Stop the War Coalition on their Anti-War Convention and Other Events

‘Newsletter – 18/10/24

Anti-War Convention: Stop the Drive to War

We are holding an anti-war convention to bring together leading campaigners and commentators with activists and trade unionists. 

From the Middle East to Eastern Europe, we face permanent war. Great power conflict looms, risking global conflagration.

The US and Britain are backing Israel to the hilt as it carries out genocide and lashes out in all directions. The assassination of Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, has not led to a ceasefire, instead Israel continues with its war on Gaza and Lebanon, and looks hell bent on war with Iran.

The West’s massive support for Ukraine has turned the conflict into a proxy war against Russia. Tensions with China are rising.

Join us at the convention where you can hear from leading commentators and take part in workshops on what is driving the spread of war, on the regional crises, on media and war and on the Islamophobia and attacks on civil liberties that war is generating.

Make sure you are part of this crucial day. Bring a delegation from your group, trade union or workplace. Book now for an early bird ticket and spread the word.

The convention will take place on 17 November at 12:00-5:00 pm at The Atrium in London.

Book your ticket here

A year of Israeli terror has the Middle East in the midst of catastrophic war. Having bombed Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen in the past couple of weeks the world is holding its breath over what action Israel will take against Iran.

StW, alongside our partners PSC, CND, MAB, FOA and PFB, have called a National Day of Action on 19th October to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza, hands off Lebanon and no war with Iran. 

Protests and pickets will be taking place across the country. There will be an all-London rally in Trafalgar Square from 2-4pm. Make sure you get along and support your local action.

Save the Date: 31 October, more local events to be organised around Halloween.

Click here for details of Day of Action events

Click here for details of the London Rally

Stop the War is calling on all our supporters to join the Stand Up to Racism demonstration against Tommy Robinson and the far-right on Saturday 26th October. The demo will assemble at Piccadilly at 11:30.

Join us on the Palestine bloc and take a stand against the attacks on the Palestine movement and the rise in Isamophobia. If you are able to help out on the day, either on our bloc or in the stewarding team, then please drop us a line.

There are many coaches for those outside London – find transport details here.

National Demonstration Saturday 2 November 

The next national demonstration for Palestine, demanding an end to Israel’s aggression in the Middle East, has been called for Saturday 2 November.

In the last few weeks Israel has shown it is out of control and has no intension of stopping its escalation. It has so far bombed Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, as well as Gaza and the West Bank. It has attacked UN peacekeepers, is ignoring all calls for peace negotiations and threatens to attack Iran. Yet in the crazed view of Keir Starmer this is only Israel ‘defending itself’.

We must continue to show our solidarity with those suffering from Israel’s barbarism and demand our government stop giving the pariah state diplomatic and military cover. Do all you can to join us on the streets.

This Week’s Anti-War Briefing‘

Stop the War Coalition on Events and Demonstrations against the Widening of Israel’s War against the Middle East

This week, Middle East Eye reported that Bezalel Smotrich, one of the genocidal maniacs in Netanyahu’s Likud government, has declared he would like his country to expand to take in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. This follows an ideology of greater Israel that the YouTube channel, Israelmychannel, was discussing a year or so ago, and which has been embraced by Ted Hagee’s Christians United for Israel. They want Israel to expand and stretch from the western bank of the Nile to the eastern bank of the Euphrates, in accordance with what they interpret as God’s promise to Abraham in the Hebrew Bible.

This is a recipe for outright war with the Arab and Muslim nations, who could not possibly tolerate the invasion and occupation of their lands. And the fact that it is being supported by people like Smotrich gives the lie to the claim that the attack on Gaza is purely defensive. At least in the eyes of Smotrich and those who think like him, it is just part of a wider campaign to annexe these nations.

‘Newsletter – 11/10/24

12 Months of Israeli Terror

A year of Israeli terror has the Middle East in the midst of catastrophic war. Having bombed Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen in the past couple of weeks the world is holding its breath as Israel looks set to launch an attack on its primary target, Iran.

The apartheid state is also escalating its assault on northern Gaza by attempting to forcibly displace the remaining Palestinian population of over 400,000 people. Yet another example of a defenceless people being massacred by one of the world’s most high-tech militaries.

Israel is now trying to project the same murderous blueprint it has laid on  Gaza onto Lebanon. Already over 1 million are displaced, over 2,000 killed and now attacks on UN peacekeepers. Is there no limit to Israel’s barbarity? It appears there won’t be unless world leaders intervene.

There is no hope of that from Joe Biden who has enabled this unfolding genocide at every turn. As Lindsey German wrote earlier this week:

“The reason Joe Biden has done everything to support Israel, refusing to halt the supply of arms and fully supporting its invasion of Lebanon, is because this is still in the interests of US imperialism. This year has seen at most mild criticism from Biden over the Gaza genocide, echoed by both Tory and Labour governments here and the EU, which has only emboldened Netanyahu. Why feel constrained in attacking Lebanon when you have been able to organise a genocide and destruction of Gaza, facilitated by western-supplied arms and funding?”

The worsening situation in the Middle East means we, alongside our partners in PSC, CND, MAB, FOA and PFB, are calling a National Day of Action on 19th October which calls for an end to the genocide in Gaza, hands off Lebanon and no war with Iran. We are asking all our members, supporters, groups and affiliates to do everything they can to organise local and regional events to highlight the real dangers of war and what we can do to stop Israel’s drive to war, backed by the US, and our own government.

Here’s What You Can Do for Next Saturday’s Day of Action

Then on Saturday 2nd November it is time to take to the streets of London again for another mass demonstration. Full details will be released in the coming days. It’s vital we continue to take to the streets in huge numbers to demand an end to British complicity in Israel’s genocide.

This Weds – London Rally: Stop Israel’s Drive to Israel

In the last few weeks Israel has bombed Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, as well as Gaza and the West Bank. Yet in the crazed view of Keir Starmer this is only Israel ‘defending itself’ against Iran. War crime after war crime is either justified or ignored, and British bases in Cyprus have been used to transport weapons and help Israel. Starmer and the US are taking the world into a war for which there will be no winners.

Join us on Wednesday 16 October for a London rally with Barnaby Raine, Ghada Karmi, Kate Hudson, Leanne Mohammad, Lindsey German, Matt Kennard, Steve North, Taj Ali and more to call for de-escalation and an end to Israeli aggression.

Click Here to Register

Report: Ceasefire Now Workplace Day of Action

Yesterday’s Ceasefire Now – Stop Arming Israel Day of Action saw a widespread return to workplace activity in solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people. Thousands of workers in hospitals, schools, universities, libraries, town halls and elsewhere came together to demand an end to Israel’s genocide.

The backing of Unison and UCU has meant more workers involved than ever before. But the fact is we need more activity. The horrific daily massacres currently occurring in Gaza and Lebanon necessitate that the trade union movement do all it can to call on the Labour government to stop arming Israel. We call on all the unions to back our Days of Action for Palestine and encourage their members to get active on this issue.

Read the Report – 10 Oct Day of Action

We’re Hiring: National Organiser

Do you want to work at the heart of the largest anti-war movement in British history? Want to be at the forefront of organising for Palestine across the UK?

We have a vacancy for a National Organiser role in our national office – an initial 3 month probation period with a view to permanent employment upon review.

If you’re interested in working in the Stop the War office download the job description below and apply by sending in an up-to-date CV and a cover letter (1000-word limit) detailing your suitability and relevant experience for the role by 9am on Mon 14 Oct.

Click Here for Job Description

We’re Hiring: National Organiser

Do you want to work at the heart of the largest anti-war movement in British history? Want to be at the forefront of organising for Palestine across the UK?

We have a vacancy for a National Organiser role in our national office – an initial 3 month probation period with a view to permanent employment upon review.

If you’re interested in working in the Stop the War office download the job description below and apply by sending in an up-to-date CV and a cover letter (1000-word limit) detailing your suitability and relevant experience for the role by 9am on Mon 14 Oct.

Click Here for Job Description‘

I think the Israelis got a bit of a shock when they fired at the UN Peacekeepers. They shot at an Irish contingent, who returned fire. And naturally there is outrage at Israel’s attack among some of the good folk of the Emerald Isle, who have taken to expressing it on social media.