UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has intervened after a Jewish comedian and writer was excluded from a North London writers group following a dispute over his Zionist beliefs. The incident centers on Harry Deansway, the stage name of Joshua Rinkoff, who had been a member of the Offbeat Writers Group for six months prior to his removal on October 6.
The conflict began after group organizer Ruby Sullivan responded to an online comment by Deansway regarding antisemitism in late September. Sullivan asserted her strong pro-Palestine stance and indicated that divergent views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would affect their collaboration, stating it was essential for the group to be a “pro-Palestine” space. Deansway identified himself as Jewish and a Zionist and expressed willingness to engage in dialogue. He clarified his position by explaining that supporting Jewish self-determination in their ancestral land did not preclude criticism of Israeli government actions or concern for the suffering of other peoples.
Sullivan rejected his explanation, accusing him of endorsing the “massacre of an entire population” and of using solidarity with women’s and LGBTQ+ rights to advance what she opposed. She concluded that his beliefs were incompatible with the Offbeat Writers Group ethos and said she was drafting an ideological declaration requiring new members to commit to an “anti-Israel free zone” in London.
UKLFI responded on October 6 with a formal warning to Sullivan, arguing that excluding Deansway might breach the Equality Act 2010. The legal group emphasized that Deansway was protected under the legislation due to his Jewish ethnicity, religious practices, and related philosophical beliefs regarding Jewish self-determination. UKLFI also criticized Sullivan’s comments as attributing collective blame to Jews for the actions of the State of Israel, a behavior identified by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) as a form of antisemitism.
The dispute also affected a literary event Deansway had arranged for October 13 at Bar Gemist. After Sullivan and several other performers withdrew, the venue canceled the booking by October 2, citing changes to the event program and communication issues rather than Deansway’s identity or politics. Venue directors Marion Zoelle and Uros Dzeutlej rejected UKLFI’s suggestion that the cancellation constituted unlawful discrimination. They confirmed Deansway could still visit the venue but declined to reinstate the event and indicated they would contest any legal claims.
A UKLFI spokesperson described the exclusion as “McCarthyism dressed up as progressive politics,” criticizing the ideological test imposed on a Jewish artist for advocating Jewish self-determination. The group emphasized that opposition to Zionism does not justify excluding Jews from cultural activities based on their beliefs.
The Offbeat Writers Group did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.