City Cross, Salisbury, Wiltshire, c.1905-10 - J Welch Postcard

https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/city-cross-salisbury-wiltshire-c-1905-10-j-welch-postcard-223828378.htm

#Salisbury

Coffee morning

February 2026

PAST EVENT

The group hosted a coffee morning at St Thomas’s church in the centre of Salisbury. We had a suggested action for people to take concerning a surgeon, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya (pictured), who was seized from a hospital in Gaza and who’s whereabouts in Israel are currently unknown. He has probably been severely mistreated. We are asking people to write to the IDF to ask for his whereabouts to be made known, for assurances that he is not being tortured, to have access to legal advice and to receive medical treatment. Disappointingly, only three handouts were taken.

Considerable international disquiet has been expressed about this man, and how he has been treated. The Israeli media are now saying, 14 months later, that he is a member of Hamas.

Further details on the handout below:

Village where 'time stopped' after locals told to leave and never return more than 80 years ago

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/uk-ireland/village-time-stopped-after-locals-36730404

Palestine Action centre of the news

115th vigil took place following a momentous week in the courts

February 2026

We discussed in a previous post the High Court’s decision that the government’s decision to ban Palestine Action was disproportionate. The ban on them has not been lifted as the government seemed determined to appeal and some experts say the Appeal Court may overturn it. The government seem passionate about supressing dissent on this matter – obsessive even – and the possible reasons for this will be discussed in a future post.

Around 30 attended the 115th vigil yesterday and the ‘recognition factor’ by passers-by was higher than usual probably because it was light, Over 50 took note and a few took pictures. A video can be viewed here, with thanks to Peter Gloyns.

Once again we note that the local MP, Mr John Glen has failed to put in an appearance and despite 115 vigils attended by hundreds of his constituents, has never once mentioned them in his weekly Salisbury Journal column. He is a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel, thought to be the largest and best funded of all the lobby organisations in parliament. Although the Conservatives are the largest of such groups, other parties have members as well. It goes some way to explaining why there is silence on the question of genocide in Gaza and little noise about settler violence in the West Bank.

An interesting event took place on the BBC’s Any Questions? programme on Saturday 14th February. Perhaps the programme should be relabelled ‘Some Questions‘ because one audience member stood up and asked “What does the panel think about the BBC not expressing the truth about the genocide in Palestine?” This was not the question she had submitted on the card so it was hastily ignored and the original question about the High Court’s decision discussed instead. It seemed to reveal a BBC deeply nervous of the whole issue of Gaza. A question about the BBC’s poor record would almost certainly never have been allowed. There were a number of disturbances from the audience during the programme talked over by the presenter Alex Forsyth.

“Valentine’s gift to every thug and anti-Semite”

A large part of the ensuing Any Answers? focused on the Palestine Action decision. Most were in favour of the judgement and a handful not. Overall, it seems that the public finds the decision to call them a terrorist organisation over the top. This view is not supported by the Daily Mail among others who concludes that the decision is a ‘Valentine’s gift to every thug and anti-Semite who cheerleads for Palestine Action‘. It found the decision ‘baffling’ and quotes a government source saying it was ‘bonkers’ [accessed 15th February]. It correctly notes that the decision could go the the Supreme Court and take months to decide.

Image courtesy of Peter Gloyns

Previous posts:

• Palestine Action centre of the news
• Minutes and Newsletter
• Palestine Action ban lifted: for now
• EU Strategies on Immigration: A Shift in Focus
• Right to protest under threat

Minutes and Newsletter

February 2026

We attach the group’s minutes of its February meeting thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling them and for other members Fiona and Andrew for their contributions. We do not produce a newsletter so these minutes, although longer than normally the case with minutes, contain items of wider interest.

Human rights shot to the top of the agenda this week following the High Court’s decision concerning Palestine Action which has been another blow for the government.

Recent posts:

• Minutes and Newsletter
• Palestine Action ban lifted: for now
• EU Strategies on Immigration: A Shift in Focus
• Right to protest under threat
• Concerns about facial recognition

Latest vigil – number 114

Modest turnout on a wet and cold evening

February 2026

Around 25 turned out for the 114th vigil on a wet and cold evening in Salisbury. We continue because there is no sign of a real prospect of peace in the Middle East and people continue to die in Gaza. The death toll has risen to 72,027 according to the Peninsular with Israeli strikes continuing in the territory. The so called Board of Peace is to hold its next meeting in Washington on 19th of this month with no Palestinians present Al Jazeera reports. Over 500 have now been killed since the peace process began.

Attempts to allow foreign journalists into Gaza to document evidence there have failed yet again. The Foreign Press Association has been engaged in a fruitless campaign for around 4 years now and the Israeli Supreme Court has decided to defer a decision yet again. It has postponed making a decision 10 times and finally ran out of patience. However, it allowed the Israeli lawyer to present their evidence in closed session. There are criticisms of the FPA for endlessly pursuing these applications when it is clear an enfeebled court is never going to allow foreign journalists in.

Three journalists from the Egyptian Committee for Gaza Relief were possibly murdered by an IDF airstrike according to +972 despite being some distance from the yellow line and in a clearly marked car. The IDF claim that the ‘suspects were operating a drone affiliated to Hamas’ which seems extremely unlikely but without independent evidence it is hard to be sure.

“We will continue to kill the idea of a Palestinian state” Bezalel Smotrich Finance minister

This follows the recent decision by the Israeli cabinet to ease restrictions on Jewish people acquiring land on the West Bank in contravention of the Oslo Accords. The process of acquiring land by Jewish people will be governed by an element of the IDF and the need to go through the civil administration will no longer be necessary. The decision has drawn a rare condemnation from JD Vance.

A positive message to come out of the endless horror of death and destruction comes from the West England Bylines which is a citizen’s journalist outlet and contains a poem by Lama Kuhail:

A video of the vigil with thanks to Peter Gloyns for permission to post it. Picture shows wet attendees!

Article by Salisbury group member published in West England Bylines.

Sources: +972, The Peninsular, Haaretz, West England Bylines, Al Jazeera

Previous posts:

• Right to protest under threat
• Concerns about facial recognition
• Latest death penalty report
• Latest vigil – number 114
• Proposal to limit application of rights law for some prisoners

Thought about subscribing?

I'm in Salisbury for a work visit. Colleagues want to socialise and I'll make sure I do one night with them while I'm here, but apart from that Autechre gig in Bristol (which was very sociable) this is the first night I'm having alone since my last site visit in July last year. And before meeting S and having kids I was a proper loner. I'd socialise but then have a few days to defrag.

Long story short: I'm happily having a pint alone in the Haunch of Venison. #Salisbury has a lot of good pubs but I'm yet to find one better than this.