Asa Winstanley – The Electronic Intifada Aug 22 , 2020
A pro-Israel lobbyist in Scotland may lose his teaching job over a series of anti-Semitic posts he has admitted making.
Edward Sutherland is being investigated by the Scottish teaching regulator, The Daily Record reported on Sunday.
Sutherland is head of religious and moral education at the Belmont Academy in Ayr.
A leading figure in the Confederation of Friends of Israel, Sutherland created a fake Facebook profile and used it to post anti-Semitism online.
Using the profile, he posed as a Palestine solidarity activist.
Under the invented persona “Stevie Harrison,” Sutherland is alleged to have attacked a pro-Israel Jewish lawyer by posting in 2018 that his “big nose is out out joint.”
Screenshots released by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign suggest that the lawyer – Matthew Berlow – may even have been in on the deception.
“Typical SPSC behaviour. Criminal,” Berlow replied to one of the fraudulent postings by “Harrison.”
Berlow responded in an email to The Electronic Intifada that it was “not my intention to smear the SPSC.”
He also claimed that Sutherland’s “posts were not anti Semitic” according to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s defintion.
The bogus “working defintion” of anti-Semitism has been pushed by Israel and pro-Israel groups for years.
Could lose job
But Sutherland’s anti-Palestinian comrades are standing by him: “We’re worried that he might end up losing his job,” Sammy Stein, a fellow Confederation of Friends of Israel activist told The Daily Record.
Stein said that “Ed is no anti-Semite. In fact, he’s a friend of Israel. He helps man our stall in Glasgow every Saturday.”
Edward Sutherland campaigning for Israel in Glasgow. Click to enlarge
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign activist Mick Napier responded to the news saying it was “a disgrace” that Sutherland’s group enjoys charitable status.
The Confederation of Friends of Israel has “an extensive record of publishing racist materials” he wrote. “The Scottish body charged with overseeing charities should revoke COFIS’ charitable status immediately,” Napier said.
The Confederation of Friends of Israel did not reply to a request for comment. After publication of this article, Belmont Academy declined to comment, but passed the buck to South Ayrshire Council – who also declined to comment.
This is far from the first time Israeli and pro-Israeli groups have fabricated anti-Semitism.
In 2016 the Mossad-linked Israeli law firm Shurat HaDin admitted posting a series of violently anti-Semitic comments to Facebook in order to frame Palestinians and solidarity activists.
In 2019, an investigation by The Electronic Intifada exposed a network of fake Twitter trolls systematically posting violent anti-Semitism in order to frame Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party and the Muslim community. The culprits remain unknown.
Being a “friend of Israel” in no way excludes one from the charge of anti-Semitism. On the contrary, some of the most important Zionists in history have also held vile anti-Jewish attitudes.
And some of the world’s worst contemporary anti-Semites are militantly pro-Israel.
Anyone who is not antisemitic, is a racist fool
simple a sthat
Israel has no friends. It is not possible for murderous Bolshevik Ashkenazi Communist Khazar land thieves to have friends. Every normal, fair-minded, knowledgeable human on earth is the enemy of Israel.
At least he appears to eat a balanced diet.
It’s amazing how many right wing people in Scotland are pro Israel, and yet will still vote Labour out of sheer habit or laziness because that’s what you do. I’m anything but Liberal, but with Scotland, certain individuals are drawn to be like this. I’m going out on a limb here. Pro Israel, Anti Scottish Independence, probably Pro Brexit, (nothing wrong with that, I voted Leave, but bear with me). Rangers supporter, Anti Irish/Catholic, Orange Order or Masonic Member, and believe it or not, regardless of being conservative with a small c, probably, as I said before, votes Labour because his parents do. For some reason I cannot fathom, in Scotland these Union Jack waving skinheads love Israel/Zionism like they were commuting with God. Probably goes to Kirk every Sunday but would be the first to punch Jesus on the face if he turned up on his doorstep. You’ve got to come from Scotland to understand this. Probably has the Queens portrait on his wall, along with King Billy, (hunch backed boy xxxxxx). Not that the Popes any different. Except he’s still alive and doesn’t have a hump. For some reason the Orange Order are like the Masons. Hate their own country, love the Queen, go to Church every Sunday, even if they don’t believe in God or go on about religion even if they haven’t stepped inside for years. Often gets drunk and cries abouts xxxxing football game, just like the Green and White Brigade does as well.
Anyone who is pro Israeli is a racist bigot. Everyone knows the way Israeli armies destroy homes and kill Palestinians . I would like to see those same people being invaded and kicked out their houses. It shows how much they hate Muslims. Realistically they hate how Islam is taking over Christianity and they will hate anyone associated with Muslims hence they are pro Israeli.