British filmmaker Ken Loach on Tuesday claimed that the cancelation of a speaking event at a Methodist church hall in Edinburgh, Scotland with the anti-Israel activist Jackie Walker was the result of pressure by "Zionist individuals" on Bishop John Armes.
Moreover, Loach called charges of anti-Semitism leveled against BDS campaigners in Scotland as "exaggerated and spurious." He joined actress Miriam Margolyes and Scottish activists to sign an open letter published by the 'Scottish Herald' in which they called on Armes to reverse the decision to stop Walker from appearing at a Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign event held at a Methodist church hall in Edinburgh.
In the letter, the signatories write allege that "It is now becoming clear that Zionist individuals and organisations in Scotland are working hard to stifle all debate on the war crimes and human rights abuses of the Israeli State. Bishop Armes should be aware that Zionists comprise only a small minority of Scottish Jews and certainly do not represent the Jewish community in Scotland.
"Complaints of 'anti-Semitism' directed against pro-Palestinians in Scotland have consistently proved to be exaggerated and spurious. They, nevertheless, continue to be repeated with monotonous regularity, such that they have reached almost Trumpian proportions," the letter said.
Bishop Armes had blocked Jackie Walker from holding a talk at St. Columba’s Church on Monday night, saying there was a danger it could encourage abuse. The talk was to be held at the church hall after another venue had backed out of playing host.
The acclaimed filmmaker Ken Loach is in favor of Israel being made a "pariah state" by the international community and has endorsed a boycott of all cultural and sporting events supported by the Israeli state.
