British “far-right” activist Tommy Robinson has accepted that Britain deserves “a special place in hell” for “turning on” Israel, remaining unusually calm whilst a Zionist lecturer attacked his country during his controversial trip to the Jewish state.
Upon the gracious invitation of Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli, Robinson finally arrived in Israel to deliver his much-anticipated vlog series, in which he traces his unorthodox Zionist roots.
The content has been widely consumed by the public and has received mixed reactions from both supporters who praise his pro-Israel stance and critics who question why a self-proclaimed British patriot would accept such attacks on his homeland.
‘Britain Deserves Hell’ Claim
One interview in the series was particularly noteworthy, where Robinson listened attentively to a character named Yishai Fleisher lecturing him about how Britain had “turned on” his people and therefore deserved “a special place in hell.”
Remaining unusually calm in the face of such a blatant attack on his country, which he is otherwise known for enthusiastically defending against “foreigners” and their malicious ideologies, Robinson tried to distinguish between “the people” and “the establishment.”
He claimed that it was only the latter who had “turned on” Israel by recognizing a Palestinian state, all while allegedly aiding and abetting its premature destruction.
The exchange has raised eyebrows amongst Robinson’s supporters, who noted the stark contrast between his aggressive defence of Britain against Islamic ideology and his passive acceptance of an Israeli telling him his country belongs in hell.
Public Opinion Contradicts Robinson
Yet, according to polls, if someone did “turn on” Israel, it was actually “the people” who overwhelmingly not only support the recognition of a Palestinian state but also demand sanctions on Israel for its conduct in Gaza.
In other words, “the people” of Britain do not care about ending up in “a special place in hell” if “turning on” Israel leads to that outcome, as both Israeli government ministers and British “far-right” activists seem to believe.
In fact, Robinson’s acceptance of Fleisher’s premise illustrates why successive British governments have gone to great lengths to avoid giving any impression of “turning on” Israel and why “the establishment” has always warmly welcomed advice that reinforces that stance.
Israeli Minister Demands Slogan Ban
Take, for example, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s latest phone call with British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper, in which he directly interfered in British domestic policy.
Sa’ar informed the public that in that call, he had “raised the need to take practical measures against the use of the slogan ‘From the river to the sea – Palestine will be free’ in public spaces in the UK.
To make his case, he referred to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent statement that the slogan was “anti-Semitic,” and he urged that legislation be enacted “to enforce a ban on the use of the slogan.”
Sa’ar’s advice was taken very seriously and with immediate effect: On Tuesday, a British Palestinian doctor was arrested for “inciting racial hatred,” apparently for voicing her criticism of Israeli exceptionalism.
Israeli Exceptionalism in British Affairs
It appears as though the kind of exceptionalism in question has transcended the domain of international relations, as it is increasingly having a real impact on Britain’s domestic affairs.
Last week, virtually every media outlet in Britain led with the story of the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending the upcoming football match between that club and Aston Villa in Birmingham, where many people who support Palestinian statehood live.
With the sole exception of the Green Party and a handful of independent members of Parliament, every politician condemned the police’s decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans who, not so long ago, caused serious disorder in the streets of Amsterdam when their side played against Ajax.
Even the leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, who normally cannot stand the sight of “violent foreigners” roaming the streets of Britain, came out to defend Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, describing the ban as “taking racial discrimination to a whole new level.
Absurd Double Standards
That banning hooligans with a track record of violent behaviour could be construed as a matter of racial discrimination or hatred is, of course, absurd.
However, it is amusing to see those who typically find no problem indulging in every form of racism known to man make a rare exception and suddenly develop a deep awareness of racism when it comes to Israel.
Israeli exceptionalism takes many forms, but the version embraced by “far-right” activists and politicians is surely the most baffling.
Robinson has built his entire political identity around opposing what he describes as the “Islamisation” of Britain and defending British culture against foreign influence.
Yet when an Israeli lecturer tells him Britain deserves damnation for insufficient support of Israel, Robinson accepts the criticism meekly and attempts to deflect blame onto politicians rather than defending his nation.
Contradictions Exposed
The contradiction has not been lost on observers who note that Robinson would never accept a Muslim activist telling him Britain deserves punishment for foreign policy decisions.
His willingness to subordinate British interests to Israeli demands whilst simultaneously campaigning against other forms of foreign influence has exposed what critics describe as fundamental hypocrisy.
Farage’s defence of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans despite his typical hostility to “violent foreigners” demonstrates similar inconsistency, with the Reform UK leader applying entirely different standards when Israel is involved.
The episode highlights how Israeli exceptionalism operates across the British political spectrum, with politicians and activists who would normally oppose foreign interference in domestic affairs making exceptions when that interference comes from Israel.
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