Sussex Friends of Israel to hold national rally in Brighton tomorrow

A national rally is due to take place in Brighton tomorrow (Sunday 17 August), organised by the Sussex Friends of Israel (SFI).

The Brighton and Hove based pro-Israel community activism group is hosting the National Rally for Israel and Peace in Victoria Gardens in Brighton.

It said: “The event, designed to allow Israel’s supporters from across the UK to come to Brighton to stand in solidarity, is a national rally to recognise Israel’s right to exist.

“Colonel Richard Kemp will be making the keynote address at the rally.

“Colonel Kemp, a retired British Army officer, was commander of British forces in Afghanistan and completed 14 operational tours of duty during his career spanning 30 years.”

Colonel Kemp said: “I have been closely following the excellent work of Sussex Friends of Israel and its growing reach in grassroots activism for Israel.

“I am delighted to be joining them to speak at the rally for Israel and Peace on Sunday.

“It is horrifying to witness the hatred and vitriol expressed towards Israel and the Jewish people at protests across the UK.

“Israel’s opponents are using a variety of methods to question Israel’s legitimacy and that is quite simply wrong.

“My speech on Sunday will define some of the military aspects of the current conflict and bring some balance to the messages that come from some quarters of the media.

“Israel does not deserve to be vilified in the press, nor demonised on the streets.

“It has done more than any nation at war, in history, to limit the number of non-combatant casualties and it deserves a fair hearing.”

He will be joined by two other speakers, the mayor of Efrat, Oded Revivi, and Rebecca Bat Raphael, a member of the Israeli Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum.

Sussex Friends of Israel trustee Winston Pickett said: “We are delighted to have secured Colonel Kemp, Mayor Revivi and Rebecca Bat Raphael as speakers for this event.

“For some time now, grassroots activists for Israel have been asking SFI to take on the baton and hold a national rally in solidarity with Israel and for peace. We are happy to oblige.

“We all hope for an extension of the current ceasefire and a long and binding agreement for peace.”

The rally is due to start at 1.30pm.