CAA blast Just Stop Oil over Holocaust comments

BY ADAM MOSES

Jewish organisations have condemned Just Stop Oil for ‘trivialising’ the Holocaust.

The controversial activists are known for disruptive actions causing inconvenience to the general public to gain attention towards oil usage.

Protesters have caused issues on motorways, sports events and recently the Chelsea Flower Show.

Campaign Against Antisemitism have produced a video aimed at the organisation titled ‘Just stop trivialising the Holocaust’.

Just Stop Oil compared oil and gas company bosses to architects of the Holocaust last week.

In a statement they noted: 'Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi, at his trial in Jerusalem, sought to defend himself by saying that he never killed any Jews as he was only in charge of transporting them to the death camps. The judges overruled this obscene defence and he was hanged. Similarly, when those in charge today go to court, the judgment will be the same.'

Zoe Cohen, a Just Stop Oil spokesman, reportedly refused to apologise for the statement on LBC radio.

CAA noted Cohen doubled down, stating: “Forgive me for saying this, and I say this very sincerely, but it’s like we’re all trapped in a giant gas chamber. And we know that every single tonne of carbon dioxide makes this worse. And yet these people go on expanding oil and gas. Is that not genocide? Of course, it is.”

James Harvey, another Just Stop Oil spokesperson, appeared on TalkTV where presenter Vanessa Feltz asked whether he defended the comments.

CAA observed that Harvey attempted to justify a comparison, before stating: “At the time, in Germany, in the 1930s and 40s, we know that the government there facilitated the deaths of thousands and thousands of people.”

Feltz responded: “That wasn’t facilitating”. Harvey replied: “Or, they caused the deaths of thousands and thousands.”

During the interview, Harvey was repeatedly asked if he apologised for the group’s Holocaust comparison. He stated: “On a personal level, I am sorry if we have caused any offence to people.”

A CAA spokesperson said: “Just Stop Oil has a disturbing history of minimising the

Holocaust in its messaging. In the latest example, a spokesperson for the group said on TalkTV that the Nazis merely ‘facilitated the deaths of thousands and thousands of people.’ This is historically ignorant, and that ignorance is dangerously combined with the group’s insatiable pursuit of attention at any cost. The result is the strange and inflammatory ubiquity of the genocide of the Jews in the group’s activism. Why can’t Just Stop Oil just stop trivialising the Holocaust?”

Jonathan Metliss, Action Against Antisemitism chairman blasted the organisation.

He said: “We are disgusted and dismayed by the statement by eco protest group Just Stop Oil comparing oil executives to the Nazi architects of the Holocaust including Adolf Eichmann, responsible for the murder of Jews in concentration camps, and likening the so called climate emergency to a ‘giant gas chamber’.

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“This is unacceptable, improper and inappropriate language, and a demeaning and devaluation of the Holocaust. Just Stop Oil should be brought to account accordingly.”

Metliss added: “This equates to unacceptable comments of BBC presenter Gary Lineker comparing the Government’s immigration policy to that of Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Coincidentally, Lineker has recently shown explicit support for the activities of Just Stop Oil, encouraging them to disrupt more sporting events. Furthermore, eco zealot Dale Vince, a principal funder of Just Stop Oil, is an antizionist and avowed opponent of the State of Israel. The Forest Green Rovers football club owner has flown the Palestinian flag at the club’s stadium and compared the situation in Ukraine to Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.

“AAD unequivocally condemns these inflammatory and arguably antisemitic comments of Just Stop Oil as well as similar language and comments of Lineker and Vince and calls on Jewish community leaders to do likewise, vehemently and unconditionally.”

A Community Security Trust spokesman reportedly said: “It is absolutely sickening to see the victims of the Nazi Holocaust abused for publicity by Just Stop Oil.”

CAA noted last month Just Stop Oil compared themselves to people who hid Jews during the Holocaust. And last year, they compared themselves to people who hid Anne Frank.

Head of Training & Development and Religious Services for European Communities

The Conference of European Rabbis (CER), the primary Orthodox rabbinic alliance in Europe, is excited to announce the opening of its new centre in Munich, Germany. With the significant expansion of its activities, the CER is seeking a Head of Training & Development and Religious Services for European Communities

Job Description:

• Establish, develop and maintain training, development and religious services departments in Europe in line with the CER’s management requirements

• Identify religious service needs in European communities, offer a range of solutions and monitor implementation

• Develop and manage the CER Training & Development department

• Support staff in training and professional development

• Coordinate pan-European training events and offer support with the planning and execution of CER conventions and Standing Committee meetings

• Provide updates on the status of European communities

Job Requirements:

• Ability to work independently and outside of standard office hours

• Strong performance in collaborative work and exceptional interpersonal skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Hebrew

• Ability to create inter-organisational collaborations

• Manage work processes with both internal and external partners and clients

• Proven experience and familiarity with European Jewish communities is a requirement

• Have a systemic vision to understand and effectively bridge the gaps between the organisation’s overall needs and the distinct requirements of a community

• Basic Torah knowledge is a prerequisite

• Rabbinical ordination is advantageous

• Proficiency in German/ French is preferred

Additional Information:

• Full-time position

• Immediate availability

• The successful candidate will be required to reside in Munich

• Employment opportunities for the candidate’s wife are available

To apply, please submit your C.V. and cover letter to job@rabbiscer.org

Only suitable applicants will be contacted.