One of the most popular venues in the North West has been commended for pulling out of hosting a pro-Israel event.

The ‘Say no to Terror: Stand with Israel Event’ was due to take place at the Sheridan Suite in Manchester on 31 January. Organisers North West Friends of Israel (NWFOI) now list the event as postponed on their website.

Four groups, including Manchester Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Manchester Jewish Action for Palestine, Manchester Fight Racism Fight Imperialism, Manchester Palestine Action issued a statement, in said it was not anti-Semitic in way to oppose the Israeli regime, “As groups in Manchester demanding justice and equality for Palestinians, we believe it is a moral duty for institutions and companies to refuse to host events that endorse and glorify Israel’s decades-long illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. 

“It is not anti-Semitic to oppose the Israeli regime and its oppressive system of domination over the Palestinians, just as it was not anti-white to use international boycotts against the Apartheid South Africa racist control of blacks in the 70s and 80s.

“It is a duty to stand against any state that is occupying another people’s land and brutalising the remaining people who live there.

“Over 170 Palestinian civil society organisations made the international call in 2005 that they will no longer accept a life under the Israeli soldier’s boot.

“They called for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) of Israel until they abide by international law and allow equality for Palestinians in their homeland, the same rights that any human being would expect.”

“We do not accept a conference in Manchester that justifies such evident war crimes, standing with Israel while their army bombed over 62 hospitals and clinics, 45 ambulances and 250 Palestinian schools. 

“The boycott divestment and sanctions movement came about because the world’s governments hold other countries to account for their crimes while it rewards Israel with more aid than any other country. 

“This is despite Israel’s record of violating more United Nations resolutions than any other UN member state. Is it any wonder that Palestinians are aggrieved by the life imposed on them by permanent occupation?

“We call on people of Manchester and the rest of the United Kingdom to act, educate and join the growing movement to Boycott, Divest and Sanction the Israel apartheid regime until freedom and justice arrives for the Palestinian people.”

North West Friends of Israel said in a statement on their website, “North West Friends Of Israel regrets to announce the postponement of their Say No To Terror – Stand With Israel National Solidarity Event due to cancellation by host venue the Sheridan Suite.

“Despite accepting the booking in full knowledge of the event purpose and with a cross communal and multi-faith line up of speakers all dedicated to achieving peace in the region and opposition to indiscriminate terror wherever perpetrated, the Sheridan Suite have fallen victim to an orchestrated campaign by specific pressure groups whose sole aim is to delegitimise the existence of the State of Israel. 

“Rather than change venue at short notice therefore, we are delighted to announce that we have decided to re-arrange the date of the event to coincide with the arrival of Mark Regev the new Israeli Ambassador to the UK.”

Earlier The Sheridan Suite had posted this on Twitter