For years the small Jewish community in Bristol has kept a low profile. In recent years a real feeling of unease has prevailed as a result of the viciousness in which the media and so called local 'peace activists' have potrayed Israel.

In 2008 Israel invaded Gaza to stop the relentless missile attacks against Israeli cities and civilians. Since 2001 over 12000 missiles were fired from Gaza. That’s twelve thousand! During this long overdue action the media (which ignored the plights of hundreds of thousands of Israelis living in fear and bomb shelters for years) and peace activist immediately went into overdrive to condemn and demonise Israel.

In Bristol a protest match was organised against Israel. I was obviously upset at the vicious one sided nature of these so called peace activists and decided to gather my Israeli flag and print out a fact sheet to hand out to better inform those that were interested.
My arrival was at first met with confusion and curiosity. As soon as they realised what I was doing things changed. I was soon met with angry looks and when I tried to engage the participants in a calm and reasoned manner I met with anger and hostility. As the march began and I followed the hostility grew to a truly disturbing level. I was accused of being a 'dirty Jew baby killer' and a 'cockroach'. As the police witnessed this hostility they were forced to escort me alongside the protesters.

What I met that day was not a reasonable act of protesting a war. I saw the face of deep-rooted and vicious anti-Semitism. I was there to show my support for Israel and the material I was handing out was not inflammatory it was a simple list of facts pertaining to what Israel had and was willing to sacrifice for Peace and what they endured at the hands of the Hamas terrorist organisation who took over Gaza in a bloody coup and were using it as a base for terror against Israel.

After the recent flotilla incident once again we saw this explosion of condemnation and vilification of Israel with no regards to the facts of the situation. It is a very scary time for those of us who understand what is happening and its roots. We are being pushed into a corner as the media and activist can do and say what they want against Israel with impunity. It is so blatantly one sided and inflammatory and at times is reminiscent of the anti semetic blood libels that resulted in a bloody history for the Jews.

I want Peace in Israel as do the vast majority of Israelis. We have shown our willingness to compromise again and again for peace and each time have been met with cynical violence. The fact is that a large part of the Islamic world still does not accept the nationhood of Israel. Only the complete annihilation of the Jewish people will change that fact. Unfortunately some of our neighbours still publically state that desire.

I feel obligated as a Jewish Israeli in Bristol to take a stand and not let this dangerous attitude go unanswered. If you are a peace activist in Bristol and would rather have a level and informed understanding from someone who has lived and worked with both sides I welcome you to contact me and we can talk. If you prefer to propagate sifted truths and hate filled libels then that is your choice but if I can I will answer that as well. Shalom.