[[{"content_id":"301504","domain_id":"0","lang_id":"en","portal_id":"2","owner_id":"114","user_id":"6","view_accesslevel_id":"0","edit_accesslevel_id":"0","delete_accesslevel_id":"0","editor_id":"0","content_title":"Palestine Expo 2017 going ahead despite Jewish lobby pressure","content_number":"","content_date_event":"2017-07-02 15:42:06","content_summary":"The Palestine Expo, organized by the non-profit Friends of al-Aqsa (FOA) group, is expected to draw about 10,000 people to the Queen Elizabeth Centre in London, on 8 and 9 July.","content_summary_fill":"1","content_body":"Europe's largest Palestine convention is to go ahead in the UK after surviving attempts by pro-Israel lobbyists to have it cancelled.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThe Palestine Expo, organized by the non-profit Friends of al-Aqsa (FOA) group, is expected to draw about 10,000 people to the Queen Elizabeth Centre in London, on 8 and 9 July. \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nBut doubts emerged as to whether the event would go ahead after the UK's local government minister, Sajid Javid, whose department controls the QEII Centre, had warned he was "minded" to cancel the event. \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\nJavid's intervention came amid claims by various Jewish and pro-Israel groups that FOA had previously praised Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups proscribed in the UK. \r\n\r\nLawyers representing the Jewish Human Rights Watch (JHRW), an Israeli lobby group based in Britain, accused the pro-Palestine campaign group and its co-organiser, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, of supporting "Jew hate".\r\n\r\nIn a letter to the DCLG written by JHRW's lawyers, it said: "Our client is certain that this event is a front for Jew hate and that the main groups (Friends of al-Aqsa and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign) are organisations promoting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in relation to Israel, a known anti-Semitic movement."  \r\n\r\nHowever, the claims were dismissed after a government departmental investigation, and the event was told it could go forward.\r\n\r\nIsmail Patel, the founder and chairman of FOA, described the pro-Israeli group's claims as "baseless". \r\n\r\n"Since the decision to go ahead was announced, momentum has grown and thousands of tickets have now been sold," Patel told MEE. \r\n\r\n"It now means people in the UK can come and celebrate all things Palestinian at one of the most prestigious buildings in the country." \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJavid's intervention came amid claims by various Jewish and pro-Israel groups that FOA had previously praised Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups proscribed in the UK. \r\n\r\nLawyers representing the Jewish Human Rights Watch (JHRW), an Israeli lobby group based in Britain, accused the pro-Palestine campaign group and its co-organiser, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, of supporting "Jew hate".\r\n\r\nIn a letter to the DCLG written by JHRW's lawyers, it said: "Our client is certain that this event is a front for Jew hate and that the main groups (Friends of al-Aqsa and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign) are organisations promoting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in relation to Israel, a known anti-Semitic movement."  \r\n\r\nHowever, the claims were dismissed after a government departmental investigation, and the event was told it could go forward.\r\n\r\nIsmail Patel, the founder and chairman of FOA, described the pro-Israeli group's claims as "baseless". \r\n\r\n"Since the decision to go ahead was announced, momentum has grown and thousands of tickets have now been sold," Patel told MEE. \r\n\r\n"It now means people in the UK can come and celebrate all things Palestinian at one of the most prestigious buildings in the country." \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJavid's intervention came amid claims by various Jewish and pro-Israel groups that FOA had previously praised Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups proscribed in the UK. \r\n\r\nLawyers representing the Jewish Human Rights Watch (JHRW), an Israeli lobby group based in Britain, accused the pro-Palestine campaign group and its co-organiser, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, of supporting "Jew hate".\r\n\r\nIn a letter to the DCLG written by JHRW's lawyers, it said: "Our client is certain that this event is a front for Jew hate and that the main groups (Friends of al-Aqsa and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign) are organisations promoting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in relation to Israel, a known anti-Semitic movement."  \r\n\r\nHowever, the claims were dismissed after a government departmental investigation, and the event was told it could go forward.\r\n\r\nIsmail Patel, the founder and chairman of FOA, described the pro-Israeli group's claims as "baseless". \r\n\r\n"Since the decision to go ahead was announced, momentum has grown and thousands of tickets have now been sold," Patel told MEE. \r\n\r\n"It now means people in the UK can come and celebrate all things Palestinian at one of the most prestigious buildings in the country." \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\navid's intervention came amid claims by various Jewish and pro-Israel groups that FOA had previously praised Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups proscribed in the UK. \r\n\r\nLawyers representing the Jewish Human Rights Watch (JHRW), an Israeli lobby group based in Britain, accused the pro-Palestine campaign group and its co-organiser, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, of supporting "Jew hate".\r\n\r\nIn a letter to the DCLG written by JHRW's lawyers, it said: "Our client is certain that this event is a front for Jew hate and that the main groups (Friends of al-Aqsa and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign) are organisations promoting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in relation to Israel, a known anti-Semitic movement."  \r\n\r\nHowever, the claims were dismissed after a government departmental investigation, and the event was told it could go forward.\r\n\r\nIsmail Patel, the founder and chairman of FOA, described the pro-Israeli group's claims as "baseless". \r\n\r\n"Since the decision to go ahead was announced, momentum has grown and thousands of tickets have now been sold," Patel told MEE. \r\n\r\n"It now means people in the UK can come and celebrate all things Palestinian at one of the most prestigious buildings in the country." \r\n\r\n\r\nJavid's intervention came amid claims by various Jewish and pro-Israel groups that FOA had previously praised the anti-Israeli resistance goups of Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups proscribed in the UK.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nLawyers representing the Jewish Human Rights Watch (JHRW), an Israeli lobby group based in Britain, accused the pro-Palestine campaign group and its co-organizer, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, of supporting "Jew hate".\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nIn a letter to the DCLG written by JHRW's lawyers, it said: "Our client is certain that this event is a front for Jew hate and that the main groups (Friends of al-Aqsa and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign) are organisations promoting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in relation to Israel, a known anti-Semitic movement."  \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nHowever, the claims were dismissed after a government departmental investigation, and the event was told it could go forward.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nIsmail Patel, the founder and chairman of FOA, described the pro-Israeli group's claims as "baseless".\r\n\r\n"Since the decision to go ahead was announced, momentum has grown and thousands of tickets have now been sold," Patel told MEE.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n"It now means people in the UK can come and celebrate all things Palestinian at one of the most prestigious buildings in the country."","content_html":"

Europe's largest Palestine convention is to go ahead in the UK after surviving attempts by pro-Israel lobbyists to have it cancelled.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Palestine Expo, organized by the non-profit Friends of al-Aqsa (FOA) group, is expected to draw about 10,000 people to the Queen Elizabeth Centre in London, on 8 and 9 July. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

But doubts emerged as to whether the event would go ahead after the UK's local government minister, Sajid Javid, whose department controls the QEII Centre, had warned he was "minded" to cancel the event. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

\r\n

Javid's intervention came amid claims by various Jewish and pro-Israel groups that FOA had previously praised Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups proscribed in the UK. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Lawyers representing the Jewish Human Rights Watch (JHRW), an Israeli lobby group based in Britain, accused the pro-Palestine campaign group and its co-organiser, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, of supporting "Jew hate".<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

In a letter to the DCLG written by JHRW's lawyers<\/a>, it said: "Our client is certain that this event is a front for Jew hate and that the main groups (Friends of al-Aqsa and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign) are organisations promoting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in relation to Israel, a known anti-Semitic movement."  <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

However, the claims were dismissed after a government departmental investigation, and the event was told it could go forward.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Ismail Patel, the founder and chairman of FOA, described the pro-Israeli group's claims as "baseless". <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Since the decision to go ahead was announced, momentum has grown and thousands of tickets have now been sold," Patel told MEE. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It now means people in the UK can come and celebrate all things Palestinian at one of the most prestigious buildings in the country." <\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

\r\n

Javid's intervention came amid claims by various Jewish and pro-Israel groups that FOA had previously praised Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups proscribed in the UK. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Lawyers representing the Jewish Human Rights Watch (JHRW), an Israeli lobby group based in Britain, accused the pro-Palestine campaign group and its co-organiser, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, of supporting "Jew hate".<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

In a letter to the DCLG written by JHRW's lawyers<\/a>, it said: "Our client is certain that this event is a front for Jew hate and that the main groups (Friends of al-Aqsa and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign) are organisations promoting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in relation to Israel, a known anti-Semitic movement."  <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

However, the claims were dismissed after a government departmental investigation, and the event was told it could go forward.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Ismail Patel, the founder and chairman of FOA, described the pro-Israeli group's claims as "baseless". <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Since the decision to go ahead was announced, momentum has grown and thousands of tickets have now been sold," Patel told MEE. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It now means people in the UK can come and celebrate all things Palestinian at one of the most prestigious buildings in the country." <\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

\r\n

Javid's intervention came amid claims by various Jewish and pro-Israel groups that FOA had previously praised Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups proscribed in the UK. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Lawyers representing the Jewish Human Rights Watch (JHRW), an Israeli lobby group based in Britain, accused the pro-Palestine campaign group and its co-organiser, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, of supporting "Jew hate".<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

In a letter to the DCLG written by JHRW's lawyers<\/a>, it said: "Our client is certain that this event is a front for Jew hate and that the main groups (Friends of al-Aqsa and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign) are organisations promoting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in relation to Israel, a known anti-Semitic movement."  <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

However, the claims were dismissed after a government departmental investigation, and the event was told it could go forward.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Ismail Patel, the founder and chairman of FOA, described the pro-Israeli group's claims as "baseless". <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Since the decision to go ahead was announced, momentum has grown and thousands of tickets have now been sold," Patel told MEE. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It now means people in the UK can come and celebrate all things Palestinian at one of the most prestigious buildings in the country." <\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

\r\n

avid's intervention came amid claims by various Jewish and pro-Israel groups that FOA had previously praised Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups proscribed in the UK. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Lawyers representing the Jewish Human Rights Watch (JHRW), an Israeli lobby group based in Britain, accused the pro-Palestine campaign group and its co-organiser, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, of supporting "Jew hate".<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

In a letter to the DCLG written by JHRW's lawyers<\/a>, it said: "Our client is certain that this event is a front for Jew hate and that the main groups (Friends of al-Aqsa and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign) are organisations promoting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in relation to Israel, a known anti-Semitic movement."  <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

However, the claims were dismissed after a government departmental investigation, and the event was told it could go forward.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Ismail Patel, the founder and chairman of FOA, described the pro-Israeli group's claims as "baseless". <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Since the decision to go ahead was announced, momentum has grown and thousands of tickets have now been sold," Patel told MEE. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It now means people in the UK can come and celebrate all things Palestinian at one of the most prestigious buildings in the country." <\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

Javid's intervention came amid claims by various Jewish and pro-Israel groups that FOA had previously praised the anti-Israeli resistance goups of Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups proscribed in the UK.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Lawyers representing the Jewish Human Rights Watch (JHRW), an Israeli lobby group based in Britain, accused the pro-Palestine campaign group and its co-organizer, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, of supporting "Jew hate".<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

In a letter to the DCLG written by JHRW's lawyers, it said: "Our client is certain that this event is a front for Jew hate and that the main groups (Friends of al-Aqsa and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign) are organisations promoting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in relation to Israel, a known anti-Semitic movement."  <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

However, the claims were dismissed after a government departmental investigation, and the event was told it could go forward.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Ismail Patel, the founder and chairman of FOA, described the pro-Israeli group's claims as "baseless".<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Since the decision to go ahead was announced, momentum has grown and thousands of tickets have now been sold," Patel told MEE.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It now means people in the UK can come and celebrate all things Palestinian at one of the most prestigious buildings in the country."<\/span><\/p>","content_source":"","content_url":"","content_columns":"0","content_date_start":"2017-07-02 15:42:06","content_date_finish":"2017-07-02 15:42:06","content_date_register":"2017-07-02 15:50:14","content_date_last_edit":"2017-07-02 15:50:14","content_show_img":"1","content_show_details":"0","content_show_related_img":"0","content_show_slider":"1","content_show_title_slider":"1","content_comment":"1","content_score":"0","content_recorded":"0","content_confirmed":"0","content_status":"1","content_kind":"0","old_id":"0","tag_id":null,"tag_word":null,"tag_service":null,"tag_total":null,"tag_soundex":null,"attach_token":"2932948114","attach_date_register":"2017-07-02 15:50:13","attach_id":"403881","attach_file_ext":"jpg","attach_file_header":"image\/jpeg","attach_img_type":"2","attach_img_width":"855","attach_img_height":"496","attach_file_media":"1","attach_show_watermark":"1","score_average":null,"score_count":null,"score_date_last":null,"visit_count":"982","visit_date_last":"2025-05-14 00:40:13","attach_title":"Palestine Expo 2017 going ahead despite Jewish lobby pressure 2","node_title":"news,Latest news","ot_node_left_right":"[{\"node_id\":122, \"left\":2, \"right\":53},{\"node_id\":144, \"left\":49, \"right\":50}]"}]]