The pro-Hamas Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which is supported by nearly all of the large unions in the UK, is to hold its annual general meeting later this month.  The meeting occurs at a time of deep division inside the ranks of the organisation.  On the one hand, many of its activists are keen to promote the work of Holocaust deniers and anti-Semites as part of their efforts of behalf of Hamas the Palestinians.  But others, fearful of losing support from more moderate elements, are trying to put some distance between the campaign and the extremists.  The top news story on the trade union page of the PSC website is entitled “Statement from PSC Trade Union Advisory Committee” and is undated.  It says (in part):

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s Trade Union Advisory Committee agreed this statement to reaffirm that the principles of anti-racism are not only at the core of the struggle for Palestinian human rights, self determination and freedom, but also fundamental to the trade union movement as well. In both the solidarity and trade union movement, founded on the principles of anti-racism, there is no place for expressions of racism or intolerance, anti-semitism, or attempts to deny or minimise the Holocaust. Such sentiments are abhorrent in their own right and can only detract from the building of a strong movement in support of peace and justice, and based on the principles of human rights and international law.

The organisation’s annual general meeting takes place on Saturday, 21 January in London. We wonder if the trade unionists in attendance will raise the ongoing collaboration between many PSC activists and anti-Semites.  At the moment, it looks like the extremists are taking the offensive, accusing the PSC leadership of kow-towing to “Zionists”.  It promises to be an interesting event, and we’ll have a full report on the TULIP website.