Latest news with #COFIS
The National
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Pro-Israel groups banned from Stand Up To Racism events in Scotland
Last year, the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) and the Scottish Palestinian Society (SPS) both urged SUTR to ban Glasgow Friends of Israel (GFI) from marches as the presence of the organisation had led to a growing number of pro-Palestine organisations dropping out. Now SUTR's steering committee has confirmed members of GFI and the Confederation of Friends of Israel in Scotland (COFIS) are "not welcome" at future events due to their support for Israel and organisations such as Reform UK. A statement posted on Facebook from SUTR said: "We wish to publicly clarify beyond any doubt that the Glasgow Friends of Israel and COFIS groups are NOT WELCOME at SUTR Scotland events. READ MORE: Tory MP brands SNP 'fifth columnists' over weapons funding opposition 'They have never been invited to any SUTR event, spoken as part of any SUTR platform, or been part of discussions with SUTR Scotland. 'SUTR aims to unite people of all faiths, Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, and none, against racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism and the far-right, and they are all welcome at our events and initiatives.' Wael Shawish of SPS – a group for Palestinians residing in Scotland – told The National last year it was 'painful' for him and the organisation not to be able to join the march in 2024 because of the Israeli flag being flown during it. He said: 'We can't even dream of joining such a march with the Israeli flag being waved over our heads. We are oppressed by that flag." Gerry Coutts, of the SPSC, also explained how his group in recent years had handed out leaflets at the start of the march explaining why they are not participating. He said last year: 'As long as Israel remains an apartheid state, SPSC is calling for GFI to be banned from future SUTR marches as their presence is incompatible with the march's intention of celebrating International Day For the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.' READ MORE: 'Disturbed': MP Rosie Duffield hits out after armed police threaten Gaza protester SUTR said it now rejected the presence of GFI and COFIS due to support for the far-right "internationally and here in Scotland" and joining "the efforts by politicians to push the Islamophobic lie that millions protesting in solidarity with Palestine are 'hate marchers'". It added the groups were not welcome due to "justifying and applauding" the actions by the state of Israel. The SUTR committee noted: 'The focus of SUTR Scotland's campaigning activities involves building broad-based mass anti-racist action in solidarity with refugees and migrants, supporting justice campaigns against police and institutional racism, and facilitating a united response to the Islamophobic and antisemitic far-right, fascist groups, and particularly now the threat of Reform UK.' 'However, we reject the presence of GFI and COFIS, organisations whose activity involves justifying and applauding the actions by the state of Israel, which is engaged in carrying out genocide, apartheid and ethnic cleansing.' GFI, which describes itself as 'a grassroots organisation that supports the right of Israel to democratic self-determination,' runs an information stall in Buchanan Street in Glasgow every Saturday. The SUTR committee went on to criticise GFI's relationship with Reform UK councillor Thomas Kerr, who has been photographed visiting the stall and has expressed support for the group on social media. The statement noted: 'No organisation that supports [Reform UK], which is trying to convince millions of voters that refugees, migrants and Muslims are to blame for society's problems, and in the process opening the door to dangerous fascist forces, is welcome at SUTR Scotland events.' In 2024, a group called Scotland Against Criminalising Communities (SACC) refused to attend a SUTR march due to concerns over GFI and COFIS's attendance.
The Herald Scotland
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Stand up to Racism Scotland bars pro-Israel groups
On Thursday, the group's steering committee announced that members of Glasgow Friends of Israel (GFI) and the Confederation of Friends of Israel in Scotland (COFIS) were 'not welcome' at future events due to their support for Israel and organisations such as Reform UK. This is the latest development in a years-long row over the inclusion of the two pro-Israel groups. SUTR has organised a range of events in recent years. (Image: Colin Mearns) In a statement posted to X, the committee wrote: 'We wish to publicly clarify beyond any doubt that the Glasgow Friends of Israel and COFIS groups are NOT WELCOME at SUTR Scotland events. 'They have never been invited to any SUTR event, spoken as part of any SUTR platform, or been part of discussions with SUTR Scotland. 'SUTR aims to unite people of all faiths, Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, and none, against racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism and the far-right, and they are all welcome at our events and initiatives.' GFI, which describes itself as 'a grassroots organisation that supports the right of Israel to democratic self-determination,' runs an information stall on Buchanan Street every Saturday. The group regularly posts on Facebook about interactions with supporters, as well as with pro-Palestine demonstrators, who they have called 'hate groups' and 'terrorist lovers.' COFIS was set up in 2020 to counteract 'lazy and biased reporting in the media' and the 'careless words' of politicians, which they claim leads to "antisemitism and prejudice.' It consists of pro-Israel groups in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Inverness. The groups have been criticised for their support of Israel and its government, led by President Benjamin Netanyahu. The SUTR committee noted: 'The focus of SUTR Scotland's campaigning activities involves building broad-based mass anti-racist action in solidarity with refugees and migrants, supporting justice campaigns against police and institutional racism, and facilitating a united response to the Islamophobic and antisemitic far-right, fascist groups, and particularly now the threat of Reform UK.' 'However, we reject the presence of GFI and COFIS, organisations whose activity involves justifying and applauding the actions by the state of Israel, which is engaged in carrying out genocide, apartheid and ethnic cleansing.' The SUTR committee went on to criticise GFI's relationship with Reform UK councillor Thomas Kerr, who has been photographed visiting the stall and has expressed support for the group on social media. The statement noted: 'No organisation that supports [Reform UK], which is trying to convince millions of voters that refugees, migrants and Muslims are to blame for society's problems, and in the process opening the door to dangerous fascist forces, is welcome at SUTR Scotland events.' Reform councillor Thomas Kerr has backed the group. (Image: Newsquest) The ongoing row dates back several years. In a 2023 post on their website, COFIS alleged that members of two Scottish pro-Israel groups had been sent to the back of a SUTR anti-racist march and told they were not welcome due to their views. The post read: 'On 18 March 2023, members of Glasgow Friends of Israel and Highland Friends of Israel assembled in George Square for the start of this year's march. 'Although there had been liaison with Police Scotland to ensure their protection, any 'Zionist' who dared to try and join the mainstream march was forcefully told by organisers that they were not welcome and ordered to the back, where they were separated from the rest of the marchers by a line of stewards.' Read more: Cool-headed John Swinney pulls out trump card ahead of high stakes summit Scottish Greens slam John Swinney's 'tragic' plans to meet with Donald Trump 'A grim reality': Glasgow City Council spent £106m to house homeless last year However, SUTR has previously been criticised for 'failing' to publicly denounce the groups. In 2024, a group called Scotland Against Criminalising Communities (SACC) refused to attend a SUTR march due to concerns over GFI and COFIS's attendance. The group wrote: "SACC is one of a number of organisations that, as in previous years, will be staying away from the march because of the failure by SUTR Scotland to state that Friends of Israel groups will not be welcome on the march." COFIS and GFI have been approached for comment.
