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| Labour, antisemitism and criticism of Israel | Labour, antisemitism and criticism of Israel |
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| It occurs to me reading Hadley Freeman’s account of the anti-Corbyn demonstration (Why I protested against Corbyn, 28 March) that the best way for her and the Board of Deputies of British Jews to consolidate the benefits of their protest would be to issue a public statement making it absolutely clear they regard criticism of the Israeli government’s policy and its actions against the Palestinians as legitimate and not in itself antisemitic. | It occurs to me reading Hadley Freeman’s account of the anti-Corbyn demonstration (Why I protested against Corbyn, 28 March) that the best way for her and the Board of Deputies of British Jews to consolidate the benefits of their protest would be to issue a public statement making it absolutely clear they regard criticism of the Israeli government’s policy and its actions against the Palestinians as legitimate and not in itself antisemitic. |
| Those of us who have long enjoyed close relationships with Jewish friends and colleagues always make it clear that our trenchant criticism is of Israel and not of the Jewish people. Indeed, we are often frustrated with the damage that the conflation of the two does to that relationship. I look forward to the time when very different Israeli governments treat Palestinians differently, and that it will be possible to be a member of both one’s party’s Friends of Palestine and its Friends of Israel.Michael MeadowcroftLeeds | Those of us who have long enjoyed close relationships with Jewish friends and colleagues always make it clear that our trenchant criticism is of Israel and not of the Jewish people. Indeed, we are often frustrated with the damage that the conflation of the two does to that relationship. I look forward to the time when very different Israeli governments treat Palestinians differently, and that it will be possible to be a member of both one’s party’s Friends of Palestine and its Friends of Israel.Michael MeadowcroftLeeds |
| • Before being elected as Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn chaired Liberation (formerly the Movement for Colonial Freedom) in succession to me. Liberation, founded in 1954 on the initiative of Fenner Brockway, was in the forefront of the struggle against all forms of racism. When Jeremy took the chair it was accepted that one of our continuing fundamental purposes was opposition to racism – including antisemitism. Liberation has been critical of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians – and often had Israeli or Jewish speakers at meetings arguing the case. | • Before being elected as Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn chaired Liberation (formerly the Movement for Colonial Freedom) in succession to me. Liberation, founded in 1954 on the initiative of Fenner Brockway, was in the forefront of the struggle against all forms of racism. When Jeremy took the chair it was accepted that one of our continuing fundamental purposes was opposition to racism – including antisemitism. Liberation has been critical of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians – and often had Israeli or Jewish speakers at meetings arguing the case. |
| It is patently obvious that criticism of Corbyn and the Labour party on grounds of antisemitism is being encouraged by individuals who – unlike the Labour leader himself – have rarely participated in the general struggle against racism. Most are motivated by opposition to Labour under Corbyn and any excuse to harass him will be taken.Stan NewensPresident, Liberation | It is patently obvious that criticism of Corbyn and the Labour party on grounds of antisemitism is being encouraged by individuals who – unlike the Labour leader himself – have rarely participated in the general struggle against racism. Most are motivated by opposition to Labour under Corbyn and any excuse to harass him will be taken.Stan NewensPresident, Liberation |
| • Whatever the state of its internal civil war, and however numerous or deep its so-called pockets of antisemitism, recent statements from the Labour party are in danger of convincing the public that it is incapable of rudimentary inquiry. | • Whatever the state of its internal civil war, and however numerous or deep its so-called pockets of antisemitism, recent statements from the Labour party are in danger of convincing the public that it is incapable of rudimentary inquiry. |
| Christine Shawcroft’s resignation illustrates what looks at best like an inability, and at worst a reluctance, to establish facts before leaping to judgments. That she has admitted defending her suspended colleague “before being aware of the full information about this case” is the kind of desperate special pleading that adds insult to the original injury. | Christine Shawcroft’s resignation illustrates what looks at best like an inability, and at worst a reluctance, to establish facts before leaping to judgments. That she has admitted defending her suspended colleague “before being aware of the full information about this case” is the kind of desperate special pleading that adds insult to the original injury. |
| Sadly, she shares this chronic affliction with others, most notably Corbyn, whose own mea culpa betrays the same blindspot: “I sincerely regret that I did not look more closely at the image I was commenting on” (Report, 23 March). It appears not to have occurred to him that he had only to ask what reasons were given for its removal by the council, to discover that the mural in question was offensive. It seems the urge to defend “on the grounds of freedom of speech” as claimed by last Friday’s official Labour party statement trumps every other consideration. Is it too much to ask that MPs ask pertinent questions before offering their verdicts?Paul McGilchristColchester, Essex | Sadly, she shares this chronic affliction with others, most notably Corbyn, whose own mea culpa betrays the same blindspot: “I sincerely regret that I did not look more closely at the image I was commenting on” (Report, 23 March). It appears not to have occurred to him that he had only to ask what reasons were given for its removal by the council, to discover that the mural in question was offensive. It seems the urge to defend “on the grounds of freedom of speech” as claimed by last Friday’s official Labour party statement trumps every other consideration. Is it too much to ask that MPs ask pertinent questions before offering their verdicts?Paul McGilchristColchester, Essex |
| • In the context of the debate about antisemitism in the Labour party (Labour agrees radical action needed over antisemitism, 28 March), some of us in the Methodist church have become aware that any support for Palestinians under Israeli occupation quickly attracts attention from the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Antisemitism must be opposed whenever and wherever it emerges, and the record of the Christian churches on this is poor and sometimes lamentable. | • In the context of the debate about antisemitism in the Labour party (Labour agrees radical action needed over antisemitism, 28 March), some of us in the Methodist church have become aware that any support for Palestinians under Israeli occupation quickly attracts attention from the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Antisemitism must be opposed whenever and wherever it emerges, and the record of the Christian churches on this is poor and sometimes lamentable. |
| The actions of the state of Israel must also be opposed when they lead to the kind of oppression of Palestinians that Archbishop Desmond Tutu has described as worse than that suffered by black Africans under the apartheid system. Surely, this should not be seen as antisemitism.Rev David Haslam, Rev Brian Brown, Rev Warren BardsleyEvesham, Worcestershire | The actions of the state of Israel must also be opposed when they lead to the kind of oppression of Palestinians that Archbishop Desmond Tutu has described as worse than that suffered by black Africans under the apartheid system. Surely, this should not be seen as antisemitism.Rev David Haslam, Rev Brian Brown, Rev Warren BardsleyEvesham, Worcestershire |
| • Labour membership is nearing the 600,000 mark, and in any body of people that large you’re bound to get some unpalatable views. This is not to say that they are acceptable – they are not. I say that as a Jew and as a Labour party member. But while there is no doubt that an element, however small, of antisemitism exists within the party, there is also no doubt that the current row has been created – and is being weaponised – by those who oppose Corbyn. How else to explain the fact that much of the controversy is to do with episodes dredged up from several years back? Someone is poring over the Labour leader’s past looking for dirt a few weeks before an election. Even conspiracy theorists are correct some of the time.Bruce PaleyNolton Haven, Pembrokeshire | • Labour membership is nearing the 600,000 mark, and in any body of people that large you’re bound to get some unpalatable views. This is not to say that they are acceptable – they are not. I say that as a Jew and as a Labour party member. But while there is no doubt that an element, however small, of antisemitism exists within the party, there is also no doubt that the current row has been created – and is being weaponised – by those who oppose Corbyn. How else to explain the fact that much of the controversy is to do with episodes dredged up from several years back? Someone is poring over the Labour leader’s past looking for dirt a few weeks before an election. Even conspiracy theorists are correct some of the time.Bruce PaleyNolton Haven, Pembrokeshire |
| • The Board of Deputies of British Jews – drawn from synagogues and Jewish organisations – does not speak for the thousands of individual Jews in the UK who do not belong to these groups. The mass of Jews are probably liberal. However, the board’s president, Jonathan Arkush, told the Times of Israel that the last election results represented a “loss” and described the Tory-DUP agreement as “good news”. And he told the Jewish Chronicle that there must come a point when even groups like the Jewish Labour Movement or Labour Friends of Israel feel “it’s over” for Jewish links with the party. | • The Board of Deputies of British Jews – drawn from synagogues and Jewish organisations – does not speak for the thousands of individual Jews in the UK who do not belong to these groups. The mass of Jews are probably liberal. However, the board’s president, Jonathan Arkush, told the Times of Israel that the last election results represented a “loss” and described the Tory-DUP agreement as “good news”. And he told the Jewish Chronicle that there must come a point when even groups like the Jewish Labour Movement or Labour Friends of Israel feel “it’s over” for Jewish links with the party. |
| He also supported Donald Trump’s moving of the US embassy to Jerusalem and has condemned criticism of Israeli settlers. His views are not necessarily mainstream Jewish views. For him to make it a precondition for meeting Corbyn that Labour should adopt all 11 examples illustrating the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism is a cynical political move. Tracy LindnerLondon | He also supported Donald Trump’s moving of the US embassy to Jerusalem and has condemned criticism of Israeli settlers. His views are not necessarily mainstream Jewish views. For him to make it a precondition for meeting Corbyn that Labour should adopt all 11 examples illustrating the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism is a cynical political move. Tracy LindnerLondon |
| • Yes, Jeremy Corbyn has met with representatives from Hamas. Tony Blair and Jimmy Carter have also met with Hamas and, according to an April 2016 report in Haaretz newspaper, the Israeli government itself has held “secret, indirect talks” with Hamas. So does Hadley Freeman think the former British prime minister, US president and the Israeli government are tainted with antisemitism for meeting Hamas, as she claims Corbyn is?Ian SinclairLondon | • Yes, Jeremy Corbyn has met with representatives from Hamas. Tony Blair and Jimmy Carter have also met with Hamas and, according to an April 2016 report in Haaretz newspaper, the Israeli government itself has held “secret, indirect talks” with Hamas. So does Hadley Freeman think the former British prime minister, US president and the Israeli government are tainted with antisemitism for meeting Hamas, as she claims Corbyn is?Ian SinclairLondon |
| • You should investigate – and discuss, at length, for balance – the prevalence of antisemitism and other forms of racism in the Conservative party. Antisemitism is under-recognised in our society and it is good that awareness is being raised about it, and action taken. But it does not increase the safety and security of our Jewish population to collude with the false impression that such attitudes are more prevalent on the left of politics, when the reality is the opposite. The Labour party should be applauded for taking action on antisemitism. The Tory party must follow suit, and the media should ensure it is made to do so. Julia CameronLondon | • You should investigate – and discuss, at length, for balance – the prevalence of antisemitism and other forms of racism in the Conservative party. Antisemitism is under-recognised in our society and it is good that awareness is being raised about it, and action taken. But it does not increase the safety and security of our Jewish population to collude with the false impression that such attitudes are more prevalent on the left of politics, when the reality is the opposite. The Labour party should be applauded for taking action on antisemitism. The Tory party must follow suit, and the media should ensure it is made to do so. Julia CameronLondon |
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