Sunday’s SFI Rally for Israel and Peace – join us for something special

Col. Richard Kemp to speak at Brighton National Rally for Israel and Peace

Sussex Friends of Israel (SFI), the Brighton and Hove based pro-Israel community activism group is hosting a National Rally for Israel and Peace on Sunday August 17, at Victoria Gardens in Brighton.

The event, designed to allow Israel’s supporters from across the UK to come to Brighton to stand in solidarity, is a national rally to recognise Israel’s right to exist.

Colonel Richard Kemp CBE will be making the keynote address at the rally. Col. Kemp, a retired British Army officer was commander of British forces in Afghanistan and completed 14 operational tours of duty during his career spanning 30 years.

Col. Richard Kemp said: “I have been closely following the excellent work of Sussex Friends of Israel and its growing reach in grassroots activism for Israel. I am delighted to be joining them to speak at the rally for Israel and Peace on Sunday.

“It is horrifying to witness the hatred and vitriol expressed towards Israel and the Jewish people at protests across the UK. Israel’s opponents are using a variety of methods to question Israel’s legitimacy and that is quite simply wrong.

“My speech on Sunday will define some of the military aspects of the current conflict and bring some balance to the messages that come from some quarters of the media. Israel does not deserve to be vilified in the press, nor demonised on the streets. It has done more than any nation at war, in history, to limit the number of non-combatant casualties and it deserves a fair hearing”.

There will be three speakers at Sunday’s event. Col. Kemp will be joined on the stage by Mayor of Efrat Oded Revivi, who has interrupted a family holiday to come to Brighton to speak at the rally. Rebecca Bat Raphael will also be delivering a very emotional speech. Rebecca is a member of the Israeli Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum.

Sussex Friends of Israel Trustee, Dr Winston Pickett said: “We are delighted to have secured Col. Kemp, Mayor Revivi and Rebecca Bat Raphael as speakers for this event.

“For some time now, grassroots activists for Israel have been asking SFI to take on the baton and hold a national rally in solidarity with Israel and for peace. We are happy to oblige. We all hope for an extension of the current ceasefire and a long and binding agreement for peace”.

The national rally will take place on Sunday August 17 at Victoria Gardens, Brighton, BN1 1WN, from 1:30pm and in addition to three excellent speakers, will include live music from the SFI band, a ride passed by Sky TV’s Jews on Bikes and refreshments.