by James Tozer, Daily Mail (Photo: Wikimedia Creative Commons)
Veterans have accused pro-Palestine campaigners of ‘hijacking’ Britain’s national symbol of remembrance by selling special red, white, black and green poppies.
The ‘Palestine poppy’ is designed to commemorate those killed in the conflict with Israel, and according to its backers adapts the Palestinian flag as a symbol of ‘solidarity’ with its people’s ‘ongoing struggle’.
Some of the proceeds from sales benefit charities working in the region – one of which was banned from last month’s Labour Party conference over its founder’s past comments about Hamas.
Three weeks before Remembrance Sunday, British veterans have condemned the campaign, saying the symbol should be about unity and not division.
Former Army officer and defence analyst Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Crawford told GB News it was an effort to ‘hijack’ or ‘ride on the coat-tails of the familiar red poppy’.
He said: ‘The Remembrance poppy is avowedly apolitical despite what some misguided people might say, and commemorates our war dead by bringing people together in the act of remembrance.
‘The so-called “Palestine Poppy” is about as far away from remembrance as it’s possible to be.
‘It is unashamedly political, designed to divide rather than unite.’