The new leader of Britain’s biggest education union has been accused of ‘inciting violence’ over a video in which he called on a crowd to “globalise the intifada”.
Primary school teacher Daniel Kebede, who is set to become the head of the National Education Union (NEU) in September, can be seen addressing a Palestine Solidarity Campaign rally in Newcastle, in 2021, in which he says it’s “time to stand together and oppose apartheid, oppose the occupation and fight for Palestinian liberation.”
He went on to say: “Let’s do it for Palestine, Ramallah, West Bank, Gaza – it’s about time we globalise the intifada.”
As he handed over the microphone over, chants of “Allahu akbar” could be heard from the crowd.
Conservative MP for Workington Mark Jenkinson questioned the appointment of Kebede asking on Twitter, where he retweeted the video of the rally, what “became” of the union that “they elect the violence-inciting” trade unionist to replace joint secretaries Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney.
“The left has a real problem, and good people with their eyes closed get swept along,” he said.
A NEU spokesperson told the JC: “Daniel Kebede was present at a Palestine Solidarity Campaign rally in solidarity with Palestinian facing eviction in Sheik Jarrah in 2021.
“In speaking to the rally Mr Kebede called for peace and justice in the Middle East and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people.
“He used the slogan ‘globalise the intifada’ which is an expression of such solidarity, and of support for civic protests; it did not convey any support for violence.”