Attempts to suppress pro-Palestinian voice by ultra-Jewish groups in US: Report

In the wake of the recent Hamas attack on Israel, a wave of controversy has erupted in the United States, with widespread attempts to suppress pro-Palestinian views leading to the cancellation of major conferences, demands for dismissals, and intimidation campaigns against voices critical of Israeli policies, according to a report published in The Guardian.

A leading US Jewish group is reported to have successfully forced the cancellation of a national conference organized by a major Palestinian campaign group, alleging it to be a front for Hamas.

Television networks, including NPR and the BBC, faced accusations of censorship or interview cancellations, and advertising for a praised book on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was pulled following a campaign of "listener complaints."

The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce claimed victory after pressuring Hilton Hotels to cancel an event by the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights in Houston. The congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was slated as the main speaker. The chamber labelled the conference as "for Hamas supporters" and accused speakers, including Tlaib, of being "notoriously proud Jew-haters."

The USCPR director, Ahmad Abuznaid, revealed that Hilton presented a $100,000 security bill and gave the group 48 hours to pay. Despite attempts to proceed, the hotel unilaterally decided to cancel, citing security concerns. Abuznaid condemned the move as unjust and discriminatory.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott supported the cancellation, stating that Texas has "no room for hate & antisemitism like that supported by Hamas."

The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce is now campaigning for Starbucks to close stores and dismiss workers who allegedly support Hamas, launching a boycott under the slogan "Drinking a Cup of Starbucks Is Drinking a Cup of Jewish Blood."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) cancelled its annual banquet in Arlington, Virginia, citing bomb threats. CAIR, the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, had held the event at Marriott for over a decade.

The escalating controversies and cancellations highlight an intensifying atmosphere surrounding discussions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the US.