The Jewish Chronicle

Fired Miller still insists on pinning blame on Israel

- BY FELIX POPE

SACKED PROFESSOR DAVID Miller has hit out at critics following his dismissal by the University of Bristol, telling a meeting that Zionism must be “dismantled” so Britain can “move towards socialism”.

In a virtual address, the former lecturer told members of recently formed group Labour Campaign for Free Speech (LCFS), “the Labour Party is effectivel­y a prisoner of the Zionist movement and the Israeli state”.

Mr Miller condemned “a campaign of harassment and bullying of me... which in the end has been successful”.

He claimed his work caused the “Zionist movement” to attack him because “I’ve produced quite a substantia­l evidence base on the role of the Israel lobby, of the Zionist movement more generally, and the role of the Israeli government”.

LCFS was formed in February to, among other things, oppose the IHRA definition of antisemiti­sm. It has called upon Labour members to refuse antisemiti­sm training provided by the

Jewish Labour Movement, claiming the group has been “doing everything in its power to weaponise false and exaggerate­d charges of antisemiti­sm in order to undermine Jeremy Corbyn”.

In an interview with Iranian state channel Press TV, Mr Miller said about his dismissal he condemned a “campaign led by the Israeli government… to silence all of those who would in any way support Palestinia­n rights”. Former Labour MP Chris Williamson, suspended from the party in 2019 after claiming Labour had been “too apologetic” over antisemiti­sm, said on social media of Mr Miller’s sacking: “This decision will further embolden those who want to silence prominent critics of Israel.”

Rapper Lowkey alleged on Twitter that former Communitie­s Secretary Robert Jenrick, who called for the inflammato­ry lecturer to be fired, has “a direct connection to Israeli intelligen­ce”. Muslim news outlet 5Pillars broadcast a comment from a viewer who said “Targeting israeli think tanks and pro zionist academics is a must now [sic].”

Mr Miller was dismissed by the University of Bristol earlier this month. He had been under investigat­ion since March. Mr Miller has been contacted for comment.

 ?? PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL ?? Interview for Iranian TV: David Miller
PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL Interview for Iranian TV: David Miller

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