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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Shame of Labour party antisemitism | Shame of Labour party antisemitism |
| (2 months later) | |
| As a member of the Labour party for over half a century and as a current Labour candidate in the council elections for the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, I have been ashamed of my party’s handling of the antisemitism crisis. It has been distressing to see how deeply embedded crude anti-Jewish sentiments have become, and lamentable to see so little done about it by the party leadership beyond empty platitudes. Who would have thought Labour would provide such a happy home for Holocaust deniers? | As a member of the Labour party for over half a century and as a current Labour candidate in the council elections for the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, I have been ashamed of my party’s handling of the antisemitism crisis. It has been distressing to see how deeply embedded crude anti-Jewish sentiments have become, and lamentable to see so little done about it by the party leadership beyond empty platitudes. Who would have thought Labour would provide such a happy home for Holocaust deniers? |
| It was thus with great dismay that I saw the special-pleading letter signed by over 40 media academics – including some personal friends of mine – “reframing” the issue as Jeremy Corbyn’s “trial by media” (Letters, 3 April), rather than the failure to eradicate antisemitism within Labour. Thank goodness then for the statement by Momentum, which has very belatedly woken up to the scale and seriousness of the problem, specifically rebutting the notion that antisemitism allegations amount to “rightwing smears” or “conspiracy” (Report, 3 April). I now feel a bit more optimistic that the tide has turned within Labour, and I can seek votes in the council election without hanging my head in shame .Giles OakleyLondon | It was thus with great dismay that I saw the special-pleading letter signed by over 40 media academics – including some personal friends of mine – “reframing” the issue as Jeremy Corbyn’s “trial by media” (Letters, 3 April), rather than the failure to eradicate antisemitism within Labour. Thank goodness then for the statement by Momentum, which has very belatedly woken up to the scale and seriousness of the problem, specifically rebutting the notion that antisemitism allegations amount to “rightwing smears” or “conspiracy” (Report, 3 April). I now feel a bit more optimistic that the tide has turned within Labour, and I can seek votes in the council election without hanging my head in shame .Giles OakleyLondon |
| • Are your academic correspondents so stuck in their ivory towers they do not read the Guardian or watch BBC Newsnight? Their assumption that Jewish people who flag up antisemitism are politically motivated is desperate. The fact is that many of the British Jews now concerned about the rise of antisemitism within the Labour party had relatives, grandparents, for example, who were murdered by the Nazis – this is why they are now alarmed. | • Are your academic correspondents so stuck in their ivory towers they do not read the Guardian or watch BBC Newsnight? Their assumption that Jewish people who flag up antisemitism are politically motivated is desperate. The fact is that many of the British Jews now concerned about the rise of antisemitism within the Labour party had relatives, grandparents, for example, who were murdered by the Nazis – this is why they are now alarmed. |
| Jewish voices lost faith in the Labour leader when they saw the shocking antisemitic mural which Corbyn seemed to like so much. How could he not have noticed the caricatures of Jews? It beggared belief. Why hasn’t he implemented the Shami Chakrabarti report into antisemitism in the Labour party after two years? If he really has such a longstanding “anti-racist record”, as your correspondents claim, why has he shown repeated support for Arab politicians who’ve called the Holocaust a hoax? | Jewish voices lost faith in the Labour leader when they saw the shocking antisemitic mural which Corbyn seemed to like so much. How could he not have noticed the caricatures of Jews? It beggared belief. Why hasn’t he implemented the Shami Chakrabarti report into antisemitism in the Labour party after two years? If he really has such a longstanding “anti-racist record”, as your correspondents claim, why has he shown repeated support for Arab politicians who’ve called the Holocaust a hoax? |
| If Corbyn wants to make amends, as he insists, he should visit Israel to witness free speech in action – meet members of the Israeli Labour party, go to Yad Vashem, meet Arab and Israeli MPs in the Knesset who oppose Netanyahu’s policies – and meet the many Jews and Arabs working together for peace in Neve Shalom and elsewhere.Martin WeitzBristol | If Corbyn wants to make amends, as he insists, he should visit Israel to witness free speech in action – meet members of the Israeli Labour party, go to Yad Vashem, meet Arab and Israeli MPs in the Knesset who oppose Netanyahu’s policies – and meet the many Jews and Arabs working together for peace in Neve Shalom and elsewhere.Martin WeitzBristol |
| • I was born in 1963 to a south London Jewish family. A small family as most of the extended family had been murdered in the Holocaust around 20 years (just 20 years) before I was born. I was in Budapest at the weekend. An amazing city with an incredible history. I have, for example, learned about the immense bravery of those who gave their lives as part of the 1956 uprising against the communists. I have also learned a lot more about what Churchill described as the darkest moment in human history – the part the Hungarians played in the treatment of the Jews as an active part of the Final Solution. | • I was born in 1963 to a south London Jewish family. A small family as most of the extended family had been murdered in the Holocaust around 20 years (just 20 years) before I was born. I was in Budapest at the weekend. An amazing city with an incredible history. I have, for example, learned about the immense bravery of those who gave their lives as part of the 1956 uprising against the communists. I have also learned a lot more about what Churchill described as the darkest moment in human history – the part the Hungarians played in the treatment of the Jews as an active part of the Final Solution. |
| I loved my four days there and yet I am left feeling very emotional, with ambiguous feelings for a city that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. I still feel that Europe and its leaders don’t get the enormity of what happened shortly before I was born. Israeli actions certainly confuse the debate, but please don’t be surprised if Jews (including irreligious ones like me) get upset – really upset – when there is ambiguity around leaders’ views on the Holocaust and antisemitism. Jeremy ConnickLondon | I loved my four days there and yet I am left feeling very emotional, with ambiguous feelings for a city that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. I still feel that Europe and its leaders don’t get the enormity of what happened shortly before I was born. Israeli actions certainly confuse the debate, but please don’t be surprised if Jews (including irreligious ones like me) get upset – really upset – when there is ambiguity around leaders’ views on the Holocaust and antisemitism. Jeremy ConnickLondon |
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