Labour Party and anti semitism

Anyone has always been able to criticise Israel and it's policies, until Corbyn came along, and his activists, and Momentum and the £3 members , it was never an issue.

Sadly, calling Israel a racist terror state and being so onesided along with the Palestinian people is part and parcel of the present problem.

Anniebach - to reply to your post of 24th Aug-
NO I am not, nor have had any connections with Jewish Voice for Labour. I am purely a LP member, attending my local branch meetings, etc.
Back in the 60's I was active in Anti-fascist doings in my local area of Hackney.
Okay, I am not an active Jew - actually being a member of the British Humanist Association - but have never thought of hiding the fact that I was born a Jew.
Obviously, the fact that I have never experienced anything like anti-semitism is not to say it does not exist in the LP> However, I do know a large number of people of Jewish descent in the LP - now living all over the UK and not one of them has ever experienced anti-semitism in the LP either. Do wonder exactly who is experiencing this??

Labour NEC has accepted the IHRA definition along with the eleven examples.
But they will add their own statement to protect freedom of speech.

Labour HAS now agreed all the IHRA examples 'alongside a statement which ensures this will not in any way undermine freedom of expression on Israel or the rights of Palestinians' - full text to follow from Laura Kuenssberg BBC.

If anyone thinks that this is the end of the matter theyshould think again. Those supporting the Palestinian cause will be preparing to challenge this. I often receive messages from a far left local group, they are mostly young people. Today I got a message which contained this Anti-Semitism is hostility towards Jews as Jews. We are utterly opposed to anti-Semitism as we are to all forms of racism. The IHRA definition has nothing to do with fighting anti-Semitism: it is all about protecting the racist terror state of Israel from universal condemnation, and criminalising support for the Palestinian people’s struggle for self-determination. We are opposed to it.
Sadly I think this will be the opinion of many young people.

The NEC have voted to adopt the IHRA in full.

So the NEC meet today to decide on including the full IHRA . One member is Peter Williamson who was recorded making an anti semetic rant at a NEC meeting, when the recording was made public he apologise and the Labour Party decided that was surffice.

Jewish schools are opening today after the summer holidays, there are guards at each school.

Attacks on Synagogues and vandalism in Jewish semetries have quadrupled .

lemon I didn't say I thought there was a Jewish conspiracy I said that the disregarding of the Select Committee woud be seen as such by real anti-semites. Such people pick up on any discrepencies and use them.
It would be nice if you could actually consider what is written.

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.

The problem is, Grandad, that the message is not getting through to the electorate and will never get through as long as Corbyn (and those that surround him) are in charge.
They are the problem and as long as they remain in charge of the LP then they will never win a GE.

Trisher wrote:
"The problem with things like this is that they actually feed the need of the genuine anti-semetics who see Jewish conspiracies in everything."
I agree. Exactly why it upsets me so much.
At the same time we shouldn't ignore it, pretend it's not important.

Grandad

" 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."
--

That may certainly have some worth but the reselection of the JC 9 sure as hell confirms that Labour has been taken over by the party within a party Corbyn/ Momentum party despite the protestations by some this is not the case.

Result of NEC election.
Yasmine Dar (Momentum/CLPD/CLGA slate) 88,176– elected

Claudia Webbe (Momentum/CLPD/CLGA slate) 83,797 – elected

Jon Lansman (Momentum/CLPD/CLGA slate) 83,072– elected

Rachel Garnham (Momentum/CLPD/CLGA slate) 81,702 – elected

Huda Elmi (Momentum/CLPD/CLGA slate) 80,371– elected

Darren Williams (Momentum/CLPD/CLGA slate) 79,361 – elected

Ann Henderson (Momentum/CLPD/CLGA slate) 79,176 – elected

Nav Mishra (Momentum/CLPD/CLGA slate) 75,224 – elected

Peter Willsman (CLPD/CLGA slate) 70,321 – elected

Willsman would have no doubt also been endorsed by Momentum had the antisemitism accusation against him had not occurred .

Who would you see as Labour Leader if Corbyn was for whatever reason no longer Leader? Might I throw in 2 names McDonnell or Chris Williams maybe.

varian, that is so difficult . We have an election soon for a new First Minister of Wales, if Carwyn was still First Minister I would campaign for Welsh Labour, a vote for Labour in my constituency is pointless, strong Tory. So no I will not vote in a general election, will find this upsetting but I would be voting for Corbyn , couldn’t do that.

Our A.M in this area is Kirsty Williams, lib, very popular.

Would you still vote for this party Annie

I have posted that a spokeswoman for UNITE, said Corbyn was naive and the party is combobulated

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.

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 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

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 .

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 !

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

Jewish conspiracies? Really?

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.

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!

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

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 .

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.

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.