Community Security Trust
The Community Security Trust (CST) was set up in 1995 and given charitable status as an organisation created in order to 'protect the lives and security of the Jewish community'[1]. Mike Whine from the Board of Deputies of British Jews was a spokesman for the CST on its launch, he argued that 'There is an increasing terrorist threat. If you look at the attacks, they are not just against Israeli institutions, they are against Jewish institutions'[2]. Mike Whine describes the organisation as a 'Jewish neighbourhood watch scheme"[3]. The group was set up following the bombing of the Israeli embassy in London and the Joint Israel Appeal in Finchley the previous summer (1994)[4].
In 1997 Mike Whine described the group as 'A Jewish neighbourhood watch - with a little bit added'. The Independent reported that the CST 'trains bodyguards for Jews at risk from Arab or Fascist groups', Whine denied that they were a vigilante force arguing that 'We operate within the law, providing a deterrent force. We aren't a bunch of Rambos'[5].
Contents
Criticism
In 1997 Julia Bard from the Jewish Socialists Group argued that:
- The CST claims to be 'a Jewish neighbourhood watch with a little bit added'.
- This 'little bit added' is the surveillance and harassment of members of the Jewish community itself, especially those on the Left, who take issue with the political positions expressed by the self -proclaimed leaders of the community. As victims of their harassment, we have seen neither sophistication nor intelligence displayed by the officers of the CST and its forerunner, the Community Security Organisation (CSO).
- Many Jews resent the bullying style of the CST at Jewish events in mainstream public venues. Members of the Jewish Socialists' Group and other organisations have even been prevented from entering a range of 'public' events policed by the CSO/CST. These have included a Holocaust commemoration, meetings about Nazi war crimes and an Israeli film festival. The victims have been condemned as 'security risks', despite offering to leave bags and personal effects with security personnel. Many of those excluded have been told they are 'on file'. On what basis they are on file and who verifies that the[SIC] information is impossible to find out[6].
People
Contact, Resources, Publications, Notes
Contact
Resources
- Douglas Davies, British Jews fear they may be the next Neo-Nazi target, The Jerusalem Post, 27-April-1999
- JTA, Attacks on British Jews Soar, The Jerusalem Post, 5-February-2001
- Keith Poole, Increase in number of race attacks on Jews in Britain, The Evening Standard (London), 17-April-2002
- David Smith, Attacks on Jews soar in Britain, The Express, 17-April-2002
- Marie Woolf, Attacks on Jews increase by 15% in a year, The Independent, 21-February-2003
- Antony Lerman, How serious a threat is antisemitism?, The Guardian, 13 April 2009
CST publications
- Community Security Trust
- Antisemitic Incidents Report 2007
- Terrorist Incidents against Jewish Communities and Israeli Citizens Abroad 1968-2003
- Antisemitic Discourse Report 2007
Notes
- ↑ David Brindle and Alex Bellos, Jews set up defence force to combat terror attacks, The Guardian, 19-May-1995
- ↑ David Brindle and Alex Bellos, Jews set up defence force to combat terror attacks, The Guardian, 19-May-1995
- ↑ Steve Boggan, Jewish groups put security top of their agenda; A burgeoning defence force has won charitable status, The Independent, 20-May-1995
- ↑ James Cusick, Bomb Attacks: Five hurt as charity group is focus for second raid: Anti-terrorist police sifting through the wreckage of the car that contained the bomb which exploded in Finchley, north London, early yesterday, The Independent, 28-July-1994
- ↑ Barry Hugill, Jewish 'defence' force offers lessons, The Observer, 2-February-1997
- ↑ Julia Bard, Letter: When security becomes bullying, The Observer, 9-February-1997
- ↑ Dave Rich VIEWPOINT / 'Israel Lobby' book may have sinister impact in U.K. Last update - 00:00 12/11/2007, accessed 5 January 2009
