
In November a journalist from Evangelicals Now wrote to ask about a series of photos posted on the Peacemaker Trust website taken at the September National March for Palestine: End the Genocide.
1. How can you/Peacemakers justify publishing pictures and slogans (for example) inferring that Hamas are ‘heroes’ and resistance is beautiful’ (presumably a reference to 7 Oct)? or the slogan ‘from the River to the sea Palestine will be free…’?
2. In your view, does the publication on social medial of these images and slogans amount to antisemitism (and spreading it)?
3. Would you consider removing the pictures that would be offensive and antisemitic?
I replied,
“Thank you for your enquiry which only reached me this afternoon. As a conservative evangelical you may know that in years past I was a regular contributor to EN when John Benton was editor and we both pastored neighbouring churches in Guildford.
I see that my Zionist critics (we both know who they are) are trying once again to distract attention from the purpose of the post in question which concerns a peaceful national march involving tens of thousands of people challenging Israeli war crimes, ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza.
May I ask you some questions too?
1. Has EN recently criticised (on biblical and theological grounds) the Israeli genocide in Gaza?
2. Has EN challenged the heretical teaching of Christian Zionists (including my critics) who defend Israeli supremacism, apartheid and ethnic cleansing in Palestine?
3. Has EN challenged the weaponising of the discredited IHRA re-definition of antisemitism?
I suggest these are more important issues involving the life and death of millions of people in Palestine today which EN should address…”
I went on to say,
“To answer your questions specifically,
The article entitled “National March for Palestine: End the Genocide” simply shows photos taken at the demonstration. The wording accompanying the photos states:
“Photos taken at the National March for Palestine held 7th September 2024 from Pall Mall to the Israeli Embassy. In supporting this demonstration against genocide on Gaza, it should not be inferred that the director or trustees necessarily endorse all of the statements appearing on all the placards appearing in these photos.”
I would not expect the editor or board of EN to agree with all the statements appearing in all of the photos published by the paper.
I do not see any justification for the inferences you have made. If there was any justification of terrorism as you imply, the police would have arrested the individuals (as indeed can be seen in some of my photo).

For example, the phrase “from the River to the Sea” is regularly cited by Israeli politicians and leaders to justify their apartheid state and the denial of the human rights of Palestinians.
No, I do not believe publishing these photos of a public event amounts to antisemitism. Criticising the policies of a racist state is not racist.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines antisemitism as: “Antisemitism is theory, action or practice directed against the Jews.” Dr Bryan Klug at St Benet’s, Oxford, defines antisemitism as ‘a form of hostility towards Jews as Jews, in which Jews are perceived as something other than what they are. The Community Security Trust (CST) defines antisemitism as “hatred, bigotry, prejudice or discrimination against Jews.” I accept these historic definitions.”
I have analysed the weaponisation of the discredited IHRA working definition of antisemitism here:

I would of course remove any photos shown to be antisemitic or deemed to be promoting terrorism as this would be a breach of the law.
I would be pleased to dialogue with you further on these important subjects, or indeed to contribute an article on any one of them for EN again in the future.”
The journalist thanked me and I heard nothing more until January this year when I received a second enquiry.
“I’m revisiting the issue of the picture gallery on the Peacemaker’s website in view of a couple of developments. Could you give me your thoughts on 2 points in relation to this (as you know, people have expressed concerns around some of the pictures in that gallery). The Campaign for Anti-Semitism has told me it has lodged a complaint about the Peacemakers’ website with the Charity Commission. What is your response to this?”
Having not received answers to the questions I first posed in November last year, I asked the questions a second time, restated my answers previously given and added,
“I believe Evangelical Now readers are astute enough to realise that an article about two photos taken at an antiracist demonstration in London back in September is intended to deflect attention away from Israel’s genocidal ethnic cleansing of Gaza which has led to the deaths of more than 44,000, mostly women and children, with more that 100,000 injured, the destruction of virtually every hospital, clinic, university, school and civic facility, and the denial of essential food, water, shelter and essential supplies, and forced displacement of over two million Palestinians. This is genocide. No wonder the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice are investigating Israeli leaders for war crimes against humanity.
This I suggest is the reason why the CAA is asking you to report on my photos – to deflect attention away from Israeli war crimes, genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and Palestine.
Jesus teaching recorded in Matthew 7 is pertinent.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)
Another biblical passage that I use as a guiding principle in controversies such as this is found in Romans 12,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)
As a result of reflecting on this passage, I have removed not just two but about a third of the photos found in the article being criticised, I emphasise, not because I believe they in any way promote terrorism or racism, nor to avoid yet another investigation by the Charity Commission (which has exonerated the charity on every previous occasion when Zionists have made complaints), but because I want to live at peace with my critics, and also want to give greater prominence to the photos of Jewish colleagues protesting against the continuing genocide in Gaza.”

In February, Evangelicals Now published an article entitled Peacemaker Trust face antisemitism complaint which includes some of my response. Before publication, I met with the journalist for coffee and we had a constructive conversation about the issue which I believe is reflected in the article.
P.S. At least 90% of Zionists are Christians so it is tenuous of the CAA to conflate Zionism with Jewish people.