Israeli training of US police force is no secret

Sir, – Rebecca LongBailey’s sacking for re-tweeting a link to an interview the actress Maxine Peake gave, which highlighted Israel’s training of US police departments, does need context.

First, Maxine is wrong to attribute the training to Israeli Secret Services.

In fact the training has been going on for over 20 years between the two countries’ respective police forces.

Second, a ‘conspiracy’ is something secret and furtive.

This has been going on entirely in the open and is well-known.

There may or may not have been a Secret Service angle.

I would draw readers’ attention to two articles available freely online, complete with photographs of ‘knee on the neck’ arrests of Palestinians, on the Middle East Eye monitoring website:

“US police departments under pressure to end training programmes with Israel” (by Sheren Khalel, MEE, June 22 2020) and “Police Unity Tour: US officers in Israel for anniversary of 9/11 attacks.

Exchange programmes raise concerns about import of military-style police tactics in US” (by Azad Essa, MEE November 11 2019).

The articles list the US police departments that have taken part in the training.

It is interesting Keir Starmer chooses to make his ‘Neil Kinnock’ move against the most highprofile of left-supporting figures six days before Israel is about to start the process of annexation of 40% of the occupied West Bank, with the backing of the BBC it appears (Newsnight June 25 2020).

Chris Sutherland. 5 Kirkhill, St Andrews.