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Labour anti-Semitism row: Corbyn seeks meeting with Jewish leaders Labour anti-Semitism row: Jewish leaders agree to Corbyn meeting
(about 1 hour later)
Jeremy Corbyn has attempted to clear the way for a meeting with Jewish community leaders to discuss tackling anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. Jewish community leaders have agreed to meet Jeremy Corbyn to discuss his efforts to tackle anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.
Some groups have been highly critical of the Labour leader's stance on the issue and have set out a list of demands they want him to agree to. But the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council have repeated their warning to the Labour leader that action is needed "not words".
These include publicly backing MPs who were criticised for attending a protest rally against Labour anti-Semitism. The details and date of the meeting have yet to be decided.
Mr Corbyn has said he will meet them "without any preconditions". Mr Corbyn said earlier he would meet the leaders of the two groups "without any pre-conditions".
In a letter to the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the chair of the Jewish Leadership Council, the Labour leader said: "My offer to meet you unconditionally still stands. He has been calling for such a meeting for more than a week but the two groups had refused to set one up until he agreed to "an agenda of action for discussions".
"I place no limitations on the points you would wish to raise and happy for the agenda to cover the issues you've already outlined." These include a commitment from Mr Corbyn to publicly back MPs who were criticised for attending a protest rally against Labour anti-Semitism.
In a letter to the groups earlier on Wednesday, Mr Corbyn said: "I place no limitations on the points you would wish to raise and happy for the agenda to cover the issues you've already outlined."
He added: "I appreciate and understand the anger you express and reiterate my determination to fight anti-Semitism within the Labour Party and society at large."He added: "I appreciate and understand the anger you express and reiterate my determination to fight anti-Semitism within the Labour Party and society at large."
He appealed for "an early meeting with your organisations" to discuss these issues, according to The Jewish Chronicle. In their response, the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council said: "Our community has followed the events of the past few weeks closely.
No date has been set for a meeting. "You will appreciate that some of what they have seen has not been reassuring."
Mr Corbyn's letter comes after he was criticised for attending a dinner on Monday held by Jewdas, a "radical" left-wing Jewish group which has previously suggested claims of anti-Semitism in Labour were a political plot to discredit the party leader. They said it was "crucial" that Mr Corbyn uses his "own personal authority as leader of the Labour Party to drive the changes required" but that "the most important thing going forward will be action and not words".
On Tuesday, Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: "If Jeremy Corbyn goes to their event, how can we take his stated commitment to be an ally against anti-Semitism seriously?" They agreed to Mr Corbyn's suggestion that Labour's new General Secretary, Jennie Formby, should take part in any meeting.
The letter is signed by both Jonathan Arkush, President of the Board of Deputies and Jonathan Goldstein, Chair of the Jewish Leadership Council.
Mr Corbyn was criticised by the two groups for attending a dinner on Monday held by Jewdas, a "radical" left-wing Jewish collective which has previously suggested claims of anti-Semitism in Labour were a political plot to discredit the party leader.
On Tuesday, Mr Arkush said: "If Jeremy Corbyn goes to their event, how can we take his stated commitment to be an ally against anti-Semitism seriously?"
The Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council wrote to Mr Corbyn last Wednesday setting out what they wanted to see from a meeting with the Labour leader.The Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council wrote to Mr Corbyn last Wednesday setting out what they wanted to see from a meeting with the Labour leader.
They called for Mr Corbyn to take "personal responsibility" for the work being undertaken by the party to tackle anti-Semitism and to resolve cases to a "fixed timescale".They called for Mr Corbyn to take "personal responsibility" for the work being undertaken by the party to tackle anti-Semitism and to resolve cases to a "fixed timescale".
They also urged a ban on Labour members and MPs sharing platforms "with people who have been suspended or expelled for anti-Semitism".They also urged a ban on Labour members and MPs sharing platforms "with people who have been suspended or expelled for anti-Semitism".
And they called for improved education about anti-Semitism, including a "clear list of unacceptable language".And they called for improved education about anti-Semitism, including a "clear list of unacceptable language".
They also want an independent ombudsman to oversee efforts to tackle anti-Semitism in Labour, with regular updates to be given to the party and to Jewish community leaders.
Protesters, including several Labour MPs, gathered in Parliament Square last Monday to demand tougher action from Mr Corbyn on anti-Semitism, under the banner "enough is enough".Protesters, including several Labour MPs, gathered in Parliament Square last Monday to demand tougher action from Mr Corbyn on anti-Semitism, under the banner "enough is enough".
A smaller counter-demonstration by the Jewish Voice for Labour group claimed the Labour leader was the victim of a "witch hunt" by his political opponents.A smaller counter-demonstration by the Jewish Voice for Labour group claimed the Labour leader was the victim of a "witch hunt" by his political opponents.
Jewish leaders said Mr Corbyn had not done enough to condemn the "abuse and insults" they say had been directed at Labour MPs who had backed their protest.Jewish leaders said Mr Corbyn had not done enough to condemn the "abuse and insults" they say had been directed at Labour MPs who had backed their protest.
"They need to hear you say, publicly and in your own voice, that we had every right to protest about anti-Semitism," they told Mr Corbyn in last Wednesday's letter."They need to hear you say, publicly and in your own voice, that we had every right to protest about anti-Semitism," they told Mr Corbyn in last Wednesday's letter.