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Jewish groups attack Jeremy Corbyn over anti-Semitism Corbyn apologises for 'hurt' caused by anti-Semitism in Labour
(about 5 hours later)
"Enough is enough," Jewish groups have said in a letter accusing Jeremy Corbyn of failing to tackle anti-Semitism. Jeremy Corbyn is seeking an "urgent meeting" with Jewish leaders to discuss their concerns about the rise of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.
The Labour leader has said he is "sincerely sorry" for the pain caused by "pockets of anti-Semitism" in the Labour Party. Jewish groups have accused the Labour leader of not doing enough to tackle it and in a strongly-worded open letter told him "enough is enough".
Mr Corbyn said he would be meeting representatives of the Jewish community to "rebuild" confidence in his party. They planned a demonstration outside Parliament on Monday demanding action.
However, the organisations behind the open letter are planning a protest outside Parliament later. Mr Corbyn repeated his apology to Jewish people in a letter to Jewish leaders ahead of the protest.
The letter - drawn up by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council - said there has been a "repeated institutional failure" to properly address anti-Semitism. In it, he says: "I recognise that anti-Semitism has surfaced within the Labour Party, and has too often been dismissed as simply a matter of a few bad apples.
"This has caused pain and hurt to Jewish members of our party and to the wider Jewish community in Britain. I am sincerely sorry for the pain which has been caused, and pledge to redouble my efforts to bring this anxiety to an end."
He calls historic forms of anti-Semitism such as the "idea of Jewish bankers and capitalists exploiting the workers" the "socialism of fools" - a reference to a phrase attributed to 19th Century German social democrat August Bebel.
But, in his most detailed rejection of anti-Jewish prejudice yet, the Labour leader says "newer forms of anti-Semitism have been woven into criticism of Israeli governments".
"Criticism of Israel, particularly in relation to the continuing dispossession of the Palestinian people, cannot be avoided," he said.
"Nevertheless, comparing Israel or the actions of Israeli governments to the Nazis, attributing criticisms of Israel to Jewish characteristics or to Jewish people in general and using abusive phraseology about supporters of Israel such as 'Zio' all constitute aspects of contemporary anti-Semitism.
"And Jewish people must not be held responsible or accountable for the actions of the Israeli government."
Mr Corbyn says "anti-Semitic attitudes have surfaced more often in our ranks in recent years" and he accepts criticism that the party "has been too slow in processing some of the cases that have emerged".
And he goes on to call for a meeting with Jewish leaders and pledge that the party will have "zero tolerance for anti-Semites".
Labour will also bring forward a programme of political education within the party "to increase awareness and understanding of all forms of anti-Semitism," he adds.
In a statement on Sunday night, the Labour leader said he was "sincerely sorry" for the pain caused by "pockets of anti-Semitism" in the Labour Party.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council said in an open letter to Labour MPs there has been a "repeated institutional failure" to properly address anti-Semitism.
It accuses Mr Corbyn of being unable to "seriously contemplate anti-Semitism, because he is so ideologically fixed within a far-left world view that is instinctively hostile to mainstream Jewish communities".It accuses Mr Corbyn of being unable to "seriously contemplate anti-Semitism, because he is so ideologically fixed within a far-left world view that is instinctively hostile to mainstream Jewish communities".
The organisations refer to Mr Corbyn's apparently supportive message to the creator of an allegedly anti-Semitic mural in 2012 and his attendance at "pro-Hezbollah rallies".The organisations refer to Mr Corbyn's apparently supportive message to the creator of an allegedly anti-Semitic mural in 2012 and his attendance at "pro-Hezbollah rallies".
They say the Labour leader has "sided with anti-Semites" either because of "the far left's obsessive hatred of Zionism" or "a conspiratorial worldview in which mainstream Jewish communities are believed to be a hostile entity, a class enemy". They say the Labour leader has "sided with anti-Semites" either because of "the far left's obsessive hatred of Zionism" or "a conspiratorial world view in which mainstream Jewish communities are believed to be a hostile entity, a class enemy".
The letter says those who push anti-Semitic material view Mr Corbyn as "their figurehead" and that he is "the only person with the standing to demand that all of this stops." The letter says those who push anti-Semitic material view Mr Corbyn as "their figurehead" and that he is "the only person with the standing to demand that all of this stops".
Analysis by BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith The letter was due to be delivered to a meeting of Labour MPs and peers, although the Labour leader is not expected to attend.
What is extraordinary about this letter is not just the raw anger - but the fact that they directly blame Jeremy Corbyn and his brand of politics for allowing anti-Semitism to get a hold in the Labour Party. The protest was going to be held outside the Houses of Parliament, with a number of Labour MPs - including Liz Kendall, John Woodcock and Ian Austin - joining members of the Jewish community.
They accuse him of a far-left world view which they say is instinctively hostile to mainstream Jewish communities. At the same time, a counter-demonstration by pro-Corbyn Jewish Labour members was due to be staged nearby.
What they mean by that is a view of Israel as a sort of neo-colonialist, Imperialist power, associated with the US, oppressing Palestinians, and it is that sort of politics that has allowed anti-Semitic views to gain a hold.
But Mr Corbyn's supporters believe claims of anti-Semitism are ridiculous and absurd, given the leader's anti-racism record - they say those making the accusations are using it to attack him.
The letter will be delivered to a meeting of Labour MPs and peers, although the Labour leader is not expected to attend.
A protest will then be held outside the Houses of Parliament, which will see a number of Labour MPs - including Liz Kendall, John Woodcock and Ian Austin - join members of the Jewish community.
At the same time, a counter-demonstration by pro-Corbyn Jewish Labour members is due to be staged nearby.
In a statement, the Jewish Voice for Labour group said it was "appalled" by the Board of Deputies' letter.In a statement, the Jewish Voice for Labour group said it was "appalled" by the Board of Deputies' letter.
"They do not represent us or the great majority of Jews in the party who share Jeremy Corbyn's vision for social justice and fairness. Jeremy's consistent commitment to anti-racism is all the more needed now.""They do not represent us or the great majority of Jews in the party who share Jeremy Corbyn's vision for social justice and fairness. Jeremy's consistent commitment to anti-racism is all the more needed now."
In a statement released on Sunday evening, Mr Corbyn said: "I want to be clear that I will not tolerate any form of anti-Semitism that exists in and around our movement.
"We must stamp this out from our party and movement.
"We recognise that anti-Semitism has occurred in pockets within the Labour Party, causing pain and hurt to our Jewish community in the Labour Party and the rest of the country.
"I am sincerely sorry for the pain which has been caused."
Mr Corbyn said he and the party - which has "deep roots in the Jewish community" - were now campaigning to "increase support and confidence in Labour" among Jewish people in Britain and he would meet members of the community in the coming days to "rebuild confidence".
What caused the row?What caused the row?
In October 2012, street artist Mear One posted a picture of his mural in east London called "Freedom of Humanity" on Facebook - which depicted businessmen, some of them the artist says are Jewish, counting money on a board game that is balanced on the backs of hunched-over men. In October 2012, street artist Mear One posted a picture of his mural in east London called "Freedom of Humanity" on Facebook - which depicted businessmen, some of them whom the artist says are Jewish, counting money on a board game that is balanced on the backs of hunched-over men.
The artist wrote: "Tomorrow they want to buff my mural. Freedom of expression. London calling. Public Art."The artist wrote: "Tomorrow they want to buff my mural. Freedom of expression. London calling. Public Art."
Mr Corbyn replied: "Why? You are in good company. Rockefeller destroyed Diego [Rivera's] mural because it includes a picture of Lenin."Mr Corbyn replied: "Why? You are in good company. Rockefeller destroyed Diego [Rivera's] mural because it includes a picture of Lenin."
More recently, Labour MP Luciana Berger sought clarification from the leader's office on the 2012 comments.More recently, Labour MP Luciana Berger sought clarification from the leader's office on the 2012 comments.
Mr Corbyn said he regretted not looking more closely at the image, which he called "deeply disturbing".Mr Corbyn said he regretted not looking more closely at the image, which he called "deeply disturbing".
He added: "I am opposed to the production of anti-Semitic material of any kind, and the defence of free speech cannot be used as a justification for the promotion of anti-Semitism in any form."He added: "I am opposed to the production of anti-Semitic material of any kind, and the defence of free speech cannot be used as a justification for the promotion of anti-Semitism in any form."
Mear One - whose real name is Kalen Ockerman - has denied being anti-Semitic, saying the mural was about "class and privilege".Mear One - whose real name is Kalen Ockerman - has denied being anti-Semitic, saying the mural was about "class and privilege".
Jonathan Goldstein, chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, said the community had had enough of being ignored by Mr Corbyn.Jonathan Goldstein, chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, said the community had had enough of being ignored by Mr Corbyn.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This is the first time in my lifetime the Jewish community has felt the need to take to the streets to campaign against the leader of a major political party.He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This is the first time in my lifetime the Jewish community has felt the need to take to the streets to campaign against the leader of a major political party.
"Rightly or wrongly, Jeremy Corbyn is now the figurehead for an anti-Semitic political culture based upon obsessive hatred of Israel, conspiracy theories and fake news, and that is doing great harm, not just to the Labour Party, but to Britain in a wider sense.""Rightly or wrongly, Jeremy Corbyn is now the figurehead for an anti-Semitic political culture based upon obsessive hatred of Israel, conspiracy theories and fake news, and that is doing great harm, not just to the Labour Party, but to Britain in a wider sense."
Labour MP Louise Ellman, former chairwoman of the Labour Jewish movement, said: "It's taken Jeremy far too long to admit how wrong he has been in failing to deal with anti-Semitism in the Labour Party."Labour MP Louise Ellman, former chairwoman of the Labour Jewish movement, said: "It's taken Jeremy far too long to admit how wrong he has been in failing to deal with anti-Semitism in the Labour Party."
She told BBC Breakfast the Labour leader now had "to act and he's got to root out the anti-Semitism that is within the Labour Party". In 2016 an inquiry into anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, led by Shami Chakrabarti, said the party was not overrun by racism but there was "too much clear evidence... of ignorant attitudes".
"It's just heartbreaking to see it but he has got to do something about it now. Words won't be enough," she added.
In 2016 an inquiry into anti-Semitism in the Labour party, led by Shami Chakrabarti, said the party was not overrun by racism but there was "too much clear evidence... of ignorant attitudes".
It followed the suspension of MP Naz Shah and ex-London mayor Ken Livingstone amid anti-Semitism claims.It followed the suspension of MP Naz Shah and ex-London mayor Ken Livingstone amid anti-Semitism claims.
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