British far-Leftist lashes out at 'despicable' police probe into his declaration that Bradford was an 'Israel free zone'

It's a wonder he hasn't been prosecuted under Britain's hate speech laws -- but being a well-known politician probably protects him

Controversial MP George Galloway today vowed not to be 'silenced' after he was interviewed under caution by police for publicly declaring Bradford an ‘Israel-free zone’ in protest at the war in Gaza.

Speaking in Leeds earlier this month, the veteran Left-wing firebrand said Israelis were no longer welcome in the city where he has a constituency. The remarks sparked outrage and hundreds of complaints to West Yorkshire Police.

Mr Galloway today lashed out at the police's decision to question him over the speech.

He said: 'This is an absolute and despicable attempt to curb my freedom of speech by people who appear to be quite happy about the indiscriminate murder of Palestinians in Gaza.'

Mr Galloway added: 'I won't be silenced, I will keep speaking out against horrendous injustice.'

The police probe was sparked after Mr Galloway made a speech in Leeds in front of a Palestinian flag, lashing out at Israel's policies in Gaza.

In one part of his speech, Mr Galloway said: ‘We have declared Bradford an Israel-free zone.

‘We don’t want any Israeli goods. We don’t want any Israeli services. We don’t want any Israeli academics coming to the university or college.

‘We don’t even want any Israeli tourists to come to Bradford even if any of them had thought of doing so.

‘We reject this illegal, barbarous, savage state that calls itself Israel. And you have to do the same.’

The row escalated on Monday after Daniel Taub, Israel's ambassador to the UK, visited Bradford and held meetings with local Jews and prominent councillors.

During his visit Mr Taub said: 'In the best spirit of Yorkshire, the real voice of Bradford knows that there has only ever been one good boycott – and that's Geoff Boycott.' [A famous Yorkshire cricketer]

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