Guardian: Pro-Israel lobby group bankrolling Tories, film claims
Pro-Israeli organisations in Britain look set to see their influence increase if the Conservatives win the next election, a film scrutinising the activities of a powerful but little-known lobby warns today.
At least half of the shadow cabinet are members of the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI), according to a Dispatches programme being screened on Channel 4. The programme-makers describe the CFI as “beyond doubt the most well- connected and probably the best funded of all Westminster lobbying groups”.
Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby claims that donations to the Conservative party “from all CFI members and their businesses add up to well over £10m over the last eight years”. CFI has disputed the figure and called the film “deeply flawed”.
The programme also describes how David Cameron allegedly accepted a £15,000 donation from Poju Zabludowicz, a Finnish billionaire who chairs Bicom (the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre). Zabludowizc, the film reveals, has business interests in an illegal West Bank settlement. He also gave £50,000 to Conservative Central Office. Zabludowicz says his contributions “are a matter of public record”.
William Hague allegedly accepted personal donations from CFI board members totalling tens of thousands of pounds after being appointed shadow foreign secretary. More than £30,000 from CFI supporters went to the campaign funds of members of Cameron’s team who were first elected in 2005, the film claims, using publicly available information.
Categories: Awareness, Behaviour, Belief, Bigotry, Brutality, Double Standard, Europe and Australia, UK
If only the Muslims could put their difference aside and form a Muslim Lobby and speak unanimously on issues affecting Muslims adversely then their voice may be heard with some interest. In America Presidential Candidates supported by the Jewish Lobby with conditions favouring Israel almost always end up becoming Presidents. Muslim Lobby could have influence on Leaders only if the Muslims were united leaving their internal difference at local levels instead of infighting on global level as it is happening everywhere. One Muslim Nation, forgetting their internal mishaps, is against another Muslim Nation. While the Jews are despite their differences stick together when it comes to Israeli issues. Why can’t the Muslims learn from this. Had been united Cameron or other Leaders would not have uttered support for Israel knowing that Isfael is killing Palestinian civilian population. Have not heard any condemnations from Muslim Leaders.
In my earlier comment One typing error crept in, towards the end one sentence should read “had they been united Cameron and other Leaders…….”
Sorry.