Israel supporters forced to leave trade union festival over safety fears

Pro-Israel activists were forced to pack up their stand at a trade union event in Bournemouth after being harassed by supporters of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Members of the Bournemouth Action for Israel (Bafi) grassroots group have claimed that their stand was defaced and they were verbally abused by PSC supporters at the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ festival last weekend.

Holocaust survivor Henry Schachter, a co-founder of Bafi, recalled: “We knew that it was likely to be an unwelcoming event, but the PSC has been there for years. That’s why the trade unions are the way they are.

“They moved towards us from the PSC stand shouting and screaming. It was very intimidating.”

The group's pro-Israel leaflets were thrown off the table.

Mr Schachter, 76, who was invited to give a two-minute speech at the festival on Saturday, recalled: “When I stood up, there were boos, hisses and jeers.

“I told them: ‘If we can’t discusses issues here, in democratic England, what hope is there for discussion in the Middle East?’”

As the group set up the stand the next day, they were approached by Nigel Costley, the Trade Unions Congress' south-west regional secretary.

Mr Schachter said: “We were told: ‘you have every right to be here, but today is the busiest day. We have a few stewards and we are worried about the safety of our staff and your safety. Would you please reconsider whether you want to be here.’

“It was upsetting because we had a right to be there.”

The group left the event as a result of the safety warning.

“They got their way,” he added. “We found out that the PSC moved to our position.”

Berlin-born Mr Schachter, who intends to exhibit at the trade union festival next year, said: “Because of what happened to Jews in the Holocaust, we stand proud because of Israel. It’s only because of Israel that we stand tall. If there was no state of Israel we would go back to keeping shtum, taking what they throw of us.”

Mr Costley would not confirm whether Bafi or pro-Palestine groups would be allowed to exhibit at the festival next year.

He said: “We don’t think about next year now.

“But to be honest, our volunteers and security had more than enough to do, without the emotive debate.

“The debate should be had, but Tolpuddle is not the best place for it.

“We are going to have to review that situation. It is not a debating forum. We will review the situation next year when the time is right.”

Bafi co-founder Rosalind Schogger said: "We decided to set the agenda. The purpose of the stand was to give the Israel narrative because trade union never does hear Israel’s narrative.

"[Organisers] didn’t ask Medical Aid for Palestinians to leave, or the PSC to leave - but we were told to leave.

"I was disappointed, but the other part of me was relieved. I wasn’t looking forward to it at all."