UK Police Investigate Journalist Sarah Helm for Supporting Palestine Action

British police are investigating journalist Sarah Helm, wife of national security advisor Jonathan Powell, for a social media post that appeared to express support for the banned activist group Palestine Action.

The UK government has designated Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. Helm's post on X stated, "God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action," in response to criticism of Irish author Sally Rooney's stance. Rooney's publisher, Faber, announced that her books would no longer be sold in the UK because her support for Palestine Action, which is illegal to support or finance in the UK, means Faber cannot pass on UK earnings to Rooney without breaching terror law.

Palestine Action's stated goal is to end global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime. The group's proscription followed protests targeting factories of Israeli arms group Elbit. Green Party leader Zack Polanski defended Helm, calling her statement common sense and praising her bravery. He argued that Palestine Action should be de-proscribed. Conversely, the Campaign Against Antisemitism called on the police to investigate Helm.

Helm has previously written for The Sunday Times and The Independent and has been a critic of Israeli government policies. Her X account follows Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori.