Confederation of Friends of Israel in Scotland (COFIS)
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  • HOME
  • About Us
  • Events
  • Scottish FOI Groups
    • Aberdeen Friends of Israel
    • Ayrshire Friends of Israel
    • Dumfries & Galloway Friends of Israel
    • Dundee Friends of Israel
    • Edinburgh Friends of Israel
    • Glasgow Friends of Israel
    • Highland Friends of Israel
    • Lanarkshire Friends of Israel
    • North East Scotland Friends of Israel
  • Resources
    • Apartheid state?
    • BDS - what is it? >
      • Supreme Court judgement on BDS
    • Coronavirus in Israel - 20 Feb 21
    • Declaration of Independence
    • Democracy in Israel
    • Israeli technology
    • LGBT rights in Israel
    • Multicultural Israel
    • Religious Basis for Zionism
    • San Remo 1920-2020
    • Settlements
    • Videos
  • Partners
    • Cross Ethnic Community
    • Israel Britain Alliance
    • StandWithUs UK
    • We Believe in Israel
  • CONTACT US
  • Links
    • UK-Israel Advocacy Groups >
      • BICOM (Britain Israel Communications & Research Centre)
      • BITUD (Britain Israel Trade Union Dialogue)
      • British Muslims for Israel
      • Building Bridges With Israel (Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group)
      • Christian Friends of Israel
      • Conservative Friends of Israel
      • Israel Advocacy Movement
      • Israel Britain Alliance
      • Labour Friends of Israel
      • Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel
      • North West Friends of Israel
      • Northern Ireland Friends of Israel
      • Scottish Friends of Israel
      • Sikhs for Israel
      • Stand With Us UK
      • Sussex Friends of Israel
      • We Believe in Israel
      • Zionist Federation of UK & Ireland
    • Challenging Antisemitism >
      • Campaign Against Antisemitism
      • Gathering the Voices
      • Holocaust Educational Trust
      • International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
      • Muslims Against Anti-Semitism
      • Yad Vashem (World Holocaust Remembrance Center)
    • International Israel Advocacy Groups >
      • Africans For Peace
      • Friends of Israel Initiative
      • Israel Action Network
      • International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
      • Jewish National Fund
      • Sikhs for Israel
      • World Zionist Organization
    • Visit Israel >
      • Abraham Tours
      • Egged Tours
      • El Al Israel Airlines
      • GoIsrael
      • Tourist Israel
      • Yad Vashem (World Holocaust Remembrance Center)
    • Scottish FOI Groups >
      • Aberdeen Friends of Israel
      • Dumfries & Galloway Friends of Israel
      • Dundee Friends of Israel
      • Glasgow Friends of Israel
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      • Lanarkshire Friends of Israel
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  • Blog

Professor David Miller

23/2/2021

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by COFIS Admin -  Email the team at admin@cofis.org

David Miller came to our attention a few months ago when he wrote to us requesting information about COFIS. We didn't think this was because he had any sympathy for our work and, judging by what we are hearing about him, that may be an understatement.​​

Professor of Sociology at Bristol University, Miller has been accused by author Dave Rich of promoting an antisemitic conspiracy theory in which the university's Jewish Society and Union of Jewish Students are accused of being "directed by the State of Israel." A petition to dismiss Professor Miller from his post has been started by Jonathan Hoffman at change.org  Both Hoffman and David Collier allude to the long-term nature of allegations against Professor Miller, dating back more than a decade and preceding his current appointment. The latest controversy, reported in the Jewish Chronicle of 15 February involves an angry outburst in which he described Zionism as an "enemy" which needs to be "ended" and accusing Israel of "trying to impose their will over all the world."

Bristol University has issued a statement stating that they "do not endorse the comments of David Miller": however, stopped short of indicating any disciplinary action against him, citing employment law and the need for privacy. In recent days, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Semitism [sic] has called for a meeting with the university's vice chancellor and the Board of Deputies has also written to him.

SOURCES (All accessed on 23 February 2021)
  1. https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-professor-miller-scandal-is-entirely-of-bristol-universitys-own-making/
  2. https://www.change.org/p/professor-hugh-brady-vc-epa-bristol-ac-uk-david-miller-must-be-dismissed?signed=true
  3. https://david-collier.com/david-miller/
  4. https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/bristol-university-professor-calls-for-end-of-zionism-as-functioning-ideology-of-the-world-1.511837
  5. https://thetab.com/uk/bristol/2021/02/19/bristol-uni-does-not-endorse-david-millers-comments-about-jewish-students-44342
  6. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/22/bristol-university-anti-semitism-row-deepens-mps-urge-vice-chancellor/

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3 million fully vaccinated

22/2/2021

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by COFIS Admin -  Email the team at admin@cofis.org

Brilliant news today that more than 3 million Israelis - roughly 1/3 of the total population, have now received the crucial second coronavirus vaccination.  This includes more than 90% of the vulnerable 60+ age group.  The Chair of COFIS got his first coronavirus vaccination today and has confirmed to us that it is almost completely painless. Although many businesses re-opened on Sunday, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein is talking about the possibility of nighttime curfews and, certainly, there will be restrictions on Purim celebrations upcoming this week.

Speaking of the 60+ age group, some of them may be old enough to recall the last time that legendary American show Saturday Night Live was funny. The antisemitic 'joke' that was made last Saturday by Michael Che, accusing Israel of only vaccinating Jews made no attempt at humour, instead transferring medieval blood libel to a modern context.

It's good to see some of the creative ways that local authorities in Israel are using to encourage people to take up vaccinations. Tel Aviv has put in place a range of measures, from free pizza and hummus to setting up a mobile vaccination facility in a bar, with a free drink for volunteers. Meanwhile, the very conservative community of Bnei Brak has opted for a more traditional offering of cholent for those who come forward to be vaccinated.



SOURCES:

1.https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/coronavirus/1614017268-israel-health-ministry-over-3-million-israelis-have-received-both-doses-of-covid-vaccine
2,https://www.jpost.com/opinion/coronavirus-israel-should-give-iran-vaccines-opinion-659836
3.https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/297243
4.https://www.timesofisrael.com/care-for-a-shot-with-your-shot-tel-aviv-sets-up-vaccine-station-in-local-bar/
5.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-israel-vaccination-idUSKBN2AG21N
6.https://apnews.com/article/israel-misinformation-coronavirus-pandemic-local-governments-museums-462b98e0ff0d7d5bf4400c84a61047b2


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What price peace?

21/2/2021

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by COFIS Admin -  Email the team at admin@cofis.org

In September 2014, an Ethiopian-born Jewish man called Avera Mengistu wandered across the border fence into Gaza and into the deadly clutches of Hamas. From a desperately impoverished background, Mengistu had long-term mental health problems, including schizophrenia and depression. 

Since then, attempts by Mengistu's family; foreign governments and the Red Cross to have access to him have all been unsuccessful. It is thought that Hamas  intends to release Mengistu only if Israel agrees to exchange imprisoned terrorists for him.

In April 2015, a second Israeli made the same fateful journey. On this occasion, it was a Bedouin called 
Hisham al-Sayed, once again a man with mental health problems and from a marginalised community. Almost four years ago, Human Rights Watch investigated the cases of both men and confirmed that, contrary to Hamas' claims, both men were civilians, unconnected to the Israeli military or government at the time they went missing. 

Today, a Member of the Knesset, Ayelet Shaked, described it as "a shame and a disgrace" that Israel has agreed to the supply of Covid-19 vaccines to Gaza, without also insisting on the release of the two prisoners, as well as the bodies of 
Lt. Hadar Goldin and St.-Sgt. Oron Shaul who were kidnapped and murdered by terrorists during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. 

​
SOURCES
  1. https://gisha.org/updates/10405
  2. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/why-are-israelis-held-in-gaza-ignored-amid-syria-prisoner-exchange-659672
  3. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-in-public-plea-israeli-bedouin-asks-hamas-to-release-his-son-1.5428807
  4. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=343075103571401
  5. https://www.timesofisrael.com/family-of-israeli-civilian-held-in-gaza-for-6-years-laments-public-apathy/
  6. https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/05/03/2-israelis-who-entered-gaza-held-incommunicado
  7. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/shaked-shameful-to-give-covid-19-vaccines-to-gaza-while-idf-bodies-held-659648



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At long last... the COFIS blog

21/2/2021

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COFIS Admin

Email the team at admin@cofis.org

Yes, the COFIS blog is finally here. Welcome to our daily (except Shabbat and holidays) updates of news from, and about, Israel. 
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