Jews and racism

What's so sad about this alleged type of behaviour is that it detracts attention from the very real issue of Israel's treatment of Palestine. There is a real discussion to be had about this but the extremist views expressed, although context is relevant, allegedly at this meeting prevent a real debate from taking place. What I do think people should be able to say is that the expansion of illegal settlements is wrong without being labelled anti-Semitic.

It is worth mentioning that it was held in a very small venue, was on the outer fringes and not condoned by the Labour Party. It is unfortunate that it slipped in to the programme of events.

This needs to be tackled head on and is I believe being given serious consideration.

This sort of puerile attempt at proving an argument over the way Israel is treating the Palestinians will cut no ice with the Labour Party.

Undoubtedly there is an issue many feel with the Palestine issue but this childish behaviour needs stopping in its tracks

Tony Greenstein spoke and was cheered and applauded - his Twitter feed has plenty of "Jewish neo-Nazis all of them" rants.

Apparently, they banned twitter use during the event and any recording of what was said. Which seems remarkable for an event called 'Free speech'.

Why would BS have been there in the first place? That is an uncalled for smear. I rather think I've seen as many of these old films and read widely about and studied that whole era thank you very much as you have - I'm taking issue with your smearing BS not the issue of the false comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany.

It was chaired by Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, who spoke at the main conference too about Palestine, the Gaza blockade.

OK then, 'if she were there'! Will that do? The old newsreels are very shocking, and perhaps be to much for most peoples sensitivities. To suggest that Israel for all its faults, along with every country in the world, is like Nazi Germany is just plain ridiculous. Look at the old film if you don't believe me, its all there in minute detail, no holes barred!!

Yes a question , recognised by a ? No name calling, just think if she wasn't there she should have been there , less eager to absolved part of the party as anti semantic

It was a fringe event, held outside the main venue but apparently listed in the official conference handbook. Couldn't find information on who organised it

I know that ana but she picked up on the I suggest deliberately mischievous 'question' from annie and drew false conclusions and made a potentially libellous inference about BS being there and called her a zealot - which name calling is exactly what people are complaint about

Not a Momentum event to my knowledge lemongrove - they were busy talking about 'Governing from the radical left' and 'Acid Corbynism'.

It wasn't Niggly who mentioned Baroness Sharmi, maryeliza.

That's shocking stuff Primrose was that at the Momentum own conference?

Was Baroness Sharmi there? I've found no evidence that she was? It's a smear which nn picks up on as the truth and calls her a zealot, Evidence for that? FWIW the reports of the meeting sound dreadful but I think it's possible to say that without deciding to smear BS who wasn't even there.

Well said niggly

I sometimes think that people, mostly young people have simply no idea what the Nazis were like. They use the word so flippantly to describe regime's they deplore, strangely North Korea, China, Russia, Cuba etc, equally if not worse regimes on the human rights front, get away scot free!!
I suggest that some of these zealots including the Baroness, have a quick look at some old black and white footage of the Nazis in action so to speak, Poland for example is a good starting point, the contraction camps make for interesting viewing!!!! Death trains are a bit nasty!!! Perhaps a bit more understanding of exactly what the Nazis were like, might make people less ready to accuse other countries of being the same when they clearly are not!

Baroness Shami there?

I'm reviving this thread after reading about the Labour Party fringe meeting held yesterday.

From The Times

Jeremy Corbyn has been accused by one of his own MPs of having an “ostrich strategy” to anti-Semitism as Israel was compared to Nazi Germany at a party conference fringe meeting.

Wes Streeting, the Labour MP for Ilford North made the comments after Labour activists discussed expelling Jewish groups from the party in what was described as a “thinly veiled call to purge Jews from the Labour Party”.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party admitted he had seen anti-Semitic tweets from party members “that would make your hair stand on end” that he said were “redolent of the Thirties”.

At a fringe event titled Free Speech on Israel, speakers called for the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) and Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) to be “kicked out” of the party and said Israel had committed “genocide” in Gaza.

One speaker told the audience that Israel and Israelis should not be treated any differently to the Nazis or white South Africans during apartheid.

I've never liked the expression "anti-semitic" - do you know who Semites are? They include Jews AND Arabs.
I would rather use 'racist' to cover the whole lot, including the hatred of other races for us gentile whiteys.
And I know that many will deny it, but don't most adults like some nationalities more than others?
I exclude young children because I think it's some learned - fear and mistrust of the different/alien.

I think perhaps this needs more informed debate in order that sense can be made of the accusation by posters of certain members of the Labour Party and indeed gransnet are anti-Semite in their rhetoric and actions.

Blimey lemon are you calling some posters anti-Semitic?

If so I fervently hope that you are successful in getting the posts deleted!!

Rosyapple189 moderate Labour voters will not be heard either in the Party or on forums because all you will hear is anti-semitic rhetoric from the far left, and there is plenty on this thread alone.Fortunately others are not so blinkered.

What about press racism?

"Racism in the UK press is massively contributing to the climate of hostility that migrants, refugees and Muslims are facing. We’ve already spoken out about racism in the press, pressuring the Daily Mail directly, as well as asking companies to pull advertising contracts. But something is clearly going very wrong when newspapers can demonise entire cross sections of society without worrying about any consequences.

IPSO, as the media regulator, has been shirking its responsibility to hold the press to account on racism. It’s no surprise, since Trevor Kavanagh, who wrote the piece about "The Muslim Problem" sits on the board! Clearly, he must step down so that IPSO can implement an effective, unbiased inquiry.

Call on the press watchdog to start an inquiry into press racism and dismiss the Sun journalist from the board."

Globaljusticenow are asking about this.

Rosyapple I suppose if you have lived in a country for 19 years without protest then it is fairly predictable that you would wholeheartedly agree with the way it is governed.

But there are Jewish people living in Israel and in other parts of the world who don't find Israel's policies acceptable and who do protest about what is happening. Is it being suggested that they are anti-semitic or somewhow brainwashed? They may be in the minority but sometimes minorities are right, especially when they are relatively powerless minorities.

It has been implied that Israel is an under dog and is constantly under attack. Yet in the UK, for instance, the Friends of Israel groups in the House of Commons are very well supported by both the Labour and the Conservative parties who exert much effort in trying to discredit people who criticise Israel's policies.

Don't need to be clairvoyant to recognise when someone is talking a load of bolllocks Annie

Rosyapple189 had you just accepted that all is not fine in Gaza and that something must be done I would have treated your posts with much more respect. But condemning 2 reputable international organisations and refusing to admit Israel has any responsibility means I see only bias and prejudice. In fact "Methinks the lady doth protest too much"