Pro-Palestine fanatics target new Labour MP over Israeli husband
Damien Egan, elected as MP for Kingswood in Bristol last week, is being targeted by extremists after it emerged he had an Israeli husband who served in the IDF
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Pro-Palestine fanatics are targeting a newly elected Labour MP after it emerged he is married to an Israeli who has served the military.
Damien Egan was elected as the MP for Kingswood in Bristol last Thursday, Labour’s Jewish by-election candidate celebrates victory with Israeli-born husband after he overturned a large Conservative majority to become one of two Labour candidates to triumph on a night of gloom for Rishi Sunak.
But after appearing at the election count with his husband Yossi Felberbaum, the new MP has since been forced to endure a torrent of intimidation and abuse from pro-Palestine extremists who have seized on the years the Israeli previously spent serving in the military, before he moved to the UK.
It is understood that in the wake of other threats and intimidation of MPs, including the recent decision of Tory minister Mike Freer to announce he was stepping down from politics over safety concerns, the parliamentary authorities are to hold urgent talks with Egan over increasing protection for him as he begins his Westminster career.
Mike Katz, national chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, responded to the intimidation of the new MP telling the Mail on Sunday: “It’s disgusting that a new MPs husband is targeted by left-wing trolls, using the worst conspiratorial left antisemitism, simply because he once served in the Israeli army. It’s racism.”
Israeli soldier Yossi Felberbaum actively recruits for the infamous Israeli military intelligence Unit 8200.
It spies on Palestinian electronic communications for the purpose of blackmail and secret evidence. It has been condemned by 43 whistleblowers from within the unit. https://t.co/3RHACHAu6a
— Lowkey (@Lowkey0nline) February 16, 2024
Among those spreading wild conspiracies about Egan’s husband on social media is the pro-Palestine rapper Lowkey who posted on X/Twitter to his 380,000 followers: “Israeli soldier Yossi Felberbaum actively recruits for the infamous Israeli military intelligence Unit 8200.
“It spies on Palestinian electronic communications for the purpose of blackmail and secret evidence. It has been condemned by 43 whistleblowers from within the unit.”
Responding to the rapper’s post, one social media user, whose bio states he specialises in “attacking Zionists” writes:”How are we going to stop this Lowkey? What can we do?”
Other fanatics claimed Egan’s selection as Labour candidate for the Bristol seat was a sign that the party was now controlled by “Mossad” under the leadership of Keir Starmer.
Like all Israelis Felberbaum, who was born near the city of Haifa, completed military service, before going on to complete a further spell working in the intelligence unit. But his days in the IDF are now long behind him after he moved to the UK.
Egan, meanwhile, who was born in Cork had moved with his family as a child to live in the Kingswood constituency, and with his impressive record in local government became an obvious choice to be the party’s candidate for last week’s by-election.
Tensions will increase again in Westminster as the SNP forces another ceasefire vote on Wednesday.
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