Puma is the kit partner for Israel's soccer team. On 6 October there was an anti-Israel demonstration by InMinds outside the Puma shop in London’s Carnaby Street. Israel was called an 'apartheid state' and accused of stealing land; a sign incorrectly stated that 'every day Israel abducts and cages two Palestinian children, 75% are physically tortured' and there were chants of 'from the river to the sea'.

Together with other pro-Israel activists, Damon Lenzner and I attempted to counter the untruths. 

The video of the demonstration is here. Sandra Watfa's speech contained a number of offensive comments about Israel, some of which we believe were antisemitic (eg that Israel is a racist and an apartheid state - this is antisemitic according to the IHRA definition).

We responded to her speech by shouting ‘Terrorist Supporters, Off Our Streets’. Watfa had recently spoken at the Hezbolla-supporting Al Quds Day march (you can see the yellow Hezbolla flags in the video). She spoke of Palestinian terrorism as “resistance”. Note the lies about Jews poisoning water ("The Zionist forces put typhus bacteria into the water going to Akka").

Watfa has also shared posts that deny the Holocaust and she has used antisemitic hashtags such as #jewnitedstates (see David Collier’s work on Palestine Live).

We have each been charged with two offences: assault and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence. We entirely refute the allegations. We attended to exercise our right of free speech and to counter-protest against views that we consider abhorrent.

We believe that the charges are directed at ALL who counter lies about Israel and who fight antisemitism – not just at us. Our legal team needs to be paid. Even though they are working partly pro bono, this is a complex case requiring days of preparation. 

Thank you very much for helping us, on behalf of all who stand up for Israel!

 Solidarity!