The Role of the BBC
We started with an Open Letter of Feb 2023 questioning it for defaming as antisemitic the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. The BBC handled this as a formal complaint that was subsequently escalated to the broadcasting regulator, Ofcom. It was a lengthy process that revealed weaknesses in both complaints handling and regulation by Ofcom.
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On 28/3/25, we submitted an FOI request to ascertain whether the BBC has been fair in providing access to the different groups that seek to influence its reporting on Israel/Palestine. The BBC made an initial response on April 11th, but we have followed up by requesting much greater clarity.
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We also encourage supporters to answer a BBC survey designed to help shape its future.​​
The Church of England
We started with an Open Letter of April 2023 questioning Archbishop Welby’s posture re the political situation in the Holy Land, and for getting far too close to Israel lobbyists whose views he endorsed. Unable to get a meeting with Welby, we put it to him at a public meeting of 6th Sept that Israel was practicing apartheid, as sustained by the late Bishop Desmond Tutu, but he disagreed.
In 2024 we formed the Lambeth Witness Group to carry out vigils in Westminster and leaflet the Church’s General Synod, doing this from January to July. We gradually saw a change in Welby’s posture leading to a surprising volte face in August of the same year. However, in November Archbishop Welby resigned for another reason, leaving the whole matter in the doldrums while the Church selects a successor. But we continue our campaigning.
In September 2024, Jewish members of CAMPAIN, David Mond and Bernard Spiegal, took up the fight. In an Open Letter, 630 Jews asked the Church to listen to non-Zionist Jews, instead of treating the Jewish Board of Deputies and allied establishment figures as unique representatives of the so-called Jewish community. Their recent correspondence with Cannon Stephen Knott shows the message has got through, but we wait to see what action the Church will take.
British Government and Political Parties
From time to time, CAMPAIN has organised open letters making its members’ and supporters’ views clear to those in power and aspiring to it. We have drawn attention to the Labour Party’s misrepresentation of left-wing elements and Jews, and its campaign to silence and/or expel them from the Party. In our letter to Rishi Sunak, we protested against Suella Braverman’s description of the pro-Palestinian marches as hate marches, and called on the Prime Minister to publicly reject it.
We have also criticised the Lib Dems for policing wrongthink and censoring internal discussion on Israel/Palestine and trans rights.
JUST Action Palestine
Nicola Grove has organised on-line meetings on Monday evenings to engage Quakers and others in acting for Palestine.
The exercise has been going with a steady weekly attendance of 15-22 people since November 2024 and has produced regular reports and recommendations for action. These have allowed participants to engage in letter-writing campaigns and other initiatives.
JUST Action Palestine
Nicola Grove has organised on-line meetings on Monday evenings to engage CAMPAIN members, Quakers and others in acting for Palestine.
The exercise has been going with a steady weekly attendance of 15-40 people since November 2024 and has produced regular reports and recommendations for action. These have allowed participants to engage in letter-writing campaigns and other initiatives.
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One of the outputs that we invite you to read is Nicola's PowerPoint presentation on the tech company Palentir, which is deeply involved both with Israel and our own NHS.
Action with the British Medical Association
Defending Dr Swee Ang
Dr. Ang Swee Chai is an orthopedic surgeon and a legendary supporter of Palestinian rights to healthcare. Her baptism of fire was to attend to victims of the Sabra and Shatila massacres of 1982, in Lebanon. CAMPAIN joined her in protesting against the British Medical Association's (BMA) decision to disinvite her from speaking to students at an event on 4th April 2025
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First, Ang gave a speech to supporters outside the BMA's offices in London on the day of the event. We then sent the BMA an Open Letter for which we are now seeking signatories.
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Action with the British Medical Association
Defending Dr Swee Ang
Dr. Ang Swee Chai is an orthopedic surgeon and a legendary supporter of Palestinian rights to healthcare. Her baptism of fire was to attend to victims of the Sabra and Shatila massacres of 1982, in Lebanon. CAMPAIN joined her in protesting against the British Medical Association's (BMA) decision to disinvite her from speaking to students at an event on 4th April 2025
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First, Ang gave a speech to supporters outside the BMA's offices in London on the day of the event. We then sent the BMA an Open Letter for which we are now seeking signatories.
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Action with the British Medical Association
Defending Dr Swee Ang
Dr. Ang Swee Chai is an orthopedic surgeon and a legendary supporter of Palestinian rights to healthcare. Her baptism of fire was to attend to victims of the Sabra and Shatila massacres of 1982, in Lebanon. CAMPAIN joined her in protesting against the British Medical Association's (BMA) decision to disinvite her from speaking to students at an event on 4th April 2025
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First, Ang gave a speech to supporters outside the BMA's offices in London on the day of the event. We then sent the BMA an Open Letter for which we are now seeking signatories.
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Holding public officials to account
Jonathan Hall, KC, is the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism and of State Threats legislation whose website you can see here.
He recently set out some of his ideas to the right-wing think tank Policy Exchange. In the light of this that we have written asking him for a meeting.
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Living at a time when people who support Palestinian rights are being criminalised for supporting terrorism or somehow posing a threat to the State, we think it would be helpful if he could meet some of us face-to-face, so we can better understand each other's perspectives. We look forward to his response.
Action with the British Medical Association
Defending Dr Swee Ang
Dr. Ang Swee Chai is an orthopedic surgeon and a legendary supporter of Palestinian rights to healthcare. Her baptism of fire was to attend to victims of the Sabra and Shatila massacres of 1982, in Lebanon. CAMPAIN joined her in protesting against the British Medical Association's (BMA) decision to disinvite her from speaking to students at an event on 4th April 2025
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First, Ang gave a speech to supporters outside the BMA's offices in London on the day of the event. We then sent the BMA an Open Letter for which we are now seeking signatories.
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Holding the Jewish establishment to account
In September 2024, Jewish members of CAMPAIN composed an Open Letter to the Church of England hierarchy. In the letter, 630 Jews challenged the Church to listen to non-Zionist Jews, instead of treating the Jewish Board of Deputies, Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and other allied establishment figures as unique representatives of the so-called Jewish community.
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As you can see below, they are now writing directly to the Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who is very much at the centre of this problem, to tell him that he does not speak for most British Jews.