Friends of Israel investigates the role played byan organised network of groups and individuals, deeply committed to Zionism, in sustaining high-level support for Israel in Britain, despite significant public opposition. It provides an informed and evidenced account of the activities of Israel-advocates in the UK, showing how they contribute to maintaining the intolerable status quo in Israel/Palestine. Aked asks: who are the critical actors, what are their strategies and tactics, and how powerful are they really?
Accessibly written, empirically rich, and politically relevant, Aked draws on a range of sources including interviews with leading Zionist activists, alongside Palestinian rights activists, documents obtained through Freedom of Information requests, archival material and the wealth of literature produced by Israel-advocacy groups. Ending with a sober look at the strength of the Israel lobby, in the context of the UK’s entrenched power inequalities, the book also emphasises possibilities for resistance. In particular, it points to the potential of the BDS movement to disrupt the influence of pro-Israel forces to and contribute to a broader democratisation process.
Friends of Israel is a much-needed contribution, useful to anyone seeking to understand how power works in the UK, and to the Palestine solidarity movement.
