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Are those condeming the Labour Party confusing Anti Zionism with Anti Semetism

(266 Posts)
Joelsnan Sat 23-Feb-19 15:02:15

Personally I consider quite a lot of what Israel does towards the Palestinians and their neighbours abhorrent, however this is done in the Zionist mission to further the state of Israel. The majority of Jews throughout the world are just ordinary joe bods like you and me who should not be tarred with the same brush as the Zionists.
I would suggest the issue within the Labour Party is actually anti zionism and not anti semitism am I wrong?

lemongrove Wed 27-Feb-19 19:34:15

PECS .... what I think is that Corbyn’s perceived ( and real)
Support for Palestine makes some in the LP think anything to do with Israel ( ie.Jewish people) is bad and allows them to indulge their anti-semitism.
The real problem is that Corbyn hasn’t done enough to try and pursuade them otherwise, which gives the nod to it all.
There are hundreds of cases waiting to be looked at and in spite of them saying last year that it would all be speeded up
It hasn’t been.
Corbyn may or may not be anti-semitic himself, but he has provided a green light to those who are.

Anniebach Wed 27-Feb-19 18:52:55

Williamson was told to apologise which he did, but pressure was put on the bosses and only then was he suspended. As a close friend of Corbyn will Corbyn speak of it .

He should have been suspended immediately, he has also been stopped having his film night he had arranged to show a film by Jacky Walker, she was suspended some time
ago. For anti semetic comments. She use to be vice chair of
Momentum and it was at a Momentum meeting Williamson made his speech. Anti semetism at the top !

Labaik Wed 27-Feb-19 18:44:00

Chris Williamson has been an accident waiting to happen for a long time. No surprise that his loose cannon mentality has finally got him suspended.

Jalima1108 Wed 27-Feb-19 17:46:59

Those few in the right
Do you mean right wing or do you mean those posters who know they are always right Anja?

PECS Wed 27-Feb-19 17:39:15

I disagree lemongrove!

The fact that for you there is no link between JCs known support for Palestine and a sudden focus on anti-Semitism in LP is a bit of a whaaaat! moment for me !

Before he was LP leader he was recognised and has a long record as a person who stood up against all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism. His promotion of negotiated solutions rather than aggression & conflict is internationally recognised. Hence the Peace Awards.

I do not think there is any more racism in LP under JC than before. What there is needs to be routed out and denounced. (I do keep saying that!) I do think it has been reported more and that some have defended inappropriately. However I also believe that some accusations against JC are manipulated purely to discredit him.

I still think he is a rubbish leader.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 27-Feb-19 17:27:42

Sorry premature posting "in anti-semitism row"

lemongrove Wed 27-Feb-19 17:24:32

I disagree Anja !
In fact, think the opposite.
What a cheek to say posters are too prejudiced, whaaaat?
Nobody has said anything about Palestine, it’s a red herring anyway because we all know that anti-Zionism has nothing to do with ( or shouldn’t) anti-Semitism.
To deny there is much anti-semitism within the LP as a few posters are doing is plain silly, blinkered and dangerous, as it is exactly that mindset that allowed allowed anti- semitism to proliferate within Labour, under the weak leadership of Corbyn.
I hope that posters who are miffed and will now not contribute posts to this thread will think about the whole situation again, and not with a ‘how dare they say this about my beloved Party’ attitude.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 27-Feb-19 17:24:26

MP Chris Williamson has been suspended from the Labour Party.

Anja Wed 27-Feb-19 14:18:32

trisher and fennel your reasoned arguments will be missed and these threads the poorer for your exit.

I agree it’s impossible to get a reasoned discussion going forewards. Those few in the right who are willing to exchange views are not enough to balance those who are convinced only their view has merit.

Anniebach Wed 27-Feb-19 12:04:42

The Labour Party has asked Chris Williamson to apologise for his comments , MP’s want more than an apology, Corbyn’s chance to show he is against anti semetism in the party, will be act or defend his close friend

Fennel Wed 27-Feb-19 11:58:16

"I have stopped posting on political threads because the degree of prejudice and the constant negation of any other issues and the continuing attacks on Corbyn and the Labour party have convinced me that it is useless to try and discuss anything with any degree of objectivity or reason.*
trisher - me too.
As well as the fact that there are so many other relevant historical and religious aspects to the Israel/Palestine issue, Too many to cover in a forum like this.

Ilovecheese Wed 27-Feb-19 11:57:03

I am sorry you don't want to post on political threads any more Trisher, but I do understand how you feel. The constant attacks on the new leadership of the Labour Party are wearisome and so repetitive that it becomes pointless to try and express a different point of view. So often there is no discussion as such, just a string of assertions, or twisting of people's words.

Anniebach Wed 27-Feb-19 11:52:35

Pecs. You said to me ‘ it feels like you want Palastine off the map’.

trisher Wed 27-Feb-19 11:47:58

PECS I have stopped posting on political threads because the degree of prejudice and the constant negation of any other issues and the continuing attacks on Corbyn and the Labour party have convinced me that it is useless to try and discuss anything with any degree of objectivity or reason. But I wanted to say that you have expressed it so well. I think the oppression of the Palestinian people has struck a chord with so many young people. The thing that really causes me distress however is that the historical evidence shows that no matter what is done an oppressed people will continue to keep their identity and will continue to fight for their rights and the only route to a peaceful future is through negotiation and recognition. Something Jeremy Corbyn has been internationally recognised for. This will I know lead to more accusations of "Corbynista", but I simply acknowledge that those who award peace prizes have more information about international events than I do and are not as prejudiced as some posters. That's it. If the usual suspects want now to post their usual prejudices they can do so. I am in an Americanism "out of here"

PECS Wed 27-Feb-19 11:47:08

Jalima The last para in my post is referring to people who are pro-Zionist. If you are not it does not refer to you!

Jalima1108 Wed 27-Feb-19 11:37:50

Who has said that they are pro-Zionist?

PECS Wed 27-Feb-19 11:16:20

I do not hold anyone else responsible for what I feel or think, Annie Though you sometimes try hard to attribute words and thoughts to other people by either ignoring what they actually say or by apparent deliberate misinterpretation!

I am not ashamed to support my father's homeland and heritage against the might of Zionist policies espoused by the Israeli government.

I am able to consider that
a) there are racists in all political parties including those who are specifically anti-Semitic.

b) those people anti JC have used his support of Palestine to inflate & use a situation and to make it personal

These two statements are not mutually exclusive!

It is easy to make the accusation that all those of us who support Palestine are "cloaking their prejudice in anti-Zionist clothing". My friends, Jewish and otherwise, know that is not true for me at all.

It is also easier for those who do no want to face Israel's dreadful actions towards Palestinians to be cloaking their prejudice in pro-Zionist clothing and comforting themselves that it proves they are not anti-Semitic. hmm

Joelsnan Wed 27-Feb-19 11:05:15

Are there specific examples of labour party members expressing anti semetism, I just cannot understand if they do then why? I personally cannot see anything within mainstram judaism that would cause a oroblem,
The fanatics who wont sit next to women on planes is a different issue as are those who promote the growth of Israel at the expense of other populations.

Anniebach Wed 27-Feb-19 10:27:55

janipat same for me with the exception of Jewish ancestry

Jalima1108 Wed 27-Feb-19 10:23:31

janipat cloak their prejudice in anti-Zionist clothing is a good summing up. It makes forca convenient smokescreen, sadly.

Would some people's inherent prejudice be exposed for what it is if ever the situation was resolved?

Anniebach Wed 27-Feb-19 10:16:20

And it is Corbyn’s friends Jewdas who want Israel destroyed , read their prayer .

Anniebach Wed 27-Feb-19 10:11:19

There are not two sides to racism for me . I am not responsible for what you feel or think.

PECS Wed 27-Feb-19 09:27:25

Annie you are very disingenuous. You have never acknowledged any of the reasoned and reasonable comments made by pro Palestinian posts. You cannot accept that the dehumanisation of Palestinians is a bad thing. You just repeat your anti Semitic examples. There are always 2 sides to a situation.
I have said all the time that I do not approve / want/ support anti- Semitism. That does not exclude me supporting the Palestinian cause.
It feels like you want Palestine ofc the map.

Anniebach Wed 27-Feb-19 09:12:50

Perhaps a thread on islamophobia in the Tory party ?

jura2 Wed 27-Feb-19 09:10:29

Absolutely NOT - as said in PECS's post - they are both WRONG, and should be both eradicated from all parties, be it on left, right, centre - and other institutions.