Thesis Discussion

It’s been a slow week here in the Midwest. Our February 23 vigil took place as usual with seven members of Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends in attendance. However, other than that bit of street activism, we can only report that three members of JWPF read and discussed “The Victimhood of the Powerful: White Jews, Zionism and the Racism of Hegemonic Holocaust Education”

This master’s thesis by Canadian Jennifer Peto caused quite a stir in the Toronto Jewish community and included hours of public debate and even a rebuke by the Ontario legislature. The thesis showed how Holocaust education – particularly through the March of the Living (a tour for Jewish students) and the March of Remembrance and Hope (a tour for non-Jewish students) – is designed to produce support for the State of Israel. Draping the shoulders of Jewish students with Israeli flags as they march through Auschwitz is one technique of indoctrination Peto describes.

We felt the paper went far in exposing how a historical event is being used to promote positive feelings and public support for the Jewish state, but also agreed with Jay Knott in his assessment that the paper did not go far enough. Peto argues that Zionism can only be challenged “through anti-racist, anti-imperialist theory and activism”, while Knott argues the exact opposite:

I want to challenge her and the left in general to ask why this approach was so effective in the case of South Africa, and so ineffective against Israel. She has nothing to say about ‘the chosen people’ and the festivals which celebrate massacres of gentiles – she makes no attempt to answer the question “is Zionism an expression of Judaism”? She explicitly says, “Jews of European descent now enjoy white privilege,” which implies a) they didn’t used to enjoy privilege at all, and b) the privilege they now enjoy is not specifically Jewish. She compares Canada’s history of ethnic cleansing with Israel’s. This is not how to undermine Zionism

Holocaust Denial – A Working Definition

The Holocaust itself is yet another elephant in the room – alongside Israel’s claimed legitimacy as a Jewish state – and begs to be thoroughly deconstructed and discussed, if only to ensure that the crimes and mistakes of the past are not repeated. Yet it appears this is one historical topic that cannot be treated as history. Indeed some Holocaust revisionists have been jailed (fourteen countries forbid discussions outside the accepted narrative of events in Europe from 1939- 1945) for publishing their research into the matter, and who knows how many others are cowed into silence. Our discussion led us to look towards Dan McGowan’s published letter to the editor of his Geneva, NY newspaper for what Holocaust “denial” is, and what it isn’t. According to our friend, Professor Emeritus of Hobart and Smith College and sometimes vigiler, Dan writes:

[revisionists] arguments boil down to three simple contentions:
1. Hitler’s “Final Solution” was intended to be ethnic cleansing, not extermination.
2. There were no homicidal gas chambers used by the Third Reich.
3. There were fewer than 6 million Jews killed of the 55 million who died in WWII.

We are aware that mainstream references to the Holocaust generally serve to undergird support for the Jewish state, and more importantly they vilify and victimize those, like Dan, who dare cross the line. But the constant exposure – in film, television and print media – of this one-sided historical event, begs to be looked at with greater scrutiny and understanding. Questions like “Why?” need to be asked and soberly discussed. We welcome the discussion.
Comments?

“Israel” – Not good for the Jews
Henry Herskovitz
Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends

JWPF in the News

The Ann Arbor Chronicle continued its comprehensive coverage of Ann Arbor City Council meetings, and reports on this writer’s comments as I challenged some assertions by a seated Councilperson made on January 22 during the “Communications from Council” portion of the agenda. Full text of talk follows signature, and a video of the presentation is available. Click here to view the presentation (advance to 00:28:38). From the Chronicle:

Comm/Comm: Israel/Palestine
Henry Herskovitz responded to some remarks that Chuck Warpehoski (Ward 5) made at the council’s Jan. 22, 2013 meeting. Warpehoski had indicated he wouldn’t be contemplating a resolution on Palestinian rights as long as demonstrations continue outside Beth Israel on Saturdays during worship services. Herskovitz asked whether Warpehoski’s remarks contained elements of a “friendly offer” or a possible quid pro quo from Herskovitz’s group – Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends – to cease their demonstrations at Beth Israel. He contended that Warpehoski’s comment contains an “odd element” – because it recognizes that a problem exists in Palestine, which Warpehoski could, or would, act on as an elected official. So Herskovitz concluded that Warpehoski was not saying that the city shouldn’t divest from Israel, or that there are no grounds for divestment – only that Warpehoski is conditioning his action on the actions of Herskovitz’s group.

Herskovitz drew an analogy to the abolitionist movement in the 1800s, as John Brown conducted violent raids against pro-slavery interests. Some in the abolitionist movement decried Brown’s tactics, but they did not allow Brown’s actions to distract them from their goal of abolishing slavery, Herskovitz said. The situation in Palestine cries out for moral intervention, he said. But based on Warpehoski’s remarks, it appears that intervention will not take place until Herskovitz’s group stops expressing its point of view – in a manner that is protected by the First Amendment. Herskovitz allowed that it’s difficult for Warpehoski to accept his group’s tactics. But allowing the actions of another to determine one’s own actions, Herskovitz said, raises doubts about that person’s reasoning and commitment to resolving the issue.

Two Simple Questions – Update

Last week we reported on a OneVoice.org presentation at a local church, where the “elephant in the room”, i.e. the question of Israel’s legitimacy, was raised. The stir caused by this question resulted in a friendly email exchange between program moderator Mark Wenzel and myself.

Summarizing his initial offering, Mark wrote:

Your question has legal and moral dimensions to it that don’t fit into last night’s agenda – you wanted those dimensions responded to in ways that would have turned the event into something entirely different which, on its own, has intrinsic merit but was completely outside the scope of both the letter and the spirit of last night’s purpose.

I replied that any discussion about Israeli Apartheid requires a full discussion of its legitimacy, given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s demand that Palestinians accept Israel’s right to exist “as a Jewish state”. I also asserted that the PM is pointing out to the peace community what is most essential and where Israel is most vulnerable.
Mark replied to my comments that they were thoughtful, and that he would reply in greater detail soon. He also indicated he will begin to organize a forum for such reflections as government’s responsibility, international law, and the preponderance of Israeli military force and power. We await Mark’s full response to the issues raised.
Comments?

“Israel” Out of U.S. Government
Seven vigilers
Henry Herskovitz
Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends
#February 19, 2013 [392 words]

Good Evening,

At Council’s meeting of January 22nd, Councilman Warpehoski “essentially indicated” – according to the Ann Arbor Chroncle – that he would not be contemplating a resolution on the topic of Palestinian rights “as long as demonstrations continue outside Beth Israel on Saturdays during worship service”. I would again like to respond to this comment and ask whether it contained elements of a friendly offer or possible quid pro quo for our group – Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends – to cease our vigils at Beth Israel.

But first it must be noted that his comment contains an odd element: He is recognizing there’s a problem that exists in Palestine, that he could or would act upon as an elected official. He is NOT saying that the City shouldn’t divest from Israel, or that there are no grounds for divestment; only that he is conditioning his actions on the basis of what WE do or don’t do. To me – and to our group – that seems odd.

In the 1800’s many people were opposed to slavery, and one abolitionist – a Mr. John Brown – believed armed insurrection was the only way to overthrow the system of slavery in the United States. He and his followers conducted violent raids which led to the death of some pro-slavery supporters. There were many in the abolitionist movement who decried such tactics, but they did not let the actions of one group turn them away from their goal of abolishing slavery. Indeed, we would doubt the sincerity of their actions were they to have refused to take a stand or act for abolition simply because they didn’t like the tactics of John Brown.

And here we have what appears to be a similar refusal to act on an issue that cries out for moral intervention, but won’t be acted upon until a group that merely exercises its First Amendment rights in a peaceful …. Non-violent way … stops that expression of free speech.

I accept that Mr. Warpehoski finds it difficult to accept our tactics; he has a right to his opinion and no one is saying that conducting such protests as ours is the be-all end-all of tactics. But allowing the actions of another to determine one’s own actions raises sincere doubts about that person’s reasoning and commitment to resolving the issue.

Thank you

Two Simple Questions

Three members of Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends attended a presentation by the Social Transformation Committee of St. Clare’s Episcopal Church and held at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor this week. Two groups were represented: Three Wishes and OneVoice.org.

Three Wishes is an effort to produce stories of daily life from young Jewish Israeli children and Palestinian children. An Israeli Jew named Chen read Elisheva’s story and a local Palestinian woman read Wafa’s story. Both were stories filled with sadness, death, and hope.

Then Shaina Low from OneVoice explained the “grassroots” nature of the organization, without telling the audience that Zionist neo-cons Dennis Ross and Martin Indyk are members of the Board of Advisors of this group, which is peddling the two-state “solution” to the “conflict”. Ahmed, a 25-year-old Palestinian man from Hebron spoke about life under “occupation” and 27-year-old Chen, spoke of her life in the settlements. Both expressed a desire for change.

Moderator Mark Wenzel of St. Clare’s then opened the floor for questions. I asked Ahmed if Israel had a right to exist as a Jewish state and if so, by what right? One woman in the small audience (of about 40 people) tried to interrupt before the short question was even completed. Ahmed’s rather long response was coupled with uncomfortable pauses, but it seemed he never really answered the question. When I tried to clarify if he was saying no, the shouting started. “That’s not what he was saying” said a red-faced man.

Then Chen offered her emotion-laden voice to the conversation: she expressed her disappointment that everywhere she went in this country she was confronted by people talking about boycotts and divestment against Israel.

A Backfired Strategy

Chen asked for a show of hands of who in the audience considered themselves Americans; all the hands went up. Then she pressed her luck and asked how many of us were “proud” Americans? Maybe two hands meekly went up and Chen’s strategy was thwarted. It seemed to this writer that she wanted to ask these “proud” Americans what it would feel like if they went abroad and people criticized the US culture or government policies, much like she – a “proud” Israeli – feels when people speak to her about boycotts and now this question about Israel’s “right” to exist as a Jewish state. Well, it was all too much for this Israeli Jew, and she left the room visibly upset; a few other folks left the room as well.

The Second Question

Mr. Wenzel tried to breathe some life into the deflating meeting, and championed difficult discussion, claiming that some good always comes out of heated conversation. He then went on to extol the virtues of dialogue: how important it was for people representing different national interests to get together and discuss those differences.

This prompted my second question: Would Jews find it valuable and effective to sit down with Nazi Germans to dialogue during the time Jews were being persecuted by the Nazis? Well, that got the good Rev. Sue Sprowls of the Lord of Light Lutheran Church to her feet to chastise this writer for asking such a question. Apparently the Lord of Light could use a few replacement bulbs, because the lights of justice and prophetic anger (see e.g. Isaiah 5 and Amos 1) must shine very dimly there.

Rev. Sprowls was a panel member of a January, 2011, discussion held at the Ann Arbor downtown library, and along with Rabbi Rob Dobrusin of Beth Israel Congregation used her bully pulpit to criticize JWPF. Readers are referred to PeaceMonger’s “Rabbi Dobrusin Highjacks Religious Freedom Day Panel” coverage of this event.

Thanks to the gatekeeping of the Rev. Sprowls, my dialogue question went unanswered as well. Speaking for the street members of JWPF, the correct answers are “no” and “no” to these two questions.

Quote of the Week

“The bad blood between Jews and Palestinian Arabs did NOT begin with ideologically-driven Palestinians invading Poland and forcibly evicting the Jews living there to create a Muslim state based on some misinterpretation of the Qu’ran. It was the other way around.”
Comments?

What do Rhodesia and “Israel” have in common?
Eight vigilers
Henry Herskovitz
Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends

JWPF in the News

The Ann Arbor Chronicle, an on-line newspaper, covers Ann Arbor City Council meetings. During these meetings, citizens are permitted to address council, with some restrictions. On February 4, this writer spoke to Council; The Chronicle covered these remarks (actual text after signature), and added an opinion. This opinion was subsequently addressed in a few comments following the article. Click here to view article. And click here to view the presentation (advance to 00:05:40).

Henry Herskovitz told the council that Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends, a group he’s a part of, has been holding peaceful vigils for over nine years outside the Beth Israel congregation. The group is known for raising the issue of Palestinian sovereignty and what he described as Israeli war crimes. When a member of the city council lashes out with false accusations, he continued, he felt the need to “play a little defense.” He alluded to an Ann Arbor Chronicle article that reported comments from Chuck Warpehoski (Ward 5). From that report of the city council’s Jan. 7, 2013 meeting:

In Ann Arbor, Warpehoski said, we like to assume we’ve got everything all worked out, but when a Muslim woman driving home from her job at the university hospital had a gun pulled on her and was told to “go home,” that indicates that there’s work yet to be done. Another example he gave was the idea of putting a swastika over the Star of David, or circulating literature saying that Jewish religious observances turn boys and girls into “monsters.”

Herskovitz said that a website dedicated to ending his group’s demonstrations did not show any photographs of a swastika over a Star of David, and that if such a photograph existed, he was sure that it would be posted on that website.

Herskovitz then characterized the claim about religious observances turning boys and girls into monsters was out of context. Herskovitz indicated that the context should include Ovadia Yosef’s remarks as quoted in the Jerusalem Post: “Goyim were born only to serve us. Without that, they have no place in the world – only to serve the People of Israel.” Herskovitz noted that Yosef is former Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel and spiritual leader of the Shas political party in Israel.

Herskovitz pointed to another work by an Israeli rabbi, Yitzhak Shapira, who wrote “The Complete Guide to Killing Non-Jews.” Herskovitz quoted another former chief rabbi, Mordechai Eliyahu: “It is important to make one thing clear – the life of one yeshiva boy is worth more than the lives of 1,000 Arabs.”

Herskovitz concluded that those quotations were “monstrous” and ventured that those who’d said those words were probably indoctrinated into an ideology that makes such statements possible – likely at an early age. Herskovitz contended that Beth Israel rabbi Robert Dobrusin takes Jewish children on tours of Israel and poses them with armed soldiers. Dobrusin indoctrinates children into a Zionist ideology, Herskovitz contended.

[Based on the Anti-Defamation League’s frequent condemnation of various remarks by Yosef (including those cited by Herskovitz), Shapira’s book and remarks by Eliyahu, the views expressed by the men could fairly be considered to be inconsistent with the mainstream.]

Comment: The rare encapsulated comment by author Askins actually confirms, rather than challenges, the point I was making. Imagine if a US Congressman, TV host or columnist said “Blacks were born only to serve us Whites; without that they have no place in the world”, coupled only with a lone admonishing voice by some white-supremacist organization in far away Greece. How long do you think they would hold onto their positions? Yet my examples show – and there are many more – that these comments are in fact mainstream Israeli discourse. These rabbis were not fired, they were not demoted, they were not even fined.

Comments?

Seven Vigilers
What are European Jews Doing in the Middle East?
Henry Herskovitz
Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends
#
February 4, 2013 [395 words]

Good Evening,

Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends have been holding peaceful vigils in front of Beth Israel Congregation for over nine years. We are known for raising the issue of Palestinian suffering and Israeli war crimes, and we rarely take a defensive position. But when a member of this body lashes out with false accusations and words taken out of context, we feel the need to play a little defense.

The Ann Arbor Chronicle quotes Councilman Warpehoski as claiming that our group puts a swastika over the Star of David, and circulates literature saying that Jewish religious observances turn boys and girls into “monsters”. I’d like to respond.

Even the ad hominem website dedicated to our “Eviction” does not display a photograph of a swastika over the Star of David, and believe me, if such a photo existed, these guys would have published it.

Secondly is this out-of-context claim about monsters. Let me offer to Council the words of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef as quoted in the Jerusalem Post: “Goyim – that’s anybody who’s not Jewish – were born only to serve us Jews. Without that, they have no place in the world”. Now before you write this guy off as insignificant, let me remind you that Yosef is the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel – a government employee – and the current spiritual leader of the Shas political party. Shas is Israel’s fourth largest party and four of its members currently hold posts in Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet.

Then there’s another government employee, Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira, who wrote “The complete guide to killing non-Jews”. And another former Sephardic Chief – Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu – said in 2008: “… it is important to make one thing clear – the life of one yeshiva boy is worth more than the lives of 1,000 Arabs.”

Now I would say that these are pretty monstrous quotes, and suggest that those who said them have been indoctrinated into an ideology that makes such statements possible.

And they were probably indoctrinated at an early age. To start this process, Rabbi Dobrusin takes innocent Jewish children on tours of Israel, and poses them with armed soldiers and in front of military vehicles. He indoctrinates them into the same Zionist ideology.

Here are two pictures taken from Beth Israel’s website in 2007. They have since been removed. To claim we call Jewish children monsters is to deny listeners the contextual point.

Thank you

Taxi Squad Challenges AIPAC

Ten hardy souls of JWPF’s Taxi Squad traveled to Southfield, Michigan to deliver a message to AIPAC supporters last Monday, as they pulled their Cadillacs into Shaarey Zedek synagogue: You may be able to flaunt your wealth and power as you manipulate U.S. foreign policy, and as you attempt to destroy the Palestinian people, but you are not doing it in private. We are watching you, and represent many Americans who are sick and tired of funding your racist wars and ideology, your manipulations and domination of our media, legal system, culture, and of course politicians.

And we think YOU know we’re winning; that the tables are turning and that you’re losing the PR battle. Witness Germany’s abstention in the UN voting on Palestinian recognition: one small vote which contained a huge symbolic meaning: Germany is also sick and tired of being bullied by Jewish groups who have pounded the country financially and morally for 67 years, and Germans have started to stand up to this ferocious onslaught.

And witness the refusal of Jacques Rogge and the International Olympic Committee to be pushed around: there will be no 1-minute memorial (read: emotional manipulation) for the eleven Israeli athletes – most of them immigrants to Palestine and active or reserve IDF soldiers – killed in the 1972 Munich Olympics. Small steps indeed, but AIPAC members must know their days in the driver’s seat are numbered, and many did last Monday.

Comments?

Nine Vigilers
With friends like “Israel”, Who needs enemies?
Henry Herskovitz
Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends
#

Councilman Rips Vigils (again)

It’s uncommon for Ann Arbor City Council members to respond to speaker input during the public commentary portion of their meetings, but Fifth Ward representative Chuck Warpehoski did just that this past Monday. Vigil supporters B and M publicly questioned why Mr. Warpehoski – who is director of the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice (ICPJ) – has not taken up his own organization’s call for “Arms Divestment and Cessation of U.S. Military Aid to Israel”, now that he holds public office. B specifically asked Mr. Warpehoski why he made the campaign promise “that he will not be voting for any resolution critical of Israel”?

In his response Warpehoski completed his campaign phrase: that he will not support any resolution critical of Israel “while harassment of the Beth Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor continues.”

So let’s get this straight: Mr. Warpehoski is granting Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends (JWPF) the power to determine the course that he will follow as an elected official. Is he offering to support his own organization’s resolution if we end our Beth Israel vigils? What else is he prepared to do based on the actions of JWPF?

And – a broader question here – if he and ICPJ determined on their own to support an end of US military aid to Israel, why on earth would such a peace group condition that promise on anything? If calling on the US government to divest from a ruthless and violent country – one that continuously rains devastation on a largely unarmed civilian population – is the right thing to do, why make the spurious link to the actions of another group who wish the same outcome? JWPF has always supported boycotts, divestment, and sanctions against such aggression.

Who is Mr. Warpehoski beholden to, and what is he getting in return? This affair highlights a process by which American politicians are molded and coerced by supporters of a foreign power to override their oath to support the US Constitution.

Protest AIPAC

The American-Israel Public Affairs Committee is one of the major groups that molds and coerces our national leaders to support – against the interests of their own country – this foreign power. And their Michigan branch is meeting this Monday in nearby Southfield. Our Taxi Squad is growing in numbers and we ask readers to consider joining in. See below for details and you there.

Comments?

Seven Vigilers
End Jewish Supremacism
Henry Herskovitz
Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends
#

When– 5:45 PM this Monday, January 28th:

What — A small Palestine rights and anti-Israel vigil outside a major AIPAC event, to be held at Shaarey Zedek synagogue.

Where — The vigil will be at the Northwestern Highway entrance to Shaarey Zedek — see map below. The formal address of the place is 27375 Bell Road, Southfield, MI 48034.
Parking – Available on Kenwyck Drive, two blocks north of Eleven Mile Road off Bell Road.

Why– Shaarey Zedek says that “Our synagogue partners with AIPAC, America’s pro-Israel lobby…”, on its Web site at http://www.shaareyzedek.org/resources/index.html

You can see AIPAC’s announcement of its own big event inside, at http://www.aipac.org/en/resources/events/event-details?eventid=%7BC8F7C18B-8853-4AE0-8326-2EDD0A56B12E%7D , which says:

————————————

“Congregation Shaarey Zedek & AIPAC cordially invite you to

“The 2013 Michigan Winter Event

“On the Battlefield: Israel’s Legacy of Morality

“Featuring Colonel Richard Kemp, Former Commander, British Troops in Afghanistan

“Monday, January 28, 2013
“6:00 p.m . – Leadership Cocktail & Hors D’oeuvres Reception
“(The leadership reception is exclusively for Club Members who have generously
contributed a minimum of $1,500 to AIPAC’s 2013 annual campaign.)

“7:00 p.m. – Community Program & Dessert Reception

Revving up the Taxi Squad

Readers may remember our vigil report of December 15 in which we reported the upcoming Michigan AIPAC meeting* in nearby Southfield, and may be wondering why no protest was being planned. Well, as they used to say, the buck stops here, and this writer, after receiving no support from any other activist group, decided to drop the plan.

Bad decision, according to 73-year-old vigiler F, who informed all that he was planning to protest the Lobby, which is presently stealing the US government’s foreign policy decisions from “We the People”, by himself.

Part of the perceived problem of this particular protest lies in the physical location of this fortress, aka Shaary Zedek synagogue. Though it’s peaked roof is visible from a nearby expressway, the place is situated on two small, low-trafficked streets. Not an ideal location for a public protest.

Still, Vigiler F feels that this criminal theft of his government should not go unanswered, and that – as Paul Eisen puts it – even one person is a vigil. Would Jews in the 1930’s permit a meeting of the German-American Bund to proceed without a protest? We think not.

So, embarrassed into revving up the taxi squad, we can report the commitment of five, dedicated and fully peace-trained protesters to travel the 40 miles to this “house of warship”, and shine the light of truth – however small – on the most powerful lobbying group which has ever invaded and occupied the US Congress. Please join us: Our protest will run from 5:45 – 7:15 pm on Monday, January 28 at 27375 Bell Road, Southfield, Michigan.

Comments?

Nine vigilers
We are anti-“Israel”; are you?
Henry Herskovitz
Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends

* http://www.aipac.org/resources/events/event-details?eventid={C8F7C18B-8853-4AE0-8326-2EDD0A56B12E}

The 2013 Michigan Winter Event

– text from AIPAC’s invitation:

Congregation SHAAREY ZEDEK and AIPAC CorDIALLY INVITE YOU TO

THE 2013 MICHIGAN WINTER EVENT
On the Battlefield: Israel’s Legacy of Morality
FEATURED SPEAKER:
Col. Richard Kemp
Former Commander,
British Troops in Afghanistan

Monday, January 28, 2013
6:00 pm – Leadership Reception*
*The reception is exclusively for Club Members who have generously contributed a minimum of $1,500 to AIPAC’s 2013 annual campaign.

7:00 pm – Community Program & Dessert Reception

Congregation Shaarey Zedek
27375 Bell Road
Southfield, MI

ADVANCE RESERVATIONS REQUESTED
To RSVP please contact
Brittany Cohen at (312) 253-8968 or bcohen@aipac.org.

Please respond by January 21.

The event is free and open to the community.
Dietary Laws Observed.

About Colonel Richard Kemp

Colonel Richard Kemp has been actively involved in fighting terrorists around the globe for 35 years. He was Commander of all British Forces in Afghanistan with responsibility for counter insurgency operations, disarmament and reintegration programs, development and training of the Afghan national security forces, reconstruction and defense diplomacy. He set up a joint counter terrorist operation with U.S., Canadian and Afghan forces that achieved major operational success against Al Qaida terrorists in Kabul.

He spent the last five years of his three decade military career at the UK Cabinet Office in Whitehall. He was a member of the Cobra national crisis management committee and chairman of the Cobra Intelligence Group. He was an active member of the groundbreaking UK-U.S. Joint International Security Strategy Group. He headed the Joint Intelligence Committee’s international and domestic terrorism team and the Iraq politics and security team, responsible for UK national intelligence assessments. He made many fact-finding trips to Iraq, and in 2005 worked in Baghdad, Fallujah and northern Iraq on intelligence and counter terrorism for the US Ambassador.

Previously Colonel Kemp completed a total of 14 active duty tours as a military commander in Northern Ireland and in many global hotspots. Working alongside U.S. forces, he took part in the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. He commanded British troops in the United Nations Protection Force in Bosnia and was counter terrorism adviser to the Macedonian government. He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his work on the July 2005 London bombings and in Iraq; Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for intelligence work in Northern Ireland; and was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery for his action during the Bosnia conflict.
Colonel Kemp is Special Adviser on international terrorism to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, a commentator in the national and international print and broadcast media on defense and security, and author of “Attack State Red”, a best-selling book about the conflict in Afghanistan.

With Colonel Kemp’s years of service has come a unique understanding of the critical decisions military leaders must make during times of war including decisions of life and death, of morality, humanity and ethics. An example of this is when in 2009, Colonel Kemp carefully studied Israel’s actions in Gaza – a defensive operation following years of unrelenting Hamas rocket and mortar attacks on Israeli civilians. When he heard that former Judge Richard Goldstone was conducting an investigation into Israel’s operation on behalf of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Colonel Kemp immediately offered up his findings and valuable analysis. Judge Goldstone declined the offer. A few months later, the Human Rights Council was holding an emergency session to discuss Judge Goldstone’s findings – also known as the Goldstone Report. Given that it was an open session, Colonel Kemp was able to present his unbiased analysis. He has sought to provide objective, expert commentary and analysis on that subject as well as more widely on Israel’s security including conflict with Hizballah and the Gaza “flotilla” incident.