Green Party candidate labels Jewish people ‘cockroaches’ in vile post | UK | News
A Green Party candidate posted on social media about Gaza, implausibly referring to “Jewish cockroaches.” Standing in the Rushall-Shelfield ward in Walsall, Raja Ateeq published a pro-Palestinian message in December 2023 comparing people of the Jewish faith to insects.
In his strange post, shared just two months after the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, he claimed that “Jewish cockroaches” would not want to return to Gaza, adding that “400 thousand Jews had flown out of Israel.” Mr. Ateeq signed off his nonsense with the words “Palestine will be free.”
Mr Ateeq’s profile photo on his Facebook page still shows him carrying a Green Party banner. His page is also full of pro-Palestinian photos and posts and he also shares his passion for the Pakistan cricket team.
When the post is highlighted by Jewish NewsA spokesman for Green said: “Mr Ateeq has removed the tweet and accepts it was wrong to publish it.”
The Prime Minister branded Green Party leader Zack Polanski nationally “disgraceful” and “unfit to lead any political party” for reposting online criticism of Met Police officers who arrested the Golders Green terror suspect.
The Green leader, who was also criticized by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley for his actions, apologized for “hastily posting a tweet”.
Sir Mark told the Times that British Jews face their greatest threat yet following recent attacks on their community.
He also said Jews were at the center of a “terrible Venn diagram” coming from all sides and warned that antisemitism was a growing threat to their security, due in part to social media. Meanwhile, Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said there was a “deeply disturbing increase in anti-Semitic incidents across the country”.
Sir Mark also said he was “concerned” about the scale of upcoming protests in the capital and that police were looking at what conditions and powers should be used in relation to these events.
