A strictly Orthodox man from Manchester has addressed a meeting of the extreme nationalist New Right group, warning them about the “dangers” of Zionism.
Neturei Karta’s Aharon Cohen, who styles himself rabbi and has attended a Holocaust denial conference in Iran, addressed a group at St George’s Tavern in London, according to anti-facist organisation Searchlight's investigation. The group, led by ex- National Front member Troy Southgate, declares itself “opposed to liberalism, democracy and egalitarianism.”
Holocaust denier Lady Michele Renouf, a champion of David Irving, was one of the 30 attendees.
Mr Cohen, a key figure in the anti-Zionist strictly Orthodox sect, was introduced to the group by New Right member Alexander Baron, who described him as “one of the real Jews.”
Mr Baron wrote after the meeting: “While the Zionists use antisemitism as a big club to batter the goyim over their heads, for the devout Torah-true Jews it is a sign that they are doing something wrong. The Rabbi [sic] differentiated what he said was the ancient bigotry of antisemitism with the response particularly in the Muslim world to Zionist atrocities, and said the actions of the Zionists endanger Jews everywhere.”
Last weekend, another far-right group, Iona, was addressed in London by German neo-Nazi Günter Deckert, of the National Democratic Party.
Mr Deckert has served five years in prison for Holocaust denial and incitement to racial hatred. According to sources at the meeting, Mr Deckert accused the British far-right of “watering down” its policies to gain support.
Gerry Gable, editor of Searchlight, said: “I cannot understand why the Home Office has allowed this Holocaust denier to enter the country as his presence is not conducive to the public good. As to Mr Cohen, the Nazis are welcome to this quisling.”
A spokesman for the CST said: “Having played with left-wing extremists and Islamists, including the Holocaust-denying Tehran regime, Neturei Karta can now add British fascists to their list of consorts. We look forward to the pathetic and hypocritical excuses that will be trotted out on their behalf.”