A Sainsburys store in Holborn removed all its Kosher products yesterday. Apparently this was due to a fear of attacks – perhaps prompted by disgraceful scenes in a Birmingham Tesco. However it’s concerning that at least one member of staff gave the impression they thought the decision was political, motivated by opposition to Israel.
British as well as Israeli products were removed. Although staff may not have deliberately set out to remove all Kosher lines, even those from the UK, it’s certainly the case that not all boycotters seem much concerned by these distinctions. The CST’s Mark Gardner, responding to the violence in Birmingham, reported on the antisemitism infecting such protests.
Condemning the actions of the protestors, he said: ‘We have seen protestors claiming that all UK supermarkets are owned by Jews and that they give 25 per cent of their profits to the Israeli Army.
Now Sainsburys has stated that the shelves have been replenished. But, as Tal Ofer points out, the answer to safety concerns should be to ensure security is adequate, not cave in to those threatening violence.
habibi adds: have a look at Labour MP Shabana Mahmood gleefully taking part in street thuggery at another demonstration outside a Sainsbury’s.
This is Labour today.
More here.
FRONTBENCH Labour MP Shabana Mahmood called on activists at the weekend to take direct action against British firms that do business with Israel — lauding the success of a Birmingham protest which shut down a Sainsbury’s branch for five-and-a-half hours.
Ms Mahmood, the party’s shadow exchequer secretary to the Treasury, made the plea at a 150,000-strong rally for solidarity with the people of Gaza on Saturday.
She told crowds in London’s Hyde Park: “Just as powerful as our passion is the practical action we can all take to make our government sit up and take notice.
She pleaded with demonstrators to support the boycott movement and to lobby their MPs.
She said: “We lay down in Sainsbury’s in Birmingham and closed down a store for five-and-a-half hours at peak time on a Saturday.
