UK Palestine Campaign Official Confirms Ties with Ex-Israeli Spy

A senior official of the UK’s Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Ben Soffa, has admitted to having worked alongside a former Israeli intelligence operative during his time with the Labour Party. 

Ben Soffa, currently Digital Organizer for PSC and formerly Head of Digital Organizing for Labour, acknowledged his collaboration with Assaf Kaplan, a former officer in Unit 8200, Israel’s highly secretive cyber intelligence division.

Kaplan was hired by the Labour Party as a social media analyst in 2021, a move that drew criticism from pro-Palestinian activists and grassroots campaigners at the time. His background in Israeli military intelligence raised immediate alarm among activists, given Unit 8200’s documented role in surveillance operations targeting Palestinians.

The revelation of Soffa’s connection to Kaplan has sparked renewed concern about trust, transparency, and ideological consistency within one of the UK’s most prominent pro-Palestine organizations.

While Soffa attempted to downplay Kaplan’s influence by describing his role in Labour as purely technical and limited, the disclosure has nonetheless fueled broader anxieties within the movement. Critics argue that Soffa’s decision to work alongside Kaplan and PSC’s silence when Kaplan’s appointment first surfaced signal a concerning departure from the movement’s principles.

Many grassroots campaigners feel that the PSC’s leadership may have inadvertently undermined the organization’s credibility by failing to address this connection earlier publicly. The PSC has long positioned itself as a voice for justice and solidarity with Palestinians, but this incident has led some to question whether internal decisions are aligning with the values the campaign claims to uphold.

The lack of a clear statement or accountability from the PSC regarding Soffa’s collaboration with a former Israeli spy has only intensified frustration among supporters who expect unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause.

At a time when public awareness of and support for Palestinian rights is growing, particularly in response to ongoing violence in Gaza, activists are calling for stronger integrity and clearer ethical boundaries within pro-Palestinian institutions.

The PSC remains a key player in shaping the national conversation around Palestine in the UK, but this controversy underscores the importance of trust and consistency in leadership. Supporters now look to the PSC for transparency, hoping the organization will reaffirm its dedication to principled activism and the values of justice it has long championed.

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