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Infamous anti-Israel activist Tony Greenstein called Jewish state 'Hitler's bastard offspring'
Exclusive: Chair of event responded: 'That was an excellent contribution and thank God it was a Jew that said it'
July 10, 2019 16:34
Exclusive: Chair of event responded: 'That was an excellent contribution and thank God it was a Jew that said it'
July 10, 2019 16:34Infamous anti-Israel activist Tony Greenstein called the Jewish state “Hitler’s bastard offspring” at an event dubbed the biggest celebration of Palestinian culture in Europe.
Mr Greenstein, who was expelled by Labour over his repeated use of the word "Zio", spoke at a session at last weekend’s Palestine Expo event at London’s Olympia entitled Britain, Zionism and Jewish Resistance to Israel chaired by Latifa Abouchakra, International Officer for the National Education Union.
Also on the panel were author and journalist David Cronin and Leah Levane, co-chair of pro-Corbyn fringe group Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) and a Labour Councillor.
In a recording, heard by the JC, Mr Greenstein says: “Nazi Germany in a sense built the state of Israel at a crucial time and you can actually say that the state of Israel today is Hitler’s bastard offspring because the ideology, the ideology that permeates Israel, Jewish racial supremacy, originated in the fascist states of Europe.”
Mr Greenstein, who is also an activist with the Labour Against The Witch-hunt group, adds: “What is Zionism?
"Zionism is a movement for Jewish racial supremacy. It imposes the needs of a Jewish racial state to the needs of Jews and that was what Haavara [Agreement] was about.
"When Haavara came in 1933 no one believed that it was going to end up in extermination, no one believed it, the view of the Zionists.”
He was roundly applauded for his comments by around 50 people in the room. Chair Ms Abouchakra then says: “Can I just say that that was an excellent contribution and thank God it was a Jew that said it."
Spotted on the front row were Jackie Walker, who was expelled by Labour over her comments about antisemitism and blogger Asa Winstanley, whom the party has suspended.
Ms Walker made an impromptu speech, saying “For any of the other people campaigning about the Labour Party and the issue of antisemitism they’ll all tell you that it appears that a disproportionate amount of Jews have actually been expelled and sanctioned by the Labour Party in an apparent attempt to quash antisemitism because of course this is not about race, this is not about race, this is about Zionism, antisemitism that is deep within the heart of the Labour Party is the antisemitism against anti-Zionist Jews and it’s really about time that we said this very clearly…
"I’d also like if there was any kind of historical aspect on this I’d like your comments.”
In one question from the floor to Ms Levane, an audience member rambled about the Haavara Agreement of 1933 and the formation of the Stern Gang in 1940, referring to "a Zionist settler gang" and how it was "helping fascists win the war" before asking: "So my question is could you help me with the parallels of Zionism and Fascism?”
Ms Levane responded saying: “I’m not an expert. Tony [Greenstein] however is, go see Tony he knows a lot more than I do.”
Ms Abouchakra later said to the panellists: “Zionism and fascism, can you make comments?”
The annual Palestine Expo event featured culture and heritage stalls, food and activities for children including a mosaic art stall to create a “beautiful images of Palestine using colorful mosaic pieces” and a theater event on the storytelling of “the popular Prophets in Palestine.”
There were also talks and panel discussions on numerous subjects including the Nation-State Law, the Great Return Marches taking place in Gaza and “decolonsing Palestine".
