Prof. David Miller won a wrongful dismissal case after a British employment tribunal ruled that his “anti-Zionist beliefs qualified as a philosophical belief and as a protected characteristic” of the U.K.’s Equality Act. Watch the replay.
A tribunal decided in February that Prof. David Miller was unfairly dismissed from the University of Bristol for allegedly making anti-semetic remarks. The written judgement says it was not antisemitic to criticize Israel for apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide. The tribunal ruled that taking those positions are “worthy of respect in a democratic society.”
One of the judges said:
“[Prof Miller]’s opposition to Zionism is not opposition to the idea of Jewish self-determination or of a preponderantly Jewish state existing in the world, but rather, as he defines it, to the exclusive realisation of Jewish rights to self-determination within a land that is home to a very substantial non-Jewish population. …
What [Miller] said was accepted as lawful, was not antisemitic and did not incite violence and did not pose any threat to any person’s health or safety.”
It was a significant ruling at a time when journalists who dare criticize Israel’s behavior in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon are under increasing pressure, in some cases having their homes raided or being questioned at British airports under the U.K. Terrorism Act. The latest case was the raid by counterterrorism police on Thursday of the London home of Asa Winstanley, editor of The Electronic Intifada, about which journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted:
“The amount of authoritarianism and erosion of rights in the West to protect Israel — by censoring criticism of that foreign country and punishing its critics — is almost impossible to overstate. … Mass firings in the US and speech-restricting laws. The UK, as always, is worse.”
Prof. Miller joined CN Live! to discuss the significance of the written ruling in his case. Interviewers: Elizabeth Vos, Joe Lauria, Cathy Vogan. Producer: Cathy Vogan.
1 thing I think needs to be emphasized is the point he made here – the idea of Greater Israel – just what does “from the River to the Sea” mean for Zionists – I think it would have been interesting to quote the OT, Deuteron. and Joshua, e.g. – as to the land that Yahweh promised to “his people” – the River being the Euphrates …. the countries that Miller, in passing, pointed out are part of that “Greater Israel” that was promised to His Chosen people – so Netanyahu’s escalation into Lebanon and Syria are simply an extension of that intent to (re)claim what Yahweh “promised them” … as “the walls come tumbling down” and the original inhabitants of that land in Joshua’s day were also “ethnically cleansed”
Racism is at the heart of so many of our conflicts, at home and abroad – behind all that “settler colonialism”, justified by the idea of a people Chosen by a divine entity, or by Nature in which there are separate races with a hierarchy established – both are every bit as much bunkum as the stuff Miller is pointing out in his case – so why, considering all the evils perpetrated by, I posit, a very widespread belief in “separate races” is that concept not stressed instead of “Oh just another example of racism, what else is new – let’s move on to talking about other lies and propaganda” – when that perhaps is the biggest lie of them all …
John you no doubt are correct to the point of “an idea cannot be killed”. You are correct about the faceless group.
Merrick Garland See his video cnbc.com about 3 billion in fines. The resulting injustice is is is no human is held responsible. Lock those who sign the time cards and their bosses up! They then are held responsible.
In my opinion, this debate twill be determined by the strength by numbers, numbers of supporters who support anti-zionists.
I agree though, boycott and when the press come knocking, boycott them. Draw lots of attention to your argument, you win the point! Point Match, Serve.
We must not recognize being Jewish requires the association of being racist, nationalistic, or fascist or imply those beliefs. These people are subjugated by a right wing government.
Make sure you are angry at the right enemy, not the misunderstood vitim.
You know , like so many of those in Gaza.
It’s nice to see the court standing up for free speech.
This judgement will not stop the repression of anti-zionism. The orders for this come from a faceless group who never have to consider laws.
The answer is to boycott, divest and sanction any who are connected to Israel and especially banks, insurance companies and politicians.
Just remember that being Jewish is not being Israeli, is not Zionism.
And semitic describes all Arabic speaking people.
Zionists have a playbook to silence, slander or harm critics by accusing them of antisemitism publicly and demanding punishment for the victim of their personal assaults on their character.
We have the same activity going on in dealing with other innocent public figures repeatedly.
Jeremy Corbyn was attacked mercilessly when he ran for election. Zionists’ consistent slander derailed Corbyn’s campaign. Zionists also destroyed Corbyn’s supporters in the process.
Zionists are also attacking the right to freedom of speech. The city of London is famous for Speakers’ Corner, where decades of free speech continues to be exercised by anyone.
Minor point but Speakers’ Corner is not in the City of London, it’s in Hyde Park.
But cjonsson1 spoke of the city of London, as one would speak of the city of Paris.
He did not speak of the “City”, the area of London housing all of the city’s financial institutions.
Great news for a change. Now if the U.S. would follow suit!
To me it is obvious that there is little or no interest for US citizens in the wars currently raging since we’ve witnessed all the wealth flowing upward, but it is the interest of corporations and the elite that are being fought for, while people in the Carolinas and Florida get little and delayed aid and US infrastructure crumbles. You are a fool to not see it.
Excellent result !
I concur.