Tables turned on the Pro-Palestine ‘Jew hunters’: Activists planning to go door-to-door asking locals to boycott Israeli products are foiled by counter-protesters making them hide in pub

Activists accused of taking part in a ‘Jew hunt’ by going door-to-door asking locals to boycott Israeli products were stopped after counter-protesters forced them to hide in a bar.

Members of the Bristol Apartheid-Free Zone (AFZ) campaign had planned a door-knocking campaign encouraging people to boycott Israeli businesses amid the country’s ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza.

But more than a dozen activists turned up at the pre-scheduled event outside Sainsbury’s and accused the group of taking part in a ‘Jew hunt’.

Slogans such as ‘Palestine will be free’, ‘Israel is a terrorist state’ and ‘occupation no more’ were met with slogans such as ‘Stop the hunt for Jews’.

In the footage taken at the scene, it is seen that two groups clashed, shouting slogans and carrying flags, and there were police in the area.

AFZ campaigners found themselves in a pub while activists shouted ‘Jew hunting’ and ‘Nazis’ outside.

In addition to shouting outside people’s homes, campaign organizers also stopped their planned door-knocking to avoid confrontations.

Susan, who held a banner in her hand and did not want to show her face or share her last name, told the Daily Mail that she was afraid of ‘Jew hunting’.

Critics say such groups can actually promote anti-Semitism or intimidate Jews if confronted on their own doorsteps.

More than a dozen activists turned up at the pre-planned event outside Sainsbury’s and accused the group of taking part in ‘Jew hunting’

She said: ‘I am the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and a concerned citizen. I am very concerned about the left and Islamic organizations dedicated to hunting down Jews.

‘I feel it’s my duty to be here to let the haters know that people don’t have the support of the general public.

‘As the child of a Holocaust survivor, I grew up listening to these stories where people said the exact same things.

‘This chills me to my core. I’m standing here for my children, who will be here much longer than I am.’

AFZ activists say they advocate boycotting Israeli products because Israel ‘develops with international support’.

But critics say such groups can actually promote antisemitism or intimidate Jewish people if confronted on their own doorsteps.

Resident Sally Campbell, whose mother is a Jewish refugee, was passing by when she saw the protest outside the Sainsbury’s supermarket.

He said: ‘I wouldn’t want anyone knocking on my door. I think it’s scary and I can choose what I buy and where I buy it.’

Mark Birbeck, founder of ‘Our Fight’ group, which is said to be reclaiming the streets of Bristol from targeted harassment of Jews, told the Daily Mail that their door-knocking was a ‘purity test’.

Mark Birbeck, founder of ‘Our Fight’ group, which is said to have saved the streets of Bristol from targeted harassment of Jews, told the Daily Mail their door-knocking was a ‘purity test’

Pro-Israel protester outside the Golden Lion pub in Horfield Bristol

AFZ activists say they advocate boycotting Israeli products because Israel “develops with international support”

Slogans such as ‘Palestine will be free’, ‘Israel is a terrorist state’ and ‘no more occupation’ were met with slogans such as ‘Stop the hunt for Jews’

Police stand outside the Golden Lion bar in Horfield Bristol, where pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered

He said: ‘People are organizing events where they knock on local people’s doors and ask people where they stand on Israel and Gaza. This is not just gathering information on where people stand, it is also a test of purity.

‘We did not oppose the marches in London. ‘We are not against freedom of expression, but we think this is harassment.’

He said the attacks at Bondi Beach and Manchester showed the rise of antisemitism and that he himself had been spat on and punched.

Alison Wren, 79, a retired science teacher, is not Jewish but wanted to speak out against the harassment of Bristol’s Jewish community.

He said: ‘It’s ridiculous to knock on people’s doors and write whether they agree to boycott Israel.’

The group says it expresses solidarity with Palestinians killed and displaced in Gaza, inspired by the Anti-Apartheid Movement that targeted South Africa in the second half of the 20th century.

The Daily Mail spoke to pro-Palestinian supporters who said they were not anti-Semitic, just against the genocide in Gaza.

Law student Leo Hill, who made it clear that he was speaking as an individual and not on behalf of the AFZ, said: ‘This is not hateful, it is not anti-Semitic, it is not even anti-Israel. The important thing is to have a heart that stands against genocide and apartheid.’

Another pro-Palestinian supporter named Ryan, who announced that he was not speaking as an AFZ member, said: ‘I think you should separate the state from religion. I understand that historical fear and antisemitism are a terrible thing.’

He said there are large Jewish groups that support Palestine and that the actions of the Israeli government should be considered separately from the actions of the Jewish people as a whole.

Law student Leo Hill, who made it clear that he was speaking as an individual and not on behalf of the AFZ, said: ‘This is not hateful, it is not anti-Semitic, it is not even anti-Israel. The important thing is to have the heart to stand against genocide and apartheid.’

The group says it expresses solidarity with Palestinians killed and displaced in Gaza, inspired by the Anti-Apartheid Movement that targeted South Africa in the second half of the 20th century.

A member of the counter-protest got close to the faces of AFZ campaigners and shouted ‘fuck you’ and ‘show us your faces’. He added that they use phones with Israeli technology.

The Daily Mail spoke to pro-Palestinian supporters who said they were not anti-Semitic, they were just against the genocide in Gaza.

A pro-Palestinian supporter named Ryan, who said he was not speaking as an AFZ member, said: ‘I think you should separate the state from religion. I understand that historical fear and antisemitism are a terrible thing.’

A member of the counter-protest got close to the faces of AFZ campaigners and shouted ‘fuck you’ and ‘show us your faces’. He added that they use phones with Israeli technology.

A police officer pulled him over to calm the situation.

People who passed by and witnessed the events unfold said there was too much shouting and not enough talking.

Passerby Jasmine Frank said: ‘I came here to learn about these matters. People are shouting and I don’t know how that will help peace.’