Palestine Action Ban Risks Backfiring, Ministers Warned in Leaked Document
LONDON – government advisors cautioned ministers that banning Palestine Action could inadvertently increase the group’s popularity and be perceived as a restriction on free expression, a leaked Home Office document reveals. The warning preceded the group’s proscription in June, following alleged damage at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, which officials described as extensive.
The document, obtained by The Guardian, shows concerns that a ban might be viewed as an overreach of counter-terrorism powers into legitimate protest. Advisors predicted increased awareness and support for Palestine Action as an inevitable result of the ban, a prediction seemingly borne out by the group’s co-founder, Huda Ammori, who stated: “Awareness of the issues and popularity of the group have grown exponentially. The ban has backfired.”
The home Office defended the decision,stating Palestine Action had engaged in “an escalating campaign involving criminal damage to Britain’s national security infrastructure,intimidation,and alleged violence” that posed a risk to public safety. A spokesperson emphasized the decision was “informed by a robust evidence-based process” involving input from police, security services, and government experts.
Counter-terrorism policing confirmed they routinely provide information to the Home Office to support proscription decisions.
The leaked document also disclosed that the Cabinet Office commissions monthly surveys to monitor community tensions related to Israel and Palestine.
