Labour Party and anti semitism

Esau was the brother of Jacob. Both were sons of Isaac. Ishmael, I have read, was the first son of Abraham.

oops - sorry you're right.
Eldest son lives in Kuwait and has arab friends there. I had a chat with one of them about the Arab/Jew conflict. He told me that the version of the OT that they read says that it was Ishmael who God told to sacrifice in the Akeida.
Also the similarity between the arab and hebrew languages. Though the scripts seem different, there are similarities.

ps Jacob's conflict was with Esau.

Margaret Hodge at the Jewish Labour Movement Conference today on anti semitism in the party

‘Corbyn cannot solve the problem , he is the problem

That is plainly ridiculous. Corbyn has never ben anti-semitic has the best record on dealing with racism of possibly any MP
A really interesting article by someone whose grandmother was a Holocaust survivor. He disagrees completely with Margaret Hodge
www.opendemocracy.net/uk/shaun-lawson/enough-of-these-disgraceful-slurs-against-jeremy-corbyn

What is a British Zionist ?

Annie The meaning of a British Zionist has evolved.

Zionism was initially a dream brought to political awareness in the late 1800s. It was for the Jewish people to have their own nation state where if they chose to live there, they could be safe and free from anti-semitism and persecution. Anyone who agreed with this was would refer to themselves as a Zionist. (Jew and non-Jew alike).

Nowadays, the term Zionist and its various derivations e.g Zio, is generally used as a term of sneering abuse by those who wish to bully Jews and anyone one else who feels that Israel has a right to be.

Thank you Bubbe. I thought it was the former , So understandably the Jewish community are angry when Corbyn spoke of British Zionists.

Thank you Bubbe - I was just reading about that fact yesterday which I found very interesting.

Why do the leaders of the Labour Party dismiss Corbyn’s slur - British Zionists’ with. - he said it before he was leader !

But there are British Zionists and they refer to themselves as British Zionists zionist.org.uk
Is it only non-Jewish people who are not allowed to call them this?

If someone is a Zionist and proud of the fact then there is no reason why someone should not call them that.

However, the membership does not seem to encompass the majority of Jewish people in this country.

It's like calling you a 'communist' when you say you are not one trisher. You say that it was your grandfather who was, so it would be fair to call him a communist and you are proud that he was.

I hope ycswim

the LP is only trying to 're define' things because much of what Corbyn said in the recent past [as well as the old past] would very likely fall into antisemitism.Ditto for a lot of his far left activists and supporters, who Corbyn is unwilling to
rein in.

The Labour Party is trying to define things because there are a number of people who are not anti-semitic who have proposed or taken part in actions in support of the Palestinian people which have been labelled anti-semitic. One example being the boycott of goods from Israel. Is it anti-semitic to refuse to buy things produced in Israel? Or to encourage others to do the same? It is difficult for many to understand exactly what is considered as such and many would welcome clarity. Unfortunately the IHRA definition as it stands isn't suitable and a Select Committe recommended additions to it to the government.

I think the term British Zionist is where people are placing emphasis on the fact they are British but also believe in the right of Israel to be the nation state for Jews.

The term zionist is seen as abusive when the manner in which it's said and the context are offensive. In this setting it is usually understood as an alternative word for Jew.

I would think many Jews believe in the right of Israel to be the nation state for Jews. I do , Jews have always been rootless , driven out of countries for centuries .

Emily Thornberry thinks the party should accept the IHRA in full.

Yes, I saw that at lunchtime Annie and was pleased to hear the way she spoke, not weaselling out of anything at all, in fact it was a good programme all round.All women as well, and they all allowed one another to speak!

I wonder why? Possibly because here has been such a media frenzy about this. It does concern me that a researched and reasoned report by a select committee is never mentioned, ignored by the government and now by senior Labour politicians. The problem with things like this is that they actually feed the need of the genuine anti-semetics who see Jewish conspiracies in everything.

you still won't accept it, will you trisher Can Corbyn and the LP activists do no wrong in your eyes?

Jewish conspiracies? Really?

Willsman, close friend of Corbyn, who spouted an anti semetic rant in front of Corbyn at a NEC meeting is back in, the deputy leader described him as a loud mouthed bully.

Seems many grassroots members have no problem with anti semetism , or could be in denial !

The fact Willsman has been voted back onto Labours NEC as part of the so called ' JC 9 ' tells you everything you need to know about the Corbyn/Momentum Labour Party.

This will only keep the antisemitism issue alive and kicking and it will do nothing to give credence to those at the very top of Labour saying they are dealing with the issue.

I think many will view tackling antisemitism by Corbyn or the NEC will look even more lacking in credibility .

I would not now tell anyone I am a member of this racist riddled party. I stay because certain MP’s are still in the party and I know they unlike the leader are not racist

Many Labour MP's (my own, Emily Thornberry, John McDonald and many more) recommend the party should accept the IHRA in full. Not do to so sets the LP apart from the majority of organisations and countries who accept the IHRA in full.
Why has the leadership chosen to make such a huge deal of this? It's either some nefarious reason I can't begin to understand or its once more a sign of poor leadership.

Zio is a term of abuse, calling someone a Zionist these days is usually seen as a term of abuse. Some argue that it can and should be used to accurately describe those of us who believe the state of Israel has a right to exist.

The re-appointment of Wilsman says a good deal about the current LP, none of it positive

I am not sure that the election or re-election of those on the Labour Party NEC necessarily makes Jeremy Corbyn position as leader more secure. I believe that it makes the left wing policies that have been brought forward while Corbyn has been leader more secure.

However, there is substantial evidence that the trade unions are becoming "evermore frustrated" with Corbyns handling of the Brexit and anti-semitism issues. Certainly, Jennie Formby, the General Secretary (who I would consider to be the most influential person in the Labour movement at present) has had some very strong words to say on both matters since she took over that office.

As we have all witnessed in the past few months upholding policy comes before any single person in the organisation whatever their past record in the parliamentary labour party and throughout the whole movement.

Jeremy Corbyn should take heed i feel.