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Tag: Hendon

  • Hendon candidate says he is ‘worried’ by intervention in election campaign

    Hendon candidate says he is ‘worried’ by intervention in election campaign

    http://www.dismore4hendon.com/uploads/968e6b61-076b-85c4-d5b3-21859d4939c5.jpg
    Andrew Dismore with Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosser, at Trafalgar Square

    By Alex Hayes

    THE Labour candidate for the Hendon Parliamentary seat has said the intervention of an anti-Zionist Muslim group in his election campaign is “worrying”.

    Andrew Dismore has been attacked by the Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPAC) for his pro-Zionist views and record in Parliament.

    After a hustings at Hendon Mosque the group distributed 2,000 leaflets urging people not to vote for Mr Dismore, who is vice chairman of the Labour Friends of Israel, and instead vote for the Lib Dems or Tories.

    Mr Dismore said: “What’s worrying is this intervention in the election runs the risk of creating real divisions in the community.

    “We’ve had traditionally good relations between the communities in Hendon and we could do without this interference from outsiders.

    “I suspect there’s nothing between us on the politics of Palestine.”

    Lib Dem candidate Matthew Harris, a vice chariman of his party’s Friends of Israel, has also rejected the backing of the group.

    In a statement on his website he said: “I am pleased and proud to be a friend of Israel, campaigning for a two-state solution that will bring peace, justice and security to Palestinans and Israelis alike.

    “I strongly dislike MPAC’s policies and its campaigning methods. But if anyone is thinking of voting for me because MPAC has advised them to vote Lib Dem or Tory as a way of ousting Hendon’s Labour MP, I would advise them to vote for someone else – I reject MPAC’s support.”

    However, Tahir Shah, a spokesman for MPAC, said the group were not against Jewish people, but opposed Zionists.

    He said: “Whatever faith the candidates are makes no difference politically. We are against Andrew Dismore’s record in Parliament.

    “He has shown hostility towards the people of Palestine with his voting record.”

    Mr Shah said MPAC’s focus was to get more Muslims involved in politics with the major parties to prevent extremism in the community.

    12th April 2010

    http://www.dismore4hendon.com/uploads/e86a9b30-a2ca-5244-bddc-78f39e77b62c.jpg
    Andrew with Board of Deputies of British Jews President Henry Grunwald QC
  • Muslims vow to unseat Zionists – HENDON

    Muslims vow to unseat Zionists – HENDON

    By Martin Bright

    he Muslim organisation that claimed responsibility for unseating “pro-war, pro-Israel” Labour MP Lorna Fitzsimons from her Rochdale constituency at the last election has launched its campaign for the 2010 election.

    The Muslim Public Affairs Committee, which has an openly anti-Zionist agenda, has said it will target MPs and candidates known to support Israel and those they have identified as “Islamophobic”. It claims that 82 constituencies now have a Muslim population larger than the incumbent’s majority.

    MPAC will concentrate its resources on the Oldham seat of Immigration Minister Phil Woolas, who recently raised concerns about the prevalence of marriage between cousins in the Muslim community.

    “Muslim voters can no longer be taken for granted by Labour, as a new politicised generation are becoming swing voters who demand action, on issues from Palestine to anti-terror laws,” said Rukiya Dadhiwala, MPAC’s campaign co-ordinator.

    The organisation has also warned Muslim voters in Hendon to vote for anyone but sitting Labour MP Andrew Dismore, who is considered an arch-Zionist.

    It claims 2,000 leaflets attacking the Labour candidate were distributed outside Hendon mosque at Friday prayers.

    However, his opponents, Conservative Matthew Offord and Lib Dem Matthew Harris are also both strong supporters of Israel. “They may be Zionists, but they are not as bad as he is,” said spokesman Tahir Shah.

    . April 8, 2010