British Medical Association risks becoming ‘a vehicle for Jew-hatred’, religious leaders warn… as Jewish doctors are harassed for defending Israel-Hamas war debates at union meeting

A Jewish doctor was harassed at the annual meeting of the British Medical Association, just hours after religious leaders warned the risk would become a ‘vehicle for Jew-hatred’.

Members shouted “shame” when the female doctor told delegates she was a “practicing Jew” during a heated debate about the war between Israel and Hamas.

In a letter issued on the eve of the conference, the Jewish Medical Association expressed concern about the number of motions delegates had submitted calling for action against Israel or accusing Israel of war crimes.

It was said that the atmosphere at the meeting ‘already feels very different and noticeably hostile’ compared to previous years, when the focus has typically been on the NHS, staffing levels, patients and union bureaucracy.

The JMA warned Jewish attendees to “expect a mix of overt anti-Semitism, bullying, intimidation and flag-waving activism,” which “fills them with trepidation.”

About thirty motions tabled for debate related to the conflict in the Middle East, representing almost one in ten of all submissions.

However, the BMA said it is unlikely many will be selected as they collectively ‘risk being seen as discriminatory, more specifically anti-Semitic’.

The words Israel or Israeli appear 75 times in motions published ahead of the conference.

Organizers noted that some posed a ‘potential for breach of BMA values’ and a ‘potential legal risk’ if it was debated with the intention of becoming union policy.

They include calls for the BMA to lobby the government to stop supplying weapons to Israel and repeat claims that ‘Israel is committing systematic apartheid’, that ‘Israel’s actions in Gaza could amount to genocide’ and that Israel ‘is Palestinian people continue to occupy and oppress and continue to use weapons. disproportionate and indiscriminate violence against civilians’.

Four motions tabled by the London Regional Council call on the BMA to boycott Israeli medical journals, conferences and academic/commercial exchanges, claiming the country is violating human rights.

The JMA letter, seen by the Mail, states that members are “deeply concerned that the meeting environment itself could become a vehicle for discrimination and hatred of Jews.”

It adds: “Many motions contain accusations of genocide by Jews in ‘an apartheid state’, whether they are labeled as ‘Zionists’, ‘Israelis’ or simply ‘Jews’.”

Dr. Joanna Sutton-Klein, an emergency doctor in Manchester, was heckled by at least two delegates when she tabled a late motion drawing attention to “anti-democratic” attempts to remove motions related to the Israel-Hamas war from the conference agenda to delete.

Emma Runswick, vice-chairman of the council at the BMA, told delegates: “I want to say that it is completely unacceptable to shout ‘shame’ at someone who has just said he is a practicing Jewish woman.”

She said motions should be selected for debate in a democratic and transparent manner, adding: “One of the justifications for silencing these motions was that they could be perceived as anti-Semitic, so I would like to stand up here today as a practicing Jew. to say that there is nothing Jewish about the attempt to withdraw motions you disagree with.”

Emma Runswick, vice-chairman of the council at the BMA, told delegates: ‘I want to say that it is completely unacceptable to shout ‘shame’ on someone who has just said he is a practicing Jewish woman, there is absolutely no room for it. in this association.

‘We reserve our shame for the governments and employers who treat us and our patients poorly.’

Dr. Patel added: “I will not exhibit that behavior. I warned you at the beginning that if you hear that behavior again I will find you alone, so stop.”

She later told deputies the comments would not be tolerated, telling the harasser to “come find me or I’ll come find you.”

A spokesperson for the Community Support Trust said: ‘The rise of anti-Jewish hate incidents in the medical profession is particularly worrying and reflects a general increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Britain since October 7.

‘It is especially alarming to see such incidents taking place as this is an area of ​​society where we expect everyone to conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism.’

Earlier this month, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said NHS staff will be banned from displaying Palestinian flags at work if the Conservatives win the July 4 general election.

A BMA spokesperson said: ‘The BMA takes behavior that is discriminatory, racist or offensive in any way extremely seriously.

“In this case, one or two members chose to disrupt the speech of a Jewish doctor who spoke out in defense of the Palestinian community in Gaza.

“This action was immediately announced and we are now investigating.

‘We have not been contacted directly by the Jewish Medical Association regarding the specific points in their letter, but nevertheless we are very sorry to learn of its contents and will be contacting them to discuss this further.

‘The BMA stands firmly against all forms of discrimination and prejudice and we believe in dignity and respect for all individuals, regardless of their personal characteristics.

‘As a trade union and professional association, we are committed to an anti-racist approach to every aspect of our work.’