A Daily Mail investigation has uncovered that a primary school governor, a secondary school teacher, and a recently retired university professor, all standing as Green Party candidates in next week's local elections, face accusations of gross anti-Semitism. These educators, tasked with nurturing the next generation, have allegedly posted or shared shocking images on social media, including claims that the October 7 atrocities were a false flag operation or an act of self-defence, and that a terrorist who stabbed two Jews to death in 2016 was a martyr.
Concerns Over Candidate Selection
As Kemi Badenoch warned of an epidemic of anti-Semitic attacks following the Golders Green knife rampage, questions are being raised about the Green Party's decision to select these prospective councillors. The party is expected to make substantial gains in the elections, with Lord Hayward predicting a gain of 500 councillors. Lord Polak, former leader of Conservative Friends of Israel, stated that either the Green Party has not conducted due diligence on its candidates, or the public should be aware of the abhorrent views represented by the party.
Ifhat Shaheen: Primary School Governor and Candidate
Ifhat Shaheen, a Green candidate in Stoke Newington, north London, has pledged to put kindness at the forefront of decision-making. However, her social media activity tells a different story. On the day of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, she defended the killing of nearly 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 240 civilians as Palestinians defending themselves. She shared a post with an applause emoji describing the atrocities as a Palestinian fightback against Zionist oppression. She has also promoted conspiracy theories that no women were raped during the attacks, despite UN findings to the contrary. Additionally, she has praised the advocacy group Cage, which described Islamic State executioner Jihadi John as a beautiful young man, and questioned Zionist funding behind marches organized by Tommy Robinson.
Mark Bittlestone: History Teacher and Comedian
Mark Bittlestone, a privately educated Cambridge graduate who teaches history to sixth formers at a South London school, has reposted material suggesting the October 7 atrocities were a false flag attack. He has also shared posts describing Israel as a colony of inbreds, rapists, and thieves, and claimed that Israel should be invaded as it has no right to exist. Despite his privileged background, including attendance at King's College School and Cambridge University, his campaign profile states he was prompted to stand for the Green Party due to unabashed fury at Israel's war in Gaza.
Professor Kamel Hawwash: Retired Academic
Professor Kamel Hawwash, who spent over 36 years teaching civil engineering at Birmingham University, is standing as the Green Party candidate for Stirchley. In 2024, while still lecturing, he claimed on Twitter that Israel slaughtered civilians to demonstrate Jewish supremacy fed by Zionism. He described the October 7 attacks as an operation and stated that occupied people have the right to resist occupation. In 2016, he described Islamic Jihad terrorist Mohand Halabi, who stabbed two Israeli men to death, as a martyr carrying out an act of revenge. Hawwash later told the Daily Mail he did not condone such actions but was using Halabi as an example to understand the wider context.
A Green Party spokesman stated that where examples are brought to their attention that do not fit with the party's views, they are looking into them. The revelations have sparked alarm over the views of these candidates and fears for the young people they influence.
