British writer warns: Suppressing pro-Palestine demonstrations threatens democracy

British journalist Owen Jones condemned the government's policies in dealing with pro-Palestine protests, emphasizing that protest is no longer a right for everyone but has become a privilege granted or denied by those in power.

The columnist for the British Guardian discussed the new rules proposed by the Labour Party government, which would define the time and place where protests are allowed to occur, increasing the risk of imprisonment for those who oppose this, threatening democracy in the country as a whole.

According to the article, the government cited an attack on a synagogue in Manchester to justify these rules, but Jones believes that the proposed restrictions do not serve the interests of British Jewish security; rather, they distort the meaning of protecting civil rights and the long history of the struggle against racism and fascism.

The writer explained that supporters of Israel are aware that public opinion in the West has turned against them. In the United Kingdom, the vast majority believe that Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza, and most people support a complete ban on arms sales to Israel.

The writer points out that this reality drives supporters of Israel to exploit "anti-Semitic" attacks in Europe to suppress civilians who are trying to confront the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, all for a "foreign state" committing genocide, with its Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) wanted by the International Criminal Court.

Jones criticized the British government's complicity in silencing protests and its double standards regarding justice and democracy.

He stated that it describes protesters opposing the erasure of Gaza as extremists and saboteurs, even among Jews, while refraining from imposing meaningful sanctions on Israel and continuing to export arms to the Israeli army.

Jones continued that linking the attack on Jews in the UK to criticisms of Israel is a dangerous strategy aimed at suppressing anti-Gaza war protests and diverting attention from Palestinian suffering.

The result of this, according to the article, was the British police's guardianship in canceling anti-Israel protests, under the pretext of possibly supporting anti-Semitism "unintentionally."

The writer also referred to Priti Patel's (shadow government foreign secretary) claim that the Labour Party's late recognition of the Palestinian state makes the party "complicit" in the violations faced by the Jewish community.

The article noted that on the day of the synagogue attack that killed two people, Israel killed at least 57 Palestinians, yet the focus of British media and politicians was on the attack, reflecting a blatant disregard for the value of Palestinian lives, in the writer's opinion.

Jones described this as "one of the most brazen expressions of racism in our time," adding that one wonders how history will judge what we are witnessing: politicians accusing protesters against genocide of inciting hatred while supporting those committing genocide?

Jones stated that the British government crossed a red line by banning the "Palestine Action" movement, as more than two thousand protesters supporting the organization were arrested, including retirees and clergy, noting that labeling peaceful movements as "terrorism" is an attack on the essence of democracy.

He continued that these policies reflect a troubling trajectory, recalling that American Democrats helped demonize pro-Palestinian protests, legitimizing repression during the presidency of Donald Trump.

The writer warned that the rise of someone like British Reform Party leader Nigel Farage to the premiership could worsen the situation, as a right-wing government would be equipped with the best tools of repression to control protests and opposition.

He concluded that there is a need to resist the new laws, stating, "Our ancestors fought for our freedoms, and we will regret our negligence and easy surrender to the current restrictions."