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| Corbyn apologises for 'hurt' caused by anti-Semitism in Labour | Corbyn apologises for 'hurt' caused by anti-Semitism in Labour |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Jeremy Corbyn is seeking an "urgent meeting" with Jewish leaders to discuss their concerns about the rise of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. | Jeremy Corbyn is seeking an "urgent meeting" with Jewish leaders to discuss their concerns about the rise 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". | 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". |
| A demonstration is under way outside Parliament demanding action. | |
| Mr Corbyn repeated his apology to Jewish people in a letter to Jewish leaders ahead of the protest. | Mr Corbyn repeated his apology to Jewish people in a letter to Jewish leaders ahead of the protest. |
| 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. | 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." | "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. | 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". | 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. | "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. | "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." | "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". | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 world view 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". |
| The letter was due to be delivered to a meeting of Labour MPs and peers, although the Labour leader is not expected to attend. | The letter was due to be delivered to a meeting of Labour MPs and peers, although the Labour leader is not expected to attend. |
| The protest was going to be held outside the Houses of Parliament, with a number of Labour MPs - including Liz Kendall, Ruth Smeeth, John Woodcock and Ian Austin - joining members of the Jewish community. | |
| At the same time, a counter-demonstration by pro-Corbyn Jewish Labour members was due to be staged nearby. | At the same time, a counter-demonstration by pro-Corbyn Jewish Labour members was 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." |
| 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 whom 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." |
| 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". | 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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