Jewish communal groups have welcomed reports that the government is set to proscribe pro-Palestine direct action group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
The BBC reported that Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, is set to make a statement to Parliament on Monday and that new legislation will be required to be debated and voted on by MPs.
The move follows two activists from the group apparently breaking into RAF Brize Norton – the largest RAF station – and causing damage to two RAF planes.
Footage shared by the organisation appeared to show an activist riding an e-scooter in the base and spraying red paint into a plane. They also said in a post on social media that their activists were able to escape undetected.
The Community Security Trust welcomed the news that Palestine Action are set to be proscribed.
“We and our partners have long asked that government and police act against this blatant conspiracy of ideologically-driven violence, intimidation and criminality”, CST said on social media.
“The recent escalation in their extremist activities shows why they are a threat to national security and community cohesion”, they added.
Last month, Palestine Action claimed responsibility for vandalising a shop in Stamford Hill, which the Metropolitan Police said they were treating as “racially aggravated criminal damage” .
The property company, located in the heavily Charedi part of north London, had its windows smashed, computers and furniture destroyed, and red paint thrown across the shopfront. The pavement outside was marked with the slogan “Drop Elbit” – an apparent reference to Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems.
In November last year, the group also claimed responsibility for vandalising the headquarters of the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (Bicom), a pro-Israel advocacy organisation, and the Jewish National Fund (JNF) as well as breaking into the University of Manchester to steam a bust of Chaim Weizmann, Israel’s first president.
Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies, also welcomed the news of Palestine Action’s impending proscription.
“Their actions over recent months had become increasingly egregious – targeting Jewish charities and communal sites, desecrating statues, and encouraging acts of violence and vandalism.
“The forced break-in and sabotage at an RAF base was rightly the final straw. This group has been allowed to operate with impunity for far too long. Proscription is a necessary and proportionate step to protect public safety and uphold the rule of law.”
News of the robust action against the pro-Palestine group was largely welcomed across the political spectrum.
Former home secretary Suella Braverman described the move as “the correct decision” in a post on X. “We must have zero tolerance for terrorism.”
Labour MP David Taylor, on Friday morning called for the group’s proscription, welcomed the latest moves from the government and on Friday evening posted on social media: “This is what leadership looks like. Less than 24 hours after the vile attack.”
Former Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Humza Yousaf hit out at the decision.
Sharing a post from Amnesty International, which showed an RAF plane covered in red paint sprayed by the pro-Palestine group, he wrote on social media: “If the UK Government believes those protesting against the atrocities in Gaza are terrorists, but those killing children should be supported and provided with weapons, then this Government has not only lost its way, it has lost its conscience.”.
Green Party deputy leader Zack Polanski, who is standing for the leadership of his party, hit out at the prime minister for criticising Palestine Action and instead criticised the government for “standing with Netanyahu during a genocide” in a post on X.
Speaking to the JC in March this year, two former defence ministers had urged the government to take much more robust action against Palestine Action.
Conservative Dr Andrew Murrison, who served as defence minister under Rishi Sunak, labelled them a “national security threat” amid the damage and disruption they had caused to sites linked to Britain’s defence and security.
Lord Spellar, who served as armed forces minister under Tony Blair, called for a thorough response to any disruption by pro-Palestine activists: “These people seem to think they're a law unto themselves; the police and the legal system ought to be cracking down.”
