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Robert Cohen

@edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social
250 followers 271 following 31 posts

PhD’ing at Kings College London. Researching Jewish identity and Israel/Palestine. Trustee at Amos Trust. Formerly at BBC News and The Co-operative Group.

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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Letter now republished by #LeftRenewal leftrenewal.org/statements-e... and @ukfost.bsky.social ukfost.co.uk/holocaust-st... Cc @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social @duhaut.bsky.social @evafrojmovic0.bsky.social @guesnet.bsky.social @clairelefoll.bsky.social @brendanmcgeever.bsky.social
leftrenewal.org
An open letter to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust – 18 December 2025 – Left Renewal Blog
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Join me in signing the #JewsDemandAction petition calling on governments around the world to do everything possible to end the Israeli military’s assault on Gaza. jewsdemandaction.org jewsdemandaction.org
jewsdemandaction.org
Jews Demand Action
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Mondoweiss @mondoweiss.net · 03/05/2025
Israel has now allowed any food, water, and medicine to Gaza for over two months — and the U.S. is helping cover it up. They are starving the people of Gaza and famine is here. Cartoon by Carlos Latuff.
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah @rabbiellisarah.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
37 UK progressive rabbis – myself included – ‘unequivocally reject’ #Trump’s outrageous plan to ‘take over’ #Gaza & forcibly remove the civilian population. Read our statement here: www.reformjudaism.org.uk/statement-fr...
reformjudaism.org.uk
The Movement for Reform Judaism - Statement from Progressive Clergy on Donald Trump's Gaza plan
Progressive Judaism remains committed to a two-state solution to the Israel/Palestinian conflict. We believe that both Israelis and Palestinians have the right and deserve to live within secure and pe...
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Deeply depressing but not surprising. Will this enable Diaspora Jewish institutions to also back Trump’s Gaza madness? www.jpost.com/israel-news/...
jpost.com
Majority of Israelis support Trump's Gaza plan, relocation of Palestinians in exclusive 'Post' poll
Trump's Gaza plan has large support from Netanyahu, coalition voters • 10% say plan is morally reprehensible, 35% want Jewish state 'from river to sea'
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Joseph Finlay @josephfinlay.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
The person most responsible for the (hopefully temporary) breakdown of the ceasefire / hostage release process is surely Donald Trump
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Just finished reading @peterbeinart.bsky.social new book. I feel like buying 50 copies and just handing them out for free at my synagogue. It’s such an important contribution to how Jewish life and self-understanding needs to change. I can’t recommend it more highly.
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
I think it’s safe to say that the 2-State solution is now officially dead. Tonight has been an extraordinary news conference from the White House. Historic in all the worst ways.
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
President Trump is presenting the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza as driven by a humanitarian concern. The Western democracies will no doubt go along with this ruse of righteousness. 1/3 www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
theguardian.com
Trump says Palestinians have ‘no alternative’ but to leave Gaza
President in effect endorses ethnic cleansing of territory before hosting meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
As a surgeon in Gaza, I witnessed hell visited on children. It shames me that Britain played a part in it | Nizam Mamode
I saw them killed by sniper fire and drones. Why doesn’t Labour condemn it? Why do arms keep flowing in Israel’s direction? asks retired professor of transplant surgery Nizam Mamode
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Emily L. Hauser (she/her) ❌👑 @emilylhauser.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
🧵Shavua tov. I go offline on Shabbat & spend part of the day in prayer, Torah study, & listening to sermons (JTS & IKAR). Today, I also read @peterbeinart.bsky.social's brilliant new book, also a kind of Torah Study. It's concise yet expansive, honest, searing, & wholly necessary. Please read. 1/
bookshop.org
Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning
A Reckoning
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Jewdastine Action @jewdas.org · 29/01/2025
May Hashem bless and keep the new editor of the Jewish Chronicle…far away from us.
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Vashti Media @vashtimedia.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
An essay on genocide, collective memory, and talking to the dead by @annsplaining.bsky.social for the week of Holocaust Memorial Day. vashtimedia.com/the-geometry...
vashtimedia.com
The geometry of remembering
An essay on genocide, collective memory, and talking to the dead.
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
‘No Other Land’ on Amazon Prime in the UK. It’s a heartbreaking, fury invoking and essential watch. Let’s hope it wins the Oscar. musicart.xboxlive.com/7/0ff16d00-0...
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
All change at the JC? Or no change at the JC? It shouldn’t take long to tell.
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Joseph Finlay @josephfinlay.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Like an embarrassing superfan I have already bought @peterbeinart.bsky.social’s new book. It’s predictably excellent. I especially like this page from the prologue
Page which uses the metaphor of Israel as a house for all Jews, but then notes that others lived there before the house was built.
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
My short speech for today’s (Gaza inclusive) Holocaust Memorial Day event in Leeds is posted on my Facebook page. ‘NEVER AGAIN FOR ANYONE, ANYWHERE’ www.facebook.com/share/1BFn2v...
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Owen Jones @owenjones.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Those who armed Israel must go to jail. Those who used platforms to justify Israel's mass slaughter must have their reputations destroyed. If not, we will normalise depravity which will lead to the ruin of us all. New column 👇 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Israel’s leaders committed genocide in Gaza and must pay for it. Their political and media allies must too | Owen Jones
This unprecedented slaughter could not have happened without powerful cheerleaders. Hold them to account, says Guardian columnist Owen Jones
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
I’ll be speaking at this vigil in Leeds this Sunday.
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Our report for @runnymedetrust.bsky.social is published today and launched tonight. It’s the first publication on this topic by the Trust for 30 years. Please have a look, share widely and also share your responses and criticisms!
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
In fact, there are more Israelis coming to live in the UK than Jewish Brits heading in the opposite direction. Important factual counter to the rhetoric we often hear. @jprdata.bsky.social www.jpr.org.uk/insights/dat...
jpr.org.uk
The data is clear: there is no ‘Jewish exodus’ from the UK
It happens over and over again: alarmist headlines about how Jews are leaving the country in unprecedented numbers because of antisemitism. “Half of British Jews ‘considering leaving the UK’ amid ‘sta...
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Middle East Eye (Unofficial) @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
British Jews explain their turn away from Israel and Zionism - www.middleeasteye.net/news/zionism-…
middleeasteye.net
'Zionism is anti-Jewish': British Jews explain their turn away from Israel
Israel's assault on Gaza has accelerated a move by many Jews in the diaspora towards anti-Zionism and pro-Palestinian activism
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
UK Jews are mobilising to protect the right for the next national Palestinian solidarity march to keep to its previously agreed route. UK Jews can still sign the statement supporting the march. www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/article/poli...
jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk
Police must reverse BBC Palestine protest ban, 660+ Jews say
Prominent legal, cultural and academic figures are among more than 660 British Jews calling on the Metropolitan Police to reverse…
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
GAZA - where ‘Western values’ and ‘international law’, are also numbered in the fatalities.
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Jewish Voice for Liberation @jvl.org.uk · 26/12/2024
On Dec 14 Diana Neslen, an anti-racist South African-born observant Jew, joined a 60-strong interfaith group singing carols for Palestine in central London, expecting to read out a statement on the atrocities going on in Gaza But the Met Police intervened archive.ph/W6Hai (1/2)
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 25/12/2024
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Jonathan Cook @jonathan-cook.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
Another expert report finds Israel is committing genocide. The West yawns. My latest article can be read here: www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/gaza...
middleeasteye.net
Another expert report finds Israel is committing genocide. The West yawns
Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, and Medecins Sans Frontieres are all agreed. But the Gaza genocide is now just another routine news item, buried on the inside pages
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
‘The danger now is that Palestinians die twice, once in physical reality and second in a moral one where the powerful diminish the very standards that shape the world as we know it.’ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
A consensus is emerging: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Where is the action? | Nesrine Malik
It may feel hopeless to see supportive states continue to back Israel, but bearing witness matters for future reckoning, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
This will be interesting to watch play out: "Israel will invest its resources in advancing bilateral relations with countries worldwide according to priorities that also take into account the attitudes and actions of these states toward Israel." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Israel to close embassy in Ireland over 'anti-Israel' policies
The Republic of Ireland has crossed
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Crikey @crikey.com.au · 11/12/2024
Opinion | Jewish communities deserve real protection — not a false sense of security purchased at the expense of other marginalised groups, writes @jewishcouncilau.bsky.social executive officer @maxyka.bsky.social.
crikey.com.au
Law and order crackdown won't make Jews safer
Jewish communities deserve real protection — not a false sense of security purchased at the expense of other marginalised groups.
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
More of the ‘see no evil, hear no evil’ approach to Israel’s atrocities in Gaza. Outside of the pro-Israel solidarity bubble, this kind of shoot the messenger response just looks callous and removed from reality.
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Since the so called "Jewish Labour Movement" have reacted badly to their public criticism. Jewish - No. Lots of them aren't Labour - they're the party that protect capital. Movement - What? The tiny few who embarrass themselves publically. www.thejc.com/news/politic... 1/4
thejc.com
Councillor who joked about ‘Jew process’ gave Green Party antisemitism training
Row erupted between Green Party and Jewish Labour Movement
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Just finished reading @rachelshabi.bsky.social new book on Antisemitism. Highly recommended to anyone wanting a nuanced, comprehensive and very readable account of how this form of racism shows up on the right and the left…and what we can do about it.
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
I’m trying to understand why being a democratically elected leader makes it inappropriate to be charged with war crimes? How does a democratic mandate override the rule of law? I guess the Donald Trump playbook is becoming increasingly popular. 😢
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
This is the Board of Deputies response to the ICC arrest warrants. They go with ‘counter productive’ rather than ‘antisemitic’ which I guess is better than what we are seeing coming out of Israel and the US. It’s still a lousy response though 1/3
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
This is good news. But hard to see what immediate impact it will have on the ground. Meanwhile, I fear most Jewish communal institutions here in the UK will either make no comment or attack the ICC. Acknowledging the full horror of everything since 7/10 would be a better response.
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Short article from Martin Francisco Saps at Vashti media on how Israel advocay has been appropriating the language and concepts of decolonialism and indigeneity. Recommended reading. vashtimedia.com/hasbaras-dop...
vashtimedia.com
Hasbara’s doppelganger politics of indigeneity
Zionism in anti-colonial clothing.
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Reposted by Robert Cohen
CNN @cnn.com · 18/11/2024
Pope Francis has said that allegations of a genocide in Gaza should be "carefully investigated" - marking some of his strongest criticism yet of Israel's war in the territory.
cnn.com
Pope Francis calls for investigation into Gaza genocide allegations | CNN
Pope Francis has said that allegations of a genocide in Gaza should be “carefully investigated” marking some of his strongest criticism yet of Israel’s war in the territory.
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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
A thoughtful piece from the excellent Rachel Shabi (can we get her to join us here?) about last week's violence on the streets of Amsterdam and the media narrative that developed around it www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Kneejerk response, then overcorrection: what the aftermath of the Amsterdam violence should teach us | Rachel Shabi
Assumptions were made about clashes between Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and Amsterdam locals – and the far right took advantage, says author Rachel Shabi
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Na'amod @naamoduk.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
“It doesn’t matter who you are in Gaza, if you’re a Palestinian you’re a target.” Harrowing, heartbreaking testimony from Prof. Mamode that provides further evidence of the Israeli military’s repeated and deliberate targeting of civilians. (Content warning): parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
parliamentlive.tv
Parliamentlive.tv
International Development Committee
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Robert Cohen @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Hoping this is the place to organise the resistance.
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