Further disgrace for lawyer previously fined for attack on Aberdeen activist
More evidence of sordid activities of the pro-Israel lobby in Scotland
Two years ago, Scottish lawyer Matthew Berlow faced disciplinary action by the Law Society of Scotland over attacks directed against a Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) activist in Aberdeen. The Law Society of Scotland ruled Berlow had used “derogatory language” which was “damaging to the reputation of both the profession as a whole and of the individual solicitor concerned”, and his defence was also criticised as “derogatory and aggressive”. The report recommended that the Professional Conduct Sub Committee uphold a complaint of unsatisfactory professional conduct, and Berlow was subsequently fined £1750.(1)
This month has seen reports of yet more discplinary action against Berlow, relating to yet another attack on SPSC. A Law Society investigation has revealed he conspired in a plot to smear SPSC by falsely accusing them of a fake graffiti attack at his home. Despite knowing the graffiti attack to be non-existent, Berlow publically attributed the attack to SPSC. Following an investigation of the incident, the Law Society ruled that Berlow’s conduct “fell below the standard expected of a reputable and competent solicitor” and “risked bringing the profession into disrepute.”(2) Berlow now faces further disciplinary action. We hope this is commensurate with the gravity of the offence - fabricating a crime to frame citizens is a serious matter.
These are just a few examples of a deliberate strategy by the pro-Israel lobby in Scotland, a strategy based on spurious personal attacks on those who campaign for Palestinian rights with an aim of undermining support for Palestine by any means.(3)
As a prominent member of the Scottish ‘Friends of Israel’ organisation, Berlow is a staunchly uncritical defender of Israel’s history of war crimes. In 2009, he spoke publically(4) in support of Israel’s ‘Operation Cast Lead’, a 22-day military onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip that resulted in the deaths of 1400 (mainly civilian) Palestinians. A subsequent UN report found Israel guilty of using disproportionate force, deliberately targeting civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure, and using people as human shields. The report concluded that Israel had committed potential war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the offensive.(5)
Unsurprisingly, Berlow took a similar stance during Israel’s 2014 repeat attack on Gaza. ‘Operation Protective Edge’ caused the deaths of more than 2,000 Palestinian (including more than 500 children) and more than 10,000 people injured. Once again, civilians and family homes were deliberately targeted.(6) In one notorious incident, Israeli forces fired missiles that killed four young boys from a single family as they played soccer on a Gaza City beach.(7) Several Scottish local authorities flew the Palestinian flag during Israel’s prolonged assault to show support for those under murderous attack – an act of solidarity vehemently resisted by Berlow and others as they publically protested against flying the flag.(8)
This latest ridiculously convoluted plot exposed by the Law Society shows the depths to which apologists for Israel’s crimes will sink to undermine the Palestinian cause. Recognising that they have no moral or legal argument to make, they must resort to ever more desperate tactics to shut down criticism of Israel.
Despite the best efforts of Berlow and others who work to shut down criticism of Israel and undermine support of Palestinian rights, SPSC continues our campaigning. This has never been more important. The arrival and spread of COVID 19 in the Gaza Strip will have a catastrophic effect on the existing humanitarian crisis there. Experts have warned that a significant outbreak in Gaza, home to some 2 million Palestinians, could be catastrophic because of the fragile state health sector, weakened by years of restrictive blockade and persistent military assaults.(9)
Sources
2 https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/pro-israel-lawyer-faked-graffiti-attack
3 https://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/complicity/berlow-is-part-of-a-much-wider-dirty-tricks-campaign
5 https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/12session/A-HRC-12-48.pdf
6 https://www.amnesty.org.uk/gaza-operation-protective-edge
7 https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/child-footballers-killed-israel-get-no-justice