UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) intervened after a Jewish comedian and writer was barred from a north London writers group due to his Zionist beliefs last Tuesday.
Harry Deansway, whose real name is Joshua Rinkoff, had participated in the Offbeat Writers Group for six months without issues before group organizer Ruby Sullivan messaged him in response to an online comment about antisemitism in late September.
Sullivan stated that she was "very strongly pro-Palestine (NOT antisemitic)" and that "if our opinions on this don't align it will affect our working together as it's very important for me that the offbeat space and where I share my work is pro-Palestine."
Deansway responded that he was "Jewish and a Zionist", that he was "totally up for having a discussion about it," and that he had "no issue with someone being pro-Palestine." He further explained his viewpoint, stating, "I can be a Zionist, which at its core is to believe in the right to Jewish self-determination in their ancestral land, and still be against the government of the country and anyone's actions that make that a possibility at the expense of the suffering of another people."
Sullivan replied, "I really can't align with your beliefs as they support the massacre of an entire population. You also feigned an interest in women's and gay rights to promote this belief, which I also can't stand behind. [...] I don't think there is a place in the Offbeat Writers' Group for you because of this."
Ideological declaration prepped for prospective members
Sullivan added that she was preparing an ideological declaration for prospective members, noting, "I am looking for a London-based anti-apartheid free zone commitment to sign for the group and am creating a document so when people want to enter the group, they understand our ideologies."
UKLFI subsequently sent a formal warning letter to Sullivan on October 6, 2026, arguing that the exclusion potentially violated the Equality Act 2010. The organization noted that Deansway received protection under the statute based on his Jewish ethnic background, religious practices, and philosophical beliefs surrounding Jewish self-determination.
Furthermore, UKLFI criticized remarks made by Sullivan, specifically her statement that "because of the horrific past the Jewish people have endured, they should not want to inflict the same suffering on others," pointing out that attributing the conduct of the State of Israel to the Jewish people as a whole constitutes holding Jews collectively responsible for state actions. UKLFI noted that this conduct is identified as an example of antisemitism under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition.
Venue management canceled booking
The fallout also impacted a scheduled literary showcase that Deansway organized for October 13, 2026, at Bar Gemišt. Following Sullivan's withdrawal and the exit of other performers, venue management canceled the booking by October 2, 2026, noting that the event was originally agreed upon due to its connection with Sullivan and her group.
Although UKLFI warned the venue directors that canceling the event could also constitute unlawful discrimination, directors Marion Zoelle and Uroš Dežutelj rejected the accusations in a response issued on October 10, 2026. They maintained that their choice stemmed from alterations to the event program and communication breakdowns rather than Deansway's identity or political views. While affirming that Deansway remained welcome to visit the establishment, the directors declined to reinstate the showcase and stated they would contest any legal claims.
A spokesperson for UKLFI said, "This is McCarthyism dressed up as progressive politics. A Jewish writer has been subjected to an ideological loyalty test and excluded because he believes in Jewish self-determination. People are entitled to oppose Zionism, but they cannot lawfully exclude Jews from cultural activities because they refuse to renounce their beliefs. Jewish artists should not have to pass a political purity test to participate in London's cultural life."
The Offbeat Writers Group did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.