday’s New York Times Might Make You Reconsider]', The Blaze (13 September, 2014),</ref> The statement was also reportedly published in Billboard, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline Hollywood.<ref>'[http://tinyurl.com/pmms6yz Pro-Israel Ad Signed by 300 Hollywood Professionals and Celebrities Appears in The New York Times]', The Tower (14 September, 2014).</ref> 

CCFP's website at this time included a special thank you message to the [[Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles]] for a 'Cutting Edge' grant 'that is allowing us to expand our work'. 

==Affiliates==
*[[International Advisory Board for Academic Freedom]]
*[[StandWithUs International]]
*[[Creative Community for Peace]]

==External Resources==
*Eli Clifton, [http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10847.shtml StandWithUs money trail reveals neocon funders], Electronic Intifada, 22 October 2009.
*Nathan Guttman, [http://forward.com/articles/185825/hollywood-insiders-form-group-to-counter-celebrity/ Hollywood Insiders Form Group To Counter Celebrity BDS Campaigns], published 22 October 2013, issue of 25 October 2013.
*[http://adalahny.org/press-release/1191/did-la-pro-israel-group-conceal-right-wing-identity-hollywood-celebs-and-media Did LA pro-Israel group conceal right-wing identity from Hollywood celebs and media?], Adalah-NY, 2 September 2014.
*Phan Nguyen, [http://mondoweiss.net/2013/10/apolitical-organization-combatting.html '"Apolitical" arts organization combatting BDS is front for pro-settler group tied to Israeli foreign ministry'], Mondoweiss, 24 October 2013.

==People==
*[[Roz Rothstein]] - Executive Director
*[[Dani Klein]] - Campus Coordinator-East Coast

==Notes==
<references/>

[[Category:Israel Lobby]]

Jonathan Sacerdoti

2015-01-14T08:24:34Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Campaign Against Antisemitism */

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption="Sacerdoti on Sky News defending Israel's actions the day after its 2010 raid on the Gaza flotilla">2zrJvumvsFQ</youtube>

'''Jonathan Sacerdoti''' is a Director of the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]]<ref>[http://instmed.org/about_us/ About Us], IMED, accessed 16 July 2012</ref> based in the UK and is also registered as a director of a UK branch of the [[Simon Wiesenthal Centre]], alongside [[Marvin Hier]] - founder and dean of the orginal centre, based in the USA - and others.<ref>[http://companycheck.co.uk/company/03042000 SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM], Company Check, accessed 19 July 2012</ref> He has also worked as Director of Public Affairs at the [[Zionist Federation]]<ref>[http://zionistfederation.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/zionist-federation-condemns-tuc.html ZIONIST FEDERATION CONDEMNS TUC CONGRESS APPROVAL OF DISCRIMINATORY BOYCOTT OF ISRAELI GOODS], Zionist Federation News, accessed 19 July 2012</ref> and is currently a member of the International Division of the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]. Since August 2014, Sacerdoti has been the spokesperson for the [[Campaign Against Antisemitism UK]].<ref name="Who">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

==Education==
Sacerdoti studied English Language and Literature at Balliol College, Oxford University.<ref>[http://www.yatedo.com/p/Jonathan+Sacerdoti/normal/6984f42b8627a6e75f3e5055f70cc015 Jonathan Sacerdoti], Yatedo, accessed 16 November 2012</ref>
[[File:Jonathan Sacerdoti - United Kingdom - LinkedIn.png|thumb|right|300px|[[Jonathan Sacerdoti]], LinkedIn profile which fails to mention his roles at the [[Zionist Federation]] and the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]. It was removed just hours after [http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza an article] mentioning these oversights was published. Screengrab taken 16 November 2012]]

==Activities==
In 4 May 2010 Sacerdoti reportedly spoke publicly about ‘ways to use Facebook, Twitter and other online resources to advocate for Israel’ at a Zionist Federation Israel advocacy event called 'Talk for Israel'.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:How_to_advocate_for_israel.jpg How to advocate for Israel], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 1 June 2010, the day after nine activists on the Mavi Marmara were killed by the Israeli military, Sacerdoti appeared on Sky News and Al Jazeera defending Israel's actions.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT8ZtjNheMk&list=UUV1sX9BjwRt0ZduDc1Umm2A&index=24&feature=plcp Jonathan Sacerdoti on Al Jazeera discussing the Gaza flotilla incident] Youtube via MrJonSac, 1 June 2010, accessed 16 November 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysbCX9NLeS8&list=UUV1sX9BjwRt0ZduDc1Umm2A&index=20&feature=plcp Jonathan Sacerdoti, live interview on Sky News regarding the flotilla incident], Youtube via MrJonSac, 1 June 2010, accessed 16 November 2012</ref>

On 6 July 2010 Sacerdoti met Israeli President [[Shimon Peres]]. He uploaded a picture of himself shaking hands with Peres, with the caption 'Jonathan Sacerdoti, of Her Majesty’s Secret Service’.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Meeting_shimon_peres_flickr.jpg Sacerdoti meeting Peres], Flickr Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 30 November 2012 Sacerdoti collaborated with [[Gili Brenner]] of [[StandWithUs]] to make a video for what they called 'Buy Israeli Goods Day', intended to counter the boycott divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Buy_israeli_goods_w_gili_brenner_swu.jpg Sacerdoti and Brenner video], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 24 February 2011 he met [[Ron Prosor]], former Israeli ambassador to the UK. A picture of him with Prosor, [[Gili Brenner]] of [[StandWithUs]] and pro-Israel blogger [[Chas Newkey-Burden]] was posted on the latter's website.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Sacerdoti_prosor.jpg Sacerdoi with Prosor], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 28 August 2011 Sacerdoti attended and spoke at a pro-Israel rally in Trafalgar Square organised by the [[British Israel Coalition]] and supported by [[StandWithUs]].<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Rally_for_israel.jpg Sacerdoti at pro-Israel rally], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

In July 2012, Sacerdoti was elected to the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]] International Division.<ref>[http://www.bod.org.uk/live/content.php?Item_ID=130&Blog_ID=425 Results of Board Divisional Elections], Board of Deputies of British Jews, accessed 31 July 2012</ref>

==Defending Israel in the media==
===Appearances on the BBC during Operation 'Pillar of Cloud'===
[[File:Aje w zf caption.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Jonathan Sacerdoti on Al Jazeera on 1 June 2010 defending Israel's attack on the flotilla for the [[Zionist Federation]]. He was opposed by another guest, Palestinian Ghada Karmi. Screengrab taken 15 November 2012]]
[[File:Jonathan Sacerdoti on discussing killing of Ahmed Jabri.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] on BBC News on 14 November 2012 where as director of the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]] he was given an unchallenged platform to defend Israel's 'Operation Pillar of Cloud'. Screengrab taken 15 November 2012]]

Sacerdoti appeared on BBC news programmes four times in two days between 14-15 November 2012 and was described as being from the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]] giving the impression that he was a neutral expert on the region. Each time he defended Israel's attacks on Gaza and each time no alternative perspective was given by the BBC.<ref>[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza/ Who is Jonathan Sacerdoti, the BBC’s Go-To Man on Gaza?], New Left Project, 16 November 2012, accessed 17 November 2012</ref>

==Campaign Against Antisemitism==

The [[Campaign Against Antisemitism]] was established in early August 2014 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the higher levels of anti-Israel and allegedly anti-Jewish sentiment triggered by Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge' operation in Gaza.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> Jonathan Sacerdoti is its spokesperson<ref name="Who" /> and 'Director of Communications'.<ref>CAA, [http://antisemitism.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Annual-Antisemitism-Barometer-Report.pdf Annual Antisemitism Barometer: 2015 Full Report].</ref> On 31 August 2014 the group reportedly organised a march against antisemitism of 4,000 people in Central London, backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. Said Jonathan Sacerdoti of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

Sacerdoti was widely quoted in the media speaking about the 31 August rally. He urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref>

==Affiliations==
*[[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]
*[[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]]
*[[Simon Wiesenthal Centre]]
*[[Zionist Federation]]
* [[Campaign Against Anti-Semitism]]

==Resources==
*[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza Who is Jonathan Sacerdoti, the BBC’s Go-To Man on Gaza?], New Left Project, 16 November 2012
*[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/former_zionist_federation_official_on_the_run Former Zionist Federation Official on the Run], New Left Project, 17 November 2012.
*Ben White, [http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ben-white/numbers-speak-themselves The Numbers Speak for Themselves], Electronic Intifada, 1 January 2012

==Notes==
<references/>
[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-14T08:22:03Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Antisemitism poll */

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-14T08:21:23Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* People */

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2015-01-14T08:19:12Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner: /* Activities */

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2014-09-16T08:53:55Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner:

The Campaign Against Antisemitism UK (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref>

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the Board of Deputies. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* 7 August, 2014: the group staged a protest outside the Tricycle Theatre against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* 31 August, 2014: the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson Sacerdoti urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* 4 September, 2014: CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

As of mid-September 2014, the most recent post on the CAA [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com website] was dated 25 August.

Its [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 16 September 2014 has 5,742 likes, is more active. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. Said CAA spokesperson Jonathan Sacerdoti of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's website lists nine organisers.<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

Campaign Committee

* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Gideon Falter]]
* [[Nussi Hopstein]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

Spokesman

* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2014-09-16T08:53:19Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner:

The Campaign Against Antisemitism UK (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampainAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref>

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the Board of Deputies. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* 7 August, 2014: the group staged a protest outside the Tricycle Theatre against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* 31 August, 2014: the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson Sacerdoti urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* 4 September, 2014: CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774 Facebook post], (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

As of mid-September 2014, the most recent post on the CAA [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com website] was dated 25 August.

Its [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 16 September 2014 has 5,742 likes, is more active. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] update (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that one outed tweeter's employer had reminded him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. Said CAA spokesperson Jonathan Sacerdoti of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's website lists nine organisers.<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

Campaign Committee

* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Gideon Falter]]
* [[Nussi Hopstein]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

Spokesman

* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Campaign Against Antisemitism UK

2014-09-16T08:48:38Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner:

The Campaign Against Antisemitism UK (CAA) was established in early August 2014. Its stated mission is to '[empower] individuals to counter antisemitism in all its forms, including both classical antisemitism as well as antisemitism which masquerades as political opposition to Israel'.<ref name="About">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/about-us/ About Us]', CampainAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014 at 7.49am.</ref>

==Establishment==

The CAA was established 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the alleged increase in the presence of anti-Israel and antisemitic behaviour and sentiment in the UK.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> It was set up in early August 2014, during Israel's '[[Operation Protective Edge]]' operation in Gaza.

==Activities==

The CAA presents itself as a grassroots direct-action alternative or supplement to the quieter, and for some British Jews complacent, approach supposedly taken by the Board of Deputies. Says the CAA:

<blockquote>Alongside the traditional channels (reporting antisemitism to the police and community security trust). We believe the community must also take direct action to combat the increasing hostility Anglo-Jewry is experiencing.

We counter antisemitic protests, seek out antisemites online and apply direct pressure to organisations and institutions that enable antisemitism in the UK.<ref name="About" /></blockquote>

The group is primarily active online, but has also organised several demonstrations:

* 7 August, 2014: the group staged a protest outside the Tricycle Theatre against its dropping of the UK Jewish Film Festival, which is funded by the Israeli state.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121189/uk-jewish-film-festival-banned UK Jewish Film Festival banned from the Tricycle Theatre: But some won’t attack boycott], Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref> It claimed an attendance of 350 people.<ref>CAA, [Facebook post https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449493075329630/?type=1] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.05am.</ref> Other sources reported 'more than 100'<ref>Anna Dubuis, Louise Jury and Alexandra Rucki, '[http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/huge-protest-calling-on-boycott-of-tricycle-theatre-over-jewish-film-festival-ban-9655430.html Huge protest calling on boycott of Tricycle Theatre over Jewish Film Festival ban], Evening Standard (7 August, 2014).</ref> and 'around 250'.<ref>Sandy Rashty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/121281/demonstrators-tricycle-protest-against-uk-jewish-film-festival-boycott Demonstrators at Tricycle protest against UK Jewish Film Festival boycott]', Jewish Chronicle (7 August, 2014).</ref>

* 31 August, 2014: the CAA organised a rally against antisemitism, billed as a 'Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism',<ref>CAA, '[https://www.facebook.com/events/1485391318385133/?ref=22 Rally to Demand Zero Tolerance of Antisemitism]', Facebook event page (22 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.25am.</ref>. The organisers reported an attendance of 4,500<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism# Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 9.36am.</ref> in Central London, and was backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. CAA spokesperson Sacerdoti urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref> Speakers at the rally included Chief Rabbi [[Ephraim Mirvis]], [[Maajid Nawaz]] (founder, [[Quilliam Foundation]]), Rabbi [[Laura Janner Klausner]] (senior Rabbi, Reform Judaism), Rabbi [[Josef Dwek]] (senior Rabbi, Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation), [[Bernie Yaffe]] (of [[Manchester Friends of Israel]], [[Gerry Gable]] (former editor of the anti-fascist [[Searchlight]] magazine), [[Stephen Pack]] (president, [[United Synagogue]], the Board of Deputies' [[Vivian Wineman]] (president) and [[Laura Marks]] (vice-president) and neoconservative commentator [[Douglas Murray]]. Its "media partner" was [[Jewish News]].<ref>'[http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/pictures-thousands-rally-zero-tolerance-anti-semitism/ IN PICTURES: Thousands rally for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism], Jewish News (2 September, 2014); CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1469354923343445 Facebook post] (31 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.40am.</ref> The day after the rally, Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] expressed concern over 'growing reports of antisemitism on our own streets here in Britain'.<ref>'[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAfAQ030OQ Following Campaign Against Antisemitism's rally, David Cameron speaks out against antisemitism]', YouTube video (uploaded 1 September, 2014, by Jonathan Sacerdoti); accessed: 16 September 2014, at 9.43am.</ref>

* 4 September, 2014: CAA members staged a counter-protest against a demo by the 'increasingly hostile BDS movement' outside Marks & Spencer's in Marble Arch. They report being 'subjected to a range of antisemitic abuse', including 'Nazi salutes', and that 'a number of arrests followed'.<ref>CAA, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1472388299706774">Facebook post</a>, (5 September, 13:05).</ref>

As of mid-September 2014, the most recent post on the CAA [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com website] was dated 25 August.

Its [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism Facebook group], which as of 16 September 2014 has 5,742 likes, is more active. It was set up on 1 August, 2014. As well as sharing links about antisemitism and protests against Israel, it organises online 'Action Campaign[s]' and 'Call[s] to Action'. Issues have included:

* Antisemitic tweets: the FB group posts images of tweet deemed antisemitic and urges followers to contact report their authors to the police and to their employers.<ref>See, for instance, CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1448324822113122/?type=1 Facebook post] (4 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8:51am. In a [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1449115878700683/?type=1 6 August, 2014] updated (accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.58am), the CAA reported that the tweeter's employer had reminder him of 'their Social Media policy and Code of Conduct', and that he had been reported to the police. 'Hopefully' he 'will learn his lesson'. Cf. [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449344668677804 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 9.04am); [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448428615436076.1073741831.1447162368896034/1449503665328571/?type=1 Facebook post] (7 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.10am.</ref>

* Tricycle Theatre: Tricycle Theatre refused to host the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish film festival; the CAA called for a 7 August 2014 protest against this echo of 'the Nazi boycott of Jewish enterprise after Hitler's election'.<ref>CAA, [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1448836702061934 Facebook post] (5 August, 2014); accessed: 16 September, 2014, at 8.56am.</ref>

* Counter-boycott: the CAA urged support for the Kedem cosmetics shop in Manchester, targeted by some Palestinian activists for boycott. The CAA tried to show that much of the activism was motivated by antisemitism.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [17 August, 2014 https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455640774714860]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1453198331625771 14 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1452401721705432/?type=1 13 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1449039595374978 6 August, 2014]; accessed: 16 September, 2014, 9.21am.</ref> (On 22 August, 2014, Greater Manchester Police imposed restrictions on Gaza protestors in Manchester.<ref>Todd Fitzgerald, '[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gaza-protesters-banned-king-street-7656796 Gaza protesters banned from King Street after weeks of demonstrations]', Manchester Evening News (22 August, 2014).</ref>

* Sainsbury's kosher drop: CAA was one of a number of groups organising protest, primarily online protest, against the decision by a Sainsbury's store in Holborn to remove kosher food items from its shelves in advance of a pro-Palestinian protest.<ref>See, e.g., CAA Facebook posts on [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/photos/a.1448332605445677.1073741830.1447162368896034/1455285438083727/?type=1 17 August, 2014]; [https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism/posts/1455809894697948 18 August, 2014] accessed 16 September, 2014, at 9.23 am.</ref>

==Anglo-Jewish politics==

As noted, the CAA's 31 August, 2014 rally against antisemitism in London was supported by the United Synagogue and Board of Deputies. Said CAA spokesperson Jonathan Sacerdoti of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

The [[Community Security Trust]] (CST), the most important UK Jewish organisation concerned with (inter alia) monitoring antisemitism, reacted coolly to the CAA. CST deputy director of communication [[Dave Rich]] observed that, while the frequency of antisemitic incidents spiked during Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge', 'a lot of anti-Israel language and activism isn’t anti-Semitic or illegal'.<ref name="Peled" /> Of the two grievances that CAA has concentrated on<ref>As of 16 September, 2014, they were the only specific issues to be granted their own Categories on the CAA website: [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/sainsburys-holborn/ Sainsbury's Holborn] and [http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/category/tricycle-theatre/ Tricycle Theatre].</ref> - the Tricycle Theatre's dropping of the Israeli state-funded UK Jewish Film Festival and a decision by a Sainsbury's supermarket in Holborn to remove kosher food from display lest it provoke pro-Palestinian protestors - Rich stressed that these were 'very much isolated incidents... bad decisions quickly overturned'.<ref name="Peled" /> Rich also played down suggestions that antisemitism was a significant motor of popular protest against Israel's attack on Gaza: 'Examples of anti-Semitism at the demos did exist, on the fringes, with home-made banners – it didn’t characterize the demos as a whole'. He added that protests against 'Protective Edge' were much better than those against 'Operation Cast Lead' in 2008-9.<ref name="Peled" />

==People==

The CAA's website lists nine organisers.<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

Campaign Committee

* [[Mandy Blumenthal]]
* [[Darren Borg]]
* [[Justin Chorn]]
* [[Joseph Cohen]]
* [[Gideon Falter]]
* [[Nussi Hopstein]]
* [[Jordan Jay]]
* [[Rupert Nathan]]

Spokesman

* [[Jonathan Sacerdoti]]

==Contact==
:Website: http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/
:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignagainstantisemitism

==Notes==
<references/>

[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Jonathan Sacerdoti

2014-09-16T07:45:53Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner:

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption="Sacerdoti on Sky News defending Israel's actions the day after its 2010 raid on the Gaza flotilla">2zrJvumvsFQ</youtube>

'''Jonathan Sacerdoti''' is a Director of the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]]<ref>[http://instmed.org/about_us/ About Us], IMED, accessed 16 July 2012</ref> based in the UK and is also registered as a director of a UK branch of the [[Simon Wiesenthal Centre]], alongside [[Marvin Hier]] - founder and dean of the orginal centre, based in the USA - and others.<ref>[http://companycheck.co.uk/company/03042000 SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM], Company Check, accessed 19 July 2012</ref> He has also worked as Director of Public Affairs at the [[Zionist Federation]]<ref>[http://zionistfederation.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/zionist-federation-condemns-tuc.html ZIONIST FEDERATION CONDEMNS TUC CONGRESS APPROVAL OF DISCRIMINATORY BOYCOTT OF ISRAELI GOODS], Zionist Federation News, accessed 19 July 2012</ref> and is currently a member of the International Division of the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]. Since August 2014, Sacerdoti has been the spokesperson for the [[Campaign Against Antisemitism UK]].<ref name="Who">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

==Education==
Sacerdoti studied English Language and Literature at Balliol College, Oxford University.<ref>[http://www.yatedo.com/p/Jonathan+Sacerdoti/normal/6984f42b8627a6e75f3e5055f70cc015 Jonathan Sacerdoti], Yatedo, accessed 16 November 2012</ref>
[[File:Jonathan Sacerdoti - United Kingdom - LinkedIn.png|thumb|right|300px|[[Jonathan Sacerdoti]], LinkedIn profile which fails to mention his roles at the [[Zionist Federation]] and the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]. It was removed just hours after [http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza an article] mentioning these oversights was published. Screengrab taken 16 November 2012]]

==Activities==
In 4 May 2010 Sacerdoti reportedly spoke publicly about ‘ways to use Facebook, Twitter and other online resources to advocate for Israel’ at a Zionist Federation Israel advocacy event called 'Talk for Israel'.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:How_to_advocate_for_israel.jpg How to advocate for Israel], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 1 June 2010, the day after nine activists on the Mavi Marmara were killed by the Israeli military, Sacerdoti appeared on Sky News and Al Jazeera defending Israel's actions.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT8ZtjNheMk&list=UUV1sX9BjwRt0ZduDc1Umm2A&index=24&feature=plcp Jonathan Sacerdoti on Al Jazeera discussing the Gaza flotilla incident] Youtube via MrJonSac, 1 June 2010, accessed 16 November 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysbCX9NLeS8&list=UUV1sX9BjwRt0ZduDc1Umm2A&index=20&feature=plcp Jonathan Sacerdoti, live interview on Sky News regarding the flotilla incident], Youtube via MrJonSac, 1 June 2010, accessed 16 November 2012</ref>

On 6 July 2010 Sacerdoti met Israeli President [[Shimon Peres]]. He uploaded a picture of himself shaking hands with Peres, with the caption 'Jonathan Sacerdoti, of Her Majesty’s Secret Service’.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Meeting_shimon_peres_flickr.jpg Sacerdoti meeting Peres], Flickr Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 30 November 2012 Sacerdoti collaborated with [[Gili Brenner]] of [[StandWithUs]] to make a video for what they called 'Buy Israeli Goods Day', intended to counter the boycott divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Buy_israeli_goods_w_gili_brenner_swu.jpg Sacerdoti and Brenner video], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 24 February 2011 he met [[Ron Prosor]], former Israeli ambassador to the UK. A picture of him with Prosor, [[Gili Brenner]] of [[StandWithUs]] and pro-Israel blogger [[Chas Newkey-Burden]] was posted on the latter's website.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Sacerdoti_prosor.jpg Sacerdoi with Prosor], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 28 August 2011 Sacerdoti attended and spoke at a pro-Israel rally in Trafalgar Square organised by the [[British Israel Coalition]] and supported by [[StandWithUs]].<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Rally_for_israel.jpg Sacerdoti at pro-Israel rally], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

In July 2012, Sacerdoti was elected to the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]] International Division.<ref>[http://www.bod.org.uk/live/content.php?Item_ID=130&Blog_ID=425 Results of Board Divisional Elections], Board of Deputies of British Jews, accessed 31 July 2012</ref>

==Defending Israel in the media==
===Appearances on the BBC during Operation 'Pillar of Cloud'===
[[File:Aje w zf caption.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Jonathan Sacerdoti on Al Jazeera on 1 June 2010 defending Israel's attack on the flotilla for the [[Zionist Federation]]. He was opposed by another guest, Palestinian Ghada Karmi. Screengrab taken 15 November 2012]]
[[File:Jonathan Sacerdoti on discussing killing of Ahmed Jabri.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] on BBC News on 14 November 2012 where as director of the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]] he was given an unchallenged platform to defend Israel's 'Operation Pillar of Cloud'. Screengrab taken 15 November 2012]]

Sacerdoti appeared on BBC news programmes four times in two days between 14-15 November 2012 and was described as being from the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]] giving the impression that he was a neutral expert on the region. Each time he defended Israel's attacks on Gaza and each time no alternative perspective was given by the BBC.<ref>[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza/ Who is Jonathan Sacerdoti, the BBC’s Go-To Man on Gaza?], New Left Project, 16 November 2012, accessed 17 November 2012</ref>

==Campaign Against Antisemitism==

The [[Campaign Against Antisemitism]] was established in early August 2014 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the higher levels of anti-Israel and allegedly anti-Jewish sentiment triggered by Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge' operation in Gaza.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871 Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back]', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> Jonathan Sacerdoti is its spokesperson.<ref name="Who" /> On 31 August 2014 the group reportedly organised a march against antisemitism of 4,000 people in Central London, backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. Said Jonathan Sacerdoti of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism]', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '[http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/ Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism]', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

Sacerdoti was widely quoted in the media speaking about the 31 August rally. He urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '[http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say]', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref>

==Affiliations==
*[[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]
*[[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]]
*[[Simon Wiesenthal Centre]]
*[[Zionist Federation]]
* [[Campaign Against Anti-Semitism]]

==Resources==
*[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza Who is Jonathan Sacerdoti, the BBC’s Go-To Man on Gaza?], New Left Project, 16 November 2012
*[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/former_zionist_federation_official_on_the_run Former Zionist Federation Official on the Run], New Left Project, 17 November 2012.
*Ben White, [http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ben-white/numbers-speak-themselves The Numbers Speak for Themselves], Electronic Intifada, 1 January 2012

==Notes==
<references/>
[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Jonathan Sacerdoti

2014-09-16T07:44:52Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner:

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption="Sacerdoti on Sky News defending Israel's actions the day after its 2010 raid on the Gaza flotilla">2zrJvumvsFQ</youtube>

'''Jonathan Sacerdoti''' is a Director of the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]]<ref>[http://instmed.org/about_us/ About Us], IMED, accessed 16 July 2012</ref> based in the UK and is also registered as a director of a UK branch of the [[Simon Wiesenthal Centre]], alongside [[Marvin Hier]] - founder and dean of the orginal centre, based in the USA - and others.<ref>[http://companycheck.co.uk/company/03042000 SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM], Company Check, accessed 19 July 2012</ref> He has also worked as Director of Public Affairs at the [[Zionist Federation]]<ref>[http://zionistfederation.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/zionist-federation-condemns-tuc.html ZIONIST FEDERATION CONDEMNS TUC CONGRESS APPROVAL OF DISCRIMINATORY BOYCOTT OF ISRAELI GOODS], Zionist Federation News, accessed 19 July 2012</ref> and is currently a member of the International Division of the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]. Since August 2014, Sacerdoti has been the spokesperson for the [[Campaign Against Antisemitism UK]].<ref name="Who">'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

==Education==
Sacerdoti studied English Language and Literature at Balliol College, Oxford University.<ref>[http://www.yatedo.com/p/Jonathan+Sacerdoti/normal/6984f42b8627a6e75f3e5055f70cc015 Jonathan Sacerdoti], Yatedo, accessed 16 November 2012</ref>
[[File:Jonathan Sacerdoti - United Kingdom - LinkedIn.png|thumb|right|300px|[[Jonathan Sacerdoti]], LinkedIn profile which fails to mention his roles at the [[Zionist Federation]] and the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]. It was removed just hours after [http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza an article] mentioning these oversights was published. Screengrab taken 16 November 2012]]

==Activities==
In 4 May 2010 Sacerdoti reportedly spoke publicly about ‘ways to use Facebook, Twitter and other online resources to advocate for Israel’ at a Zionist Federation Israel advocacy event called 'Talk for Israel'.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:How_to_advocate_for_israel.jpg How to advocate for Israel], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 1 June 2010, the day after nine activists on the Mavi Marmara were killed by the Israeli military, Sacerdoti appeared on Sky News and Al Jazeera defending Israel's actions.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT8ZtjNheMk&list=UUV1sX9BjwRt0ZduDc1Umm2A&index=24&feature=plcp Jonathan Sacerdoti on Al Jazeera discussing the Gaza flotilla incident] Youtube via MrJonSac, 1 June 2010, accessed 16 November 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysbCX9NLeS8&list=UUV1sX9BjwRt0ZduDc1Umm2A&index=20&feature=plcp Jonathan Sacerdoti, live interview on Sky News regarding the flotilla incident], Youtube via MrJonSac, 1 June 2010, accessed 16 November 2012</ref>

On 6 July 2010 Sacerdoti met Israeli President [[Shimon Peres]]. He uploaded a picture of himself shaking hands with Peres, with the caption 'Jonathan Sacerdoti, of Her Majesty’s Secret Service’.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Meeting_shimon_peres_flickr.jpg Sacerdoti meeting Peres], Flickr Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 30 November 2012 Sacerdoti collaborated with [[Gili Brenner]] of [[StandWithUs]] to make a video for what they called 'Buy Israeli Goods Day', intended to counter the boycott divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Buy_israeli_goods_w_gili_brenner_swu.jpg Sacerdoti and Brenner video], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 24 February 2011 he met [[Ron Prosor]], former Israeli ambassador to the UK. A picture of him with Prosor, [[Gili Brenner]] of [[StandWithUs]] and pro-Israel blogger [[Chas Newkey-Burden]] was posted on the latter's website.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Sacerdoti_prosor.jpg Sacerdoi with Prosor], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 28 August 2011 Sacerdoti attended and spoke at a pro-Israel rally in Trafalgar Square organised by the [[British Israel Coalition]] and supported by [[StandWithUs]].<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Rally_for_israel.jpg Sacerdoti at pro-Israel rally], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

In July 2012, Sacerdoti was elected to the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]] International Division.<ref>[http://www.bod.org.uk/live/content.php?Item_ID=130&Blog_ID=425 Results of Board Divisional Elections], Board of Deputies of British Jews, accessed 31 July 2012</ref>

==Defending Israel in the media==
===Appearances on the BBC during Operation 'Pillar of Cloud'===
[[File:Aje w zf caption.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Jonathan Sacerdoti on Al Jazeera on 1 June 2010 defending Israel's attack on the flotilla for the [[Zionist Federation]]. He was opposed by another guest, Palestinian Ghada Karmi. Screengrab taken 15 November 2012]]
[[File:Jonathan Sacerdoti on discussing killing of Ahmed Jabri.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] on BBC News on 14 November 2012 where as director of the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]] he was given an unchallenged platform to defend Israel's 'Operation Pillar of Cloud'. Screengrab taken 15 November 2012]]

Sacerdoti appeared on BBC news programmes four times in two days between 14-15 November 2012 and was described as being from the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]] giving the impression that he was a neutral expert on the region. Each time he defended Israel's attacks on Gaza and each time no alternative perspective was given by the BBC.<ref>[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza/ Who is Jonathan Sacerdoti, the BBC’s Go-To Man on Gaza?], New Left Project, 16 November 2012, accessed 17 November 2012</ref>

==Campaign Against Antisemitism==

The [[Campaign Against Antisemitism]] was established in early August 2014 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the higher levels of anti-Israel and allegedly anti-Jewish sentiment triggered by Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge' operation in Gaza.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '<a href="http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871">Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back</a>', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> Jonathan Sacerdoti is its spokesperson.<ref name="Who" /> On 31 August 2014 the group reportedly organised a march against antisemitism of 4,000 people in Central London, backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. Said Jonathan Sacerdoti of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '<a href="http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism">Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism</a>', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '<a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/">Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism</a>', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

Sacerdoti was widely quoted in the media speaking about the 31 August rally. He urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '<a href="http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks">Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say</a>', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref>

==Affiliations==
*[[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]
*[[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]]
*[[Simon Wiesenthal Centre]]
*[[Zionist Federation]]
* [[Campaign Against Anti-Semitism]]

==Resources==
*[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza Who is Jonathan Sacerdoti, the BBC’s Go-To Man on Gaza?], New Left Project, 16 November 2012
*[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/former_zionist_federation_official_on_the_run Former Zionist Federation Official on the Run], New Left Project, 17 November 2012.
*Ben White, [http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ben-white/numbers-speak-themselves The Numbers Speak for Themselves], Electronic Intifada, 1 January 2012

==Notes==
<references/>
[[category:Israel Lobby]]

Jonathan Sacerdoti

2014-09-16T07:44:01Z

Jamie Stern-Weiner:

<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption="Sacerdoti on Sky News defending Israel's actions the day after its 2010 raid on the Gaza flotilla">2zrJvumvsFQ</youtube>

'''Jonathan Sacerdoti''' is a Director of the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]]<ref>[http://instmed.org/about_us/ About Us], IMED, accessed 16 July 2012</ref> based in the UK and is also registered as a director of a UK branch of the [[Simon Wiesenthal Centre]], alongside [[Marvin Hier]] - founder and dean of the orginal centre, based in the USA - and others.<ref>[http://companycheck.co.uk/company/03042000 SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM], Company Check, accessed 19 July 2012</ref> He has also worked as Director of Public Affairs at the [[Zionist Federation]]<ref>[http://zionistfederation.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/zionist-federation-condemns-tuc.html ZIONIST FEDERATION CONDEMNS TUC CONGRESS APPROVAL OF DISCRIMINATORY BOYCOTT OF ISRAELI GOODS], Zionist Federation News, accessed 19 July 2012</ref> and is currently a member of the International Division of the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]. Since August 2014, Sacerdoti has been the spokesperson for the [[Campaign Against Antisemitism UK]].<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref>

==Education==
Sacerdoti studied English Language and Literature at Balliol College, Oxford University.<ref>[http://www.yatedo.com/p/Jonathan+Sacerdoti/normal/6984f42b8627a6e75f3e5055f70cc015 Jonathan Sacerdoti], Yatedo, accessed 16 November 2012</ref>
[[File:Jonathan Sacerdoti - United Kingdom - LinkedIn.png|thumb|right|300px|[[Jonathan Sacerdoti]], LinkedIn profile which fails to mention his roles at the [[Zionist Federation]] and the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]. It was removed just hours after [http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza an article] mentioning these oversights was published. Screengrab taken 16 November 2012]]

==Activities==
In 4 May 2010 Sacerdoti reportedly spoke publicly about ‘ways to use Facebook, Twitter and other online resources to advocate for Israel’ at a Zionist Federation Israel advocacy event called 'Talk for Israel'.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:How_to_advocate_for_israel.jpg How to advocate for Israel], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 1 June 2010, the day after nine activists on the Mavi Marmara were killed by the Israeli military, Sacerdoti appeared on Sky News and Al Jazeera defending Israel's actions.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT8ZtjNheMk&list=UUV1sX9BjwRt0ZduDc1Umm2A&index=24&feature=plcp Jonathan Sacerdoti on Al Jazeera discussing the Gaza flotilla incident] Youtube via MrJonSac, 1 June 2010, accessed 16 November 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysbCX9NLeS8&list=UUV1sX9BjwRt0ZduDc1Umm2A&index=20&feature=plcp Jonathan Sacerdoti, live interview on Sky News regarding the flotilla incident], Youtube via MrJonSac, 1 June 2010, accessed 16 November 2012</ref>

On 6 July 2010 Sacerdoti met Israeli President [[Shimon Peres]]. He uploaded a picture of himself shaking hands with Peres, with the caption 'Jonathan Sacerdoti, of Her Majesty’s Secret Service’.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Meeting_shimon_peres_flickr.jpg Sacerdoti meeting Peres], Flickr Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 30 November 2012 Sacerdoti collaborated with [[Gili Brenner]] of [[StandWithUs]] to make a video for what they called 'Buy Israeli Goods Day', intended to counter the boycott divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Buy_israeli_goods_w_gili_brenner_swu.jpg Sacerdoti and Brenner video], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 24 February 2011 he met [[Ron Prosor]], former Israeli ambassador to the UK. A picture of him with Prosor, [[Gili Brenner]] of [[StandWithUs]] and pro-Israel blogger [[Chas Newkey-Burden]] was posted on the latter's website.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Sacerdoti_prosor.jpg Sacerdoi with Prosor], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

On 28 August 2011 Sacerdoti attended and spoke at a pro-Israel rally in Trafalgar Square organised by the [[British Israel Coalition]] and supported by [[StandWithUs]].<ref>[http://powerbase.info/index.php/File:Rally_for_israel.jpg Sacerdoti at pro-Israel rally], Screengrab made 15 November 2012</ref>

In July 2012, Sacerdoti was elected to the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]] International Division.<ref>[http://www.bod.org.uk/live/content.php?Item_ID=130&Blog_ID=425 Results of Board Divisional Elections], Board of Deputies of British Jews, accessed 31 July 2012</ref>

==Defending Israel in the media==
===Appearances on the BBC during Operation 'Pillar of Cloud'===
[[File:Aje w zf caption.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Jonathan Sacerdoti on Al Jazeera on 1 June 2010 defending Israel's attack on the flotilla for the [[Zionist Federation]]. He was opposed by another guest, Palestinian Ghada Karmi. Screengrab taken 15 November 2012]]
[[File:Jonathan Sacerdoti on discussing killing of Ahmed Jabri.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Jonathan Sacerdoti]] on BBC News on 14 November 2012 where as director of the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]] he was given an unchallenged platform to defend Israel's 'Operation Pillar of Cloud'. Screengrab taken 15 November 2012]]

Sacerdoti appeared on BBC news programmes four times in two days between 14-15 November 2012 and was described as being from the [[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]] giving the impression that he was a neutral expert on the region. Each time he defended Israel's attacks on Gaza and each time no alternative perspective was given by the BBC.<ref>[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza/ Who is Jonathan Sacerdoti, the BBC’s Go-To Man on Gaza?], New Left Project, 16 November 2012, accessed 17 November 2012</ref>

==Campaign Against Antisemitism==

The [[Campaign Against Antisemitism]] was established in early August 2014 'by half-a-dozen activists and funded by private donations', presenting itself as a response to the higher levels of anti-Israel and allegedly anti-Jewish sentiment triggered by Israel's 'Operation Protective Edge' operation in Gaza.<ref name="Peled">Daniella Peled, '<a href="http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/.premium-1.615871">Shaken by post-Gaza war hostility, U.K. Jews push back</a>', Ha'aretz (15 September, 2014).</ref> Jonathan Sacerdoti is its spokesperson.<ref>'[http://www.campaignagainstantisemitism.com/who-we-are/ Who we are]', CampaignAgainstAntisemitism.com; accessed: 16 September, 2014.</ref> On 31 August 2014 the group reportedly organised a march against antisemitism of 4,000 people in Central London, backed by the [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Office of the Chief Rabbi]]. Said Jonathan Sacerdoti of this backing: 'The establishment was very supportive; some might say they didn’t want to get left behind'.<ref name="Peled" /> On the day of the protest, he told a reporter,

<blockquote>It is great that the communal organisations who have been criticised for not doing enough have come on board and have supported us in organising an important day.<ref>Rosa Doherty, '<a href="http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/122055/thousands-turn-out-london-rally-against-antisemitism">Thousands turn out for London rally against antisemitism</a>', Jewish Chronicle (31 August, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

As Sacerdoti's comment suggests, and as Ha'aretz reports, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is an intervention in Anglo-Jewish politics.<ref name="Peled" /> Its context appears to be one of increasing grassroots discontent among Jewish and pro-Israel activists with the performance of communal bodies on Israel and antisemitism. As one newspaper reported:

<blockquote>At the rally, there was audible booing when the representatives of the [[Board of Deputies]] – President [[Vivian Wineman]] and Senior Vice President [[Laura Marks]] – ascended the podium to speak. The [[Jewish Chronicle]]’s [[Marcus Dysch]] tweeted that people were shouting things like 'you need to do more', 'resign', and 'shame'.<ref>Liam Hoare, '<a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-rally-in-london-against-rising-anti-semitism/">Thousands rally in London against rising anti-Semitism</a>', Times of Israel (1 September, 2014).</ref></blockquote>

Sacerdoti was widely quoted in the media speaking about the 31 August rally. He urged a 'zero tolerance' approach to 'turn the tide' of antisemitism, and claimed British Jews 'feel overlooked and not protected enough'.<ref>Anil Dawar, '<a href="http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/504090/Rallying-call-to-halt-anti-Semitic-attacks">Police must do more to tackle the rise of anti-Semitism, campaigners say</a>', Daily Express (28 August, 2014).</ref>

==Affiliations==
*[[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]
*[[Institute for Middle Eastern Democracy]]
*[[Simon Wiesenthal Centre]]
*[[Zionist Federation]]
* [[Campaign Against Anti-Semitism]]

==Resources==
*[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/who_is_jonathan_sacerdoti_the_bbcs_go_to_man_on_gaza Who is Jonathan Sacerdoti, the BBC’s Go-To Man on Gaza?], New Left Project, 16 November 2012
*[http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/former_zionist_federation_official_on_the_run Former Zionist Federation Official on the Run], New Left Project, 17 November 2012.
*Ben White, [http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ben-white/numbers-speak-themselves The Numbers Speak for Themselves], Electronic Intifada, 1 January 2012

==Notes==
<references/>
[[category:Israel Lobby]]

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