Pro-Palestine protester hurled antisemitic abuse at Glasgow Friends of Israel leader

A pro-Israel group chairman feared for his safety after a campaigner hurled abuse at him at a pro-Palestine rally.

Samuel Stein, 79, was targeted by Michael Napier, 78, in Glasgow city centre’s Argyle Street between February and June 2025.

Mr Stein – of the Glasgow Friends of Israel – said that he was called a “baby killer” among other insults.

He said that he was targeted by Napier and the Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign group because of his Jewish religion.

Napier, of West Calder, West Lothian, was found guilty of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards Mr Stein at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

The offences were aggravated by prejudice related to religion, or a social or cultural group with a perceived religious affiliation.

Mr Stein, a part-time IT consultant, gave evidence at the trial.

He said that he went to Barclays Bank on Argyle Street when he observed Mr Napier’s group protesting.

Mr Stein said that he started recording the pro-Palestinian rally and was later approached by Napier outside the bank.

Prosecutor Gail Campbell asked Mr Stein what Napier said to him.

“He asked me what I think about the chief spiritual leader of the Israeli Defence Force who supports the rape of comely gentile women and would I like to comment,” Mr Stein said.

Mr Stein said he called Napier a “moron”.

He said: “I believe he asked me as he knows I’m Jewish – he would have wanted me to possibly agree with what he was proclaiming this man does.

“I think he wanted to put me on the spot as a Jewish person to say that is was okay to rape gentile women.”

A video of the incident was shown to the court in which Napier says to Mr Stein on camera: “What a creep.”

Napier also says that Mr Stein sends pictures of protesters to Tel-Aviv.

When asked to comment on the nature of the words used in the video, Mr Stein replied: “Baby killer is the one I find the most insulting as I am not a baby killer and that’s what these people are calling me in the streets of Glasgow.”

Footage was shown of another incident in which Napier says: “This man supports the people who are breaking the hands of Palestinian surgeons to prevent them carrying out operations. He supports the killing of children…he is a low life.”

Napier was further heard to tell his supporters to “move away” from “contaminated” Mr Stein.

In the final incident, Napier told Mr Stein that he is “just a pathetic little s***”.

When asked how he felt, Mr Stein told the court: “Angry and disappointed that it happened in Glasgow.

“I’m afraid to some extent, people hearing him could do me harm.

“It was only a week ago that someone was killed in Australia.

“This is what these people were doing – he is serving hate on our streets.

“Jewish people cannot live peacefully on our streets.”

Mr Stein told the court that the Glasgow Friends of Israel “deliberately opened an account [at Barclays] in the face of the disgraceful behaviour that takes place there every week”.

Napier’s defence lawyer, Mark Harrower, put to Mr Stein that videoing the Pro-Palestinian group would likely provoke a reaction.

He replied: “I didn’t provoke any reaction.”

Sheriff John McCormack fined Napier £600 after he found him guilty.

In a statement after the verdict on Tuesday, Mr Stein said: “The community have been aware for years of this man’s antisemitism.

“At last justice has caught up with him.”