The Interview

Just how informed, uninformed or dumb are pro-Palestinian protesters?

In respect of what happened to the Bibas family, there will be no Hassan and Ahmed this week. Because however much I lampoon them and make them and their ‘cause’ look ridiculous, right now I – and I’m sure many others – don’t feel in the mood to see Hamas terrorists in anything approaching a humorous light.

So, instead this week I’ll feature an interview between an older Detective Sergeant and a young student arrested after a clash with police during a pro-Palestinian London march. Again, a satirical style, which indeed throws a spotlight on how lacking in knowledge many pro-Palestinian protesters are.

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DS Byrne: My name’s DS Byrne, and I’ll be conducting today’s interview. And for the record, your name?

Kevin: Kevin… Kevin Dunning.

DS Byrne: Age?

Kevin: Twenty.

DS Byrne: Employed, unemployed or a student?

Kevin: I’m a student at London’s Goldsmith’s College, studying Media Communications and Culture.

DS Byrne: (Makes a note). Very good. And tell me, just why were you at today’s demonstration on behalf of Gaza and Palestinians?

Kevin: Well, my friend Bernie was already going, and he had a large banner to carry which needed two people to hold it. So, I thought – why not?

DS Byrne: And have you ever been to Israel or the Palestinian territories?

Kevin: No, I haven’t.

DS Byrne: Know anyone from that region?

Kevin: Not really. Well, there’s a boy in another class who is a recent refugee from Syria, and he’s very supportive of the Palestinian cause – as is Bernie – but that’s about it.

DS Byrne: And do you know anyone with terrorist connections or affiliations?

Kevin: No. No, I don’t.

DS Byrne: (Taps his pen on his pad) So, you went along today purely because your friend, Bernie, was going, and thought it would be a good day out. Oh, and also to help him carry his banner. But you knew little about the conflict you were protesting against, no real stake in it or connections to it.

Kevin: No. Except I know from Bernie that there’s an ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people, and I felt that was wrong and was worth protesting about.

DS Byrne: And do you know the true definition of ‘genocide’.

Kevin: From what I understand, it’s the wiping out of a population in whole or large part.

DS Byrne: Yes, close enough. Now it’s not my job to take sides here, but you might have noticed on the news that Israel went to a lot of trouble texting and leafleting people in Gaza to move from areas they intended to attack. So, ask yourself – why would they do that if ‘genocide’ was their intention?

Kevin: I suppose. (Looks thoughtful) I hadn’t really thought about that.

DS Byrne: There’s a lot you appear not to have thought about, Kevin. Which brings me to the banner you were waving, and why you thought it a good idea to attack a police constable with one of the sticks holding it up.

Kevin: I’m sorry about that. That was a mistake… I thought the police were rushing us, and I raised the stick merely to defend myself. And Bernie had already let go of his stick-end of the banner and ran off as soon as the police moved in.

DS Byrne: (Smiles thinly). Very committed-to-the-cause friend you have there. Rushes off at the first sign of trouble and leaves you in the lurch. And a Judge might or might not see it your way (Sighs). But probably a good time to declare my position here. I’m not just any DS, but one attached to the anti-terrorist division.

Kevin: (Face pales) Is that what I’m being charged with… a terrorist-connected offence? That’s ridiculous.

DS Byrne: That’s what I’m trying to determine now (Shrugs). And perhaps not so ridiculous when the Constable you’d jabbed with your stick, you then called a filthy Zionist-supporting pig.

Kevin: I’m sorry… I didn’t mean it. He was grappling and arresting me, and I shouted it out in panic (Holds a palm out desperately). And why were the police rushing us in the first place?

DS Byrne: They weren’t ‘rushing you’ as you claim. You were all told clearly you could go down Whitehall, but must keep clear of Downing Street. As a group of you appeared to be branching off, the cordon had to be tightened. (Looks at Kevin levelly) Even aside from a possible terrorist link, which I don’t think is the case, assaulting a police officer can carry anything from one to five years.

Kevin: (Face drops) I said I’m sorry… it was purely an accident.

DS Byrne: (Keeps his stare level) That’s what I have to determine now.

Kevin: When you were younger, didn’t you join any demos? (Shakes his head) And if you thought a real genocide was taking place, wouldn’t you want to demonstrate against it?

DS Byrne: When I was at uni many moons ago, the main demos were in front of nuclear power-stations. And if we were demonstrating on Israel-Palestine, we certainly wouldn’t have been supporting the Palestinian side.

Kevin: Why’s that?

DS Byrne: Israel was more in favour then, in fact I had a couple of class-mates spend their summer breaks on a kibbutz. Also, the Palestinians were busy suicide bombing the hell out of Israeli civilians, so weren’t exactly flavour of the month. (Grimaces) Mind you, with what Hamas did October 7^th, they’re not exactly warm and cuddly. Have you ever been to Glastonbury?

Kevin: Yes, a couple of times now. Last time was just the summer gone.

DS Byrne: Well, that could easily have been you at the Nova festival. While most of the teens killed were from Israel, it was billed as an international music festival – if you’re into Psychedelic Trance. So, there were also teens from UK, France, Germany, Hungary, South America and USA. You could have been protesting today partly on behalf of the killers of your fellow concert-goers.

Kevin: (Looks down briefly) I’m sorry. I hadn’t thought of that.

DS Byrne: As said, there’s a lot you haven’t thought of, Kevin (Sighs). Which brings us back roundly to the banner you and your friend, Bernie, were waving: ‘From River to Sea – Palestine shall be Free.’ Do you know what that means in essence, Kevin?

Kevin: Well, yes… it means Palestinians shall be free from the Israeli occupation they’re under in the area.

DS Byrne: (Shakes his head) That’s not all it means, Kevin. There hasn’t been any permanent Israeli soldiers in Gaza for twenty years, so ‘occupation’ doesn’t ring true at all. (Takes a fresh breath) It means the clearing of all Israeli Jews from the area – forced out through ethnic cleansing or killed en masse. The hypothetical and unproven genocide you’re protesting against – you are actually calling for in reality. Doesn’t that strike you as ironic?

Kevin: (Cradles his head in one hand) I’ve already said I’m sorry. I don’t know what else you want from me.

DS Byrne: What I want from you, Kevin, is to apply more thought before you join a protest and wave a banner. The ‘genocide’ claim has been largely invented and latched onto by the protest organizers. They know that for Jews, who were subject to a real genocide only a generation ago, that claim will sting them strongly. As a result, many Jews in London have been afraid to go out while these demos are on.

Kevin: I didn’t realize…

DS Byrne: I think we’ve already clearly established that there’s a lot you didn’t realize. (Holds a palm out) Your Syrian friend at uni alone could vouch for the fact that Assad killed ten times as many of his own people. But we hardly saw any street protests about that. Ever wondered why?

Kevin: I don’t know. (Looks vague) In what way?

DS Byrne: It means that genocide isn’t the main issue at all. Unless of course it only matters when Palestinians are the victims and Syrian lives don’t matter at all. (Gestures) Or perhaps only counts when Jews or Israelis are involved.

Kevin: (As the message sinks in, nods slowly) I see what you mean.

DS Byrne: Hopefully, you do. (Smiles thinly) Because I’d hate to see you back here again.

Kevin: Does that mean I’m free to go? (Looks hopeful). No charges?

DS Byrne: That’s right, no charges (Sits back and sighs). But do me a favour, Kevin, to make sure you don’t end up here again. Don’t ever wave a banner or protest without understanding its true meaning. And don’t ever protest something you don’t fully comprehend or truly believe in.

Kevin: Will do. Thank you. (Stands up) And, again, I’m sorry.

DS Byrne: No need to say sorry to me. (Grimaces) The main person you need to apologize to is yourself.

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John Matthews is an experienced writer and journalist. The author of 24 books, including two centred around WW2 and the holocaust in the name of J.C. Maetis (his father’s original Jewish name) his first experience of writing about the Middle East came as a war correspondent covering the last years of the Lebanese Civil War, which led to his second book, ‘The Crescents of the Moon’. He has since written on the subject for a number of journals, including The Times, Sunday Times, Newsweek, The Independent and The Spectator. He was also in the run-up to the millennium editor of European Brief, the main magazine for the European Parliament, editing the likes of Tony Blair, Al Gore and Henry Kissinger on subjects ranging from the fall of the Berlin Wall and European unity, climate change and nuclear fusion to, once again, the Middle East. He lives in London with his wife and family.

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