'I am not afraid to speak up for Israel,' Tommy Robinson tells JPost
"I've never had any financial benefit from Israel," he said, confirming that he will not be paid for his upcoming trip to Israel following a personal invite from Minister Amichai Chikli.
“I’ve had backlash for 15 years because I’m standing on the right side of history.” Throughout the interview, Robinson stressed that his visit to Israel, and indeed support in general, is a matter of principle and not a publicity stunt or money maker.
“I’ve never had any financial benefit from Israel,” he said, confirming that he will not be paid for the trip.
Countering such disinformation is a significant part of his mission.
“So when I meet people who disagree with me, I say, ‘What is it?’ And they say, ‘Well, you want to do this. You want to deport everyone.’ And I say, I’ve never said that. I don’t have those beliefs. So you’re mischaracterizing anything I’ve stood for.
“So I say to anyone who takes the time to actually sit and listen to a long-form discussion with me, listen to one of my podcasts, listen to one of my interviews, or my presentation [at] Oxford University, they find out that the person they listen to is a different person to who they thought I was.”
Similarly, he sees education as the key to countering antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment.
“I guess I am a leader of our movement, [whose role is] to educate them on this absolute propaganda.”
Robinson took aim at the British education system for indoctrinating students to hate Israel: “Everyone coming out of the education system unfortunately hates Israel and hates Jews and is pro-Palestine.” He told the Post that “the reason that we’re seeing the hatred and the venom against Jews and against Israel is because our university campuses have been taken over by Islamists,” and now “normal people are too scared to speak out.”
Among the influential campaigns in UK education systems are those of Qatar, Iran, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Hizb ut-Tahrir.
“I don’t want to be involved in party politics,” he added, “but I want to play my part in waking people up and bringing them together, which is what we do as a group.”
Robinson does believe that a revolution is “brewing” in the UK and that “British people who have been silenced and fearful and scared” are now waking up. He cited the September 13 Unite the Kingdom protest in London, which he organized, which saw over 100,000 protesters waving British and some Israeli flags and defending British values.
The protest was strongly criticized by many as racist and anti-immigrant, but Robinson views it as galvanizing British people [especially working-class men] “to oppose extremism on our streets.”
“We need to politicize and electrify the people who don’t vote and give them something to believe in and give them an identity again. And the reason why they don’t vote is because they’re like me and everyone I know who doesn’t vote because we were told that our vote didn’t matter. But if we continue to sit and believe we don’t matter, we’re going to get tyranny and governments who totally betray us and betray Israel.”
Robinson is optimistic that a “cultural revolution” is afoot in Great Britain.
Where does this fit in with Israel?
“It fits in with Israel because [the Labour government] has betrayed every value that Israel stands for as a country, and they’ve betrayed us.” This is part of the reason he believes Reform UK will “absolutely sweep” the next election.“So I see Israel as an ally in every value that we stand for, and I see all that the Israeli government stands for, even if obviously there’s a percentage of the Jewish community in the UK that does not.”
Robinson does not mince his words about the percentage of British Jews who he says are “too scared” to stand up for Israel.
“You’re on the front line of this fight. You’re not going to get anywhere through being weak or scared. You need to stand up for your values.”
He also directed criticism to the Board of Deputies of British Jews, who he says “act like they’re the voice for all British Jews when they are so weak and so cowardly in any support of the State of Israel.”
“The same way we’re betrayed by our leadership in the UK, the Jewish community have been betrayed by theirs.”
This will not be Robinson’s first visit to Israel, having travelled to the Jewish state once before in 2016.
“Last time I came, it was the most fascinating week I’ve ever had. I came and asked a lot of questions, and everything I thought I knew was the opposite.”
It was during his previous trip that Robinson first learned about the Palestinian Authority’s Pay for Slay policy.
“I couldn’t believe that my country’s taxpayers’ money funds the Palestinian Authority, who then fund people to go and murder Israelis. And that same Palestinian Authority has now just been rewarded with recognition of the state,” he said.
“I’m absolutely disgusted with the betrayal of my government and what they’re doing to Israel and the way they’ve turned their back on Israel and the appeasement they’ve shown to jihadists. I’ve watched as my country has appeased this ideology, and they’ve turned their back on our main ally and our main people who share our love for freedom, and I love democracy. And they’ve taken the side of the aggressor. They’ve taken the side of the terrorist.”
This anger is fueling his need to come and see Israel again for himself and then educate the people back home who he believes are not given a voice.
“I’m a poor boy, and many in Britain are. And the only people in Britain who are given a voice are the vocal, woke, far-left, anti-Israel, anti-Jew voice. And they have been allowed to take over my capital city every single week since October 7.
“So I’m not going to back down, I’m not going to apologize, and I’ll speak my mind on every issue, regardless of what,” he concluded.
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-869450
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xHCjHB1_s0
Israel to host British activist Tommy Robinson
British activist Tommy Robinson will visit Israel following his October 13 trial, after receiving an official invitation from Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli.
Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli announced on Friday that he will host British activist Tommy Robinson for an official visit to Israel in mid-October.
"In the wake of the horrific Manchester terrorist attack, Israel and the Jewish people stand firmly with our allies in the United Kingdom," Chikli stated. "On behalf of the State of Israel, I am proud to host British patriot Tommy Robinson, who will visit Israel in mid-October. Tommy is a courageous leader on the front line against radical Islam. At a time when Jews across Europe face rising antisemitism, it is vital to strengthen bonds with allies who refuse to be silent. He has proven himself a true friend of Israel and the Jewish people, unafraid to speak the truth and confront hate. Israel will always stand with the Jewish community and our allies worldwide. Together with friends like Tommy Robinson, we will build stronger bridges of solidarity, fight terror, and defend Western civilization and our shared values."
Robinson, responding to the invitation, confirmed that he will travel to Israel immediately following his October 13th trial.
"The horrific Manchester attack has strengthened my conviction that the United Kingdom and Israel are fighting the same battle—against the scourge of Islamic jihad. Their fight is our fight," Robinson said. "I have accepted an invitation by the Government of Israel to cover the cost of my flight and hotel stay for a few days. To be clear, I am not receiving money or any compensation. This visit is about solidarity, truth, and courage. I’m a proud British patriot and a Zionist. I have said so many times: If Muslims have 55 nations, why can’t the Jews have one, especially their legitimate ancestral homeland."
Robinson outlined plans to visit Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, the site of the Nova Festival, and other locations targeted in the October 7th massacre. He said he will also visit Yad Vashem and the Jabotinsky Institute to deepen his understanding of Zionism and the ongoing struggle for Jewish survival.
"Jabotinsky is the ideological forefather of Prime Minister Netanyahu, one of the great leaders of the world. I don’t know enough on this subject, so I’d like to learn more," Robinson added.
His itinerary includes a visit to the Knesset, where he will meet with Israeli government leaders including Minister Chikli, and with representatives of other nations with diplomatic missions in Israel. Robinson also expressed his desire to visit key Christian sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee. "I also hope to get into Gaza," he added.
"I am excited to walk the streets of Jerusalem, to meet the people of Israel, and to stand shoulder to shoulder with a nation that refuses to surrender in the face of terror. When Jews are attacked, the free world is attacked. Brits were murdered in our streets and jihadi terror is worldwide," Robinson stated. "The people of Britain and the people of Israel share the same enemies and the same destiny. I come as a friend, as an ally, and as someone who believes that the strength of Israel is the strength of the West. If Israel falls, we all fall. Hamas made it clear on October 8th that their goal is not only to conquer Israel but also to conquer London and New York. They are bloodthirsty jihadists with a global caliphate as their goal. Hamas equals ISIS."
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana also welcomed the upcoming visit: "Looking forward to hosting you at the Knesset, mate! You’re doing a great service to your country, but more than that. As I have said repeatedly since Oct 7th, far from being a local struggle, this is a global battle, between the forces of radicalism, extremism, and fundamentalism, and those of freedom, liberty, and democracy. Western civilization is under attack - and it’s our duty to stand firmly together - and win. See you in Jerusalem!"
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/415802
Amichai Chikli, Israel's minister for the diaspora and combating antisemitism, (pictured) said he was 'proud to host British patriot' Robinson
Mr Chikli wrote on X: Tommy is a courageous leader on the front line against radical Islam.
'At a time when Jews across Europe face rising antisemitism, it is vital to strengthen bonds with allies who refuse to be silent.
'He has proven himself a true friend of Israel and the Jewish people, unafraid to speak the truth and confront hate.
'Israel will always stand with the Jewish community and our allies worldwide. Together with friends like Tommy Robinson, we will build stronger bridges of solidarity, fight terror, and defend Western civilization and our shared values.'
In a post on X responding to the Israeli politician, Robinson said he would travel to Israel 'immediately following my October 13 trial'.
He said he would visit: Jerusalem, the West Bank, the site of the Nova Festival and other October 7 locations, the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre Yad Vashem, the Jabotinsky Institute and Christian holy sites.
He said: 'I will visit the Knesset and meet with leaders of the Israeli government, including minister Amichai Chikli, Israel's diaspora minister who invited me, as well as many others.'
'I also hope to get into Gaza,' he added.
Mr Chikli has been a vocal critic of the Labour Government's response to antisemitism, as well as the UK's recent recognition - alongside other western allies - of Palestinian statehood.
Other senior Israeli politicians also suggested Sir Keir Starmer's administration bore responsibility for the deadly attack in Manchester.
Foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar accused the Government of failing to curb 'rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement in Britain' and demanded a 'change of course' on tackling it.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15162963/He-represents-worst-Britain-Jewish-leaders-hit-Israeli-government-inviting-Tommy-Robinson-visit-country.html
