Jeremy Corbyn attacked as an "anti-semite"

[yankeedoodle]

The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council will lead the protest to tell Corbyn that "enough is enough." In an open letter, the former said that Corbyn has a "conspiratal worldview in which mainstream Jewish communities are... a hostile enemy."   

https://www.rt.com/uk/422317-corbyn-twitter-jewish-semitic/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

Letter at these links:
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Jewish groups brand Jeremy Corbyn anti-Semitic – but his supporters hit back
https://www.rt.com/uk/422317-corbyn-twitter-jewish-semitic/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is receiving huge support after two British Jewish groups accused him of being anti-Semitic. #IStandWithJeremyCorbyn is picking up steam on Twitter as his supporters dismiss "nasty smears" against him.

While accusations of anti-Semitism have been levelled at Corbyn since he became leader, tensions flared over the weekend when the Labour leader expressed regret for backing the artist behind an anti-Jewish mural in London's East End over five years ago. At the time Corbyn questioned a decision to whitewash a mural of bankers – some of whom were depicted using anti-Semitic imagery – playing Monopoly and counting money on the backs of men.

The two most senior Jewish groups in Britain will take aim at Corbyn on Monday, when the Labour Party holds its weekly parliamentary meeting, rallying against the opposition leader in Parliament Square. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council will lead the protest to tell Corbyn that "enough is enough." In an open letter, the former said that Corbyn has a "conspiratal worldview in which mainstream Jewish communities are... a hostile enemy."

Jewish Voice for Labour has thrown its support behind the opposition leader, releasing a statement late in Sunday to express their disgust over the claims levied against Corbyn. "We are appalled by the actions and statements of the Board of Deputies. They do not represent us or the many Jews in the Party who share Jeremy Corbyn's vision for social justice and fairness. Jeremy's consistent commitment to anti-racism is all the more needed now."

In turn, Twitter users have rallied around the opposition leader, sharing previous comments made by Corbyn. Pictures of a younger Corbyn protesting Apartheid were shared, while a recording of a speech he made on the anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street also went viral. Some even suggested the smear campaign has stemmed from his rivals in the Conservative Party.

The letter vilifying Corbyn, written by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, has also been shared repeatedly on social media. "When Jews complain about an obviously anti-Semitic mural in Tower Hamlets, Corbyn of course supports the artist," the letter said. "Hizbollah (sic) commits terrorist atrocities against the Jews, but Corbyn calls them his friends... exactly the same goes for Hamas.

"Raed Salah says Jews kill Christian children to drink their blood. Corbyn opposes his extradition and invites him for tea at the House of Commons. These are not the only cases."

When Labour antisemitism means no-one's talking about the crises in the NHS, social care, schools, the housing market, the police, the huge increase in homelessness & children in poverty, people dying waiting at A&E, food banks, your Russian money, the Brexit catastrofuck etc etc

Corbyn has denied the allegations made against him, releasing a statement on Sunday evening to make it "clear that I will not tolerate any form of anti-Semitism that exists in and around our movement," he said. "We must stamp this out from our party and movement."

"We recognise that anti-Semitism has occurred in pockets within the Labour Party, causing pain and hurt to our Jewish community in the Labour Party and the rest of the country. I am sincerely sorry for the pain which has been caused." He also said that Labour was campaigning "to increase support and confidence among Jewish people in the UK."

[yankeedoodle]

Jeremy Corbyn and 'anti-Semitism' – making sense of the hysteria
http://mondoweiss.net/2018/03/jeremy-semitism-hysteria/

Once again, a wave of hysteria concerning the British Labour's alleged 'anti-Semitic problem' is at a high. The target has always been leader Jeremy Corbyn and his fierce critique of Israel, considered dangerous by the more conservative Blairites and those further right in the political spectrum. Labour has been fighting for its soul, with activists trying to defend their right to oppose Israeli policy, or even Zionism, without it necessarily meaning that they are anti-Semites.   

[yankeedoodle]

Jews send Corbyn a dictatorial letter.
[pdf] https://static1.squarespace.com/static/544680b5e4b0149c3cfddd3b/t/5abccd850e2e72e0bad29509/1522322825076/Response_to_Rt_Hon_Jeremy_Corbyn_from_JLC_Chair_and_BOD_President_28032018+copy.pdf  [/pdf]

[yankeedoodle]

Corbyn attends left-wing Jewish group's Passover event... and is attacked regardless
https://www.rt.com/uk/423028-jewish-passover-corbyn-antisemitism/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

After having anti-Semitic accusations hurled at him, Jeremy Corbyn is now being slammed for spending time with Jews. He attended a Passover celebration run by left-wing group Jewdas, copping ire from other Jewish groups and MPs.

Corbyn stopped by the Passover Seder in his home constituency of Islington, and – according to one of the attendees – he stayed for four hours and was an active participant in the event's rituals. A representative of Corbyn said he had not attended the function in his capacity as Labour leader, but in a personal capacity.

Jewdas last week accused the Jewish Board of Deputies, Jewish Leadership Council and Jewish Labour Movement of "playing a dangerous game with people's lives" after they took aim at Corbyn, claiming that he supports anti-Semitic values. Jewdas also described last week's protests against the Labour leader as "faux-outrage greased with hypocrisy and opportunism."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=42&v=9AmsMOSslio

A Corbyn spokesperson has insisted that the Labour leader has contacted the Jewish groups to set up a meeting to discuss their issues. "He wrote to the Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council last week to ask for an urgent formal meeting to discuss tackling anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and in society," the spokesman said.

In a piece for the pro-Labour website, LabourList, the party's youth women's officer Charlotte Nicols penned an open letter explaining why she was grateful to have Corbyn attend the Passover event.

"Last night, I attended a Seder to celebrate the Jewish festival of Pesach (Passover), held in Islington by a group called Jewdas. Before the fourth cup of wine had even been drunk, a story appeared on the right-wing Guido Fawkes blog, painting those who attended as extremists and the Twittersphere went into meltdown. Why? Because Jeremy Corbyn came to celebrate with us.

"Many of last night's attendees are absolutely part of the 'mainstream community.' It is untrue to say that there is any one narrative, political or otherwise, within Jewdas. It is a collective space where we can have uncomfortable conversations – what unites us all is the fact that we are Jewish," she said.

"It is not for non-Jewish people, in criticizing Corbyn's attendance, to determine what is and isn't a legitimate expression of the Jewish faith. For those in the community who want to paint Jeremy's attendance as an act of provocation, rather than an attempt to listen, engage, and share our festival with us, it's actually just alienating many young Jewish people further and validating Jewdas' very existence."

Jewish comedians David Baddiel and David Schneider said MPs and others should not immediately dismiss Jewdas as a far-left group.

"They are just Jews who disagree with other Jews... To make out that it's somehow anti-Semitic for him to spend Seder with them just because they're far-left is balls," Baddiel said on Twitter.

"'Boo! Corbyn needs to get out and meets some Jews!' (Corbyn spends Passover with some Jews at Jewdas) 'Boo! Not those Jews!'" Schneider added.

Momentum's Jon Lansman spoke to BBC's Radio 4 Today, defending Jewdas. "I think this group, unlike other groups you might describe as far-left, fringe, Jewish group, are orthodox, they're embedded in their synagogues and communities," he said. "They are part of the community." Lansman then added: "It was his night off, his office didn't know he was there."

The group has come under fire after a Twitter account linked to them, @geoffreyjewdas, described Israel as "a steaming pile of sewage which needs to be properly disposed of" in December last year. The same account tweeted on Tuesday that the Jewdas website has been flooded with traffic, and has crashed as a result.

The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism described Corbyn's involvement in the Passover meal as "a very clear two-fingered salute at mainstream British Jewry."

"It is hard to imagine how this duplicitous man can claim to be remedying anti-Semitism within the Labour Party. The party must consider the message that is sent to British Jews and other minorities by him remaining as leader," it said.

Labour MP and consistent critic of Corbyn, John Woodcock said his attendance at the Passover celebration was "irresponsible and dangerous" and was "deliberately baiting the mainstream Jewish community days after they pleaded with him to tackle anti-Semitism."

Fellow Labour MP Angela Smith labeled the Labour leader's attendance "as a blatant dismissal of the case made for tackling antisemitism in Labour."

The Twitterverse lashed out at Woodcock and Smith, with some slamming them for using the antisemitism row for politician gain.

[yankeedoodle]

"The Labour party, like the Conservative party, were bastions of pro-Zionist and pro-Israeli policies for years," he said. "It was very alarming for Israel and its lobby in the UK when this party elected as a leader someone who sympathizes with the Palestinian struggle for peace and justice.

"It is the first senior politician in western Europe to hold such views and Israel is afraid of a precedent and will do all it can to bring him down."   

Weaponizing anti-Semitism against Corbyn could endanger Jews, Israeli academic warns
https://www.rt.com/uk/423191-corbyn-papp%C3%A9-semitic-gaza/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

Anti-Semitism has been weaponized to attack Jeremy Corbyn, according to Israeli-British historian Ilan Pappé. Speaking to RT, the University of Exeter professor said Corbyn is being attacked due to his Palestinian sympathies.

In an exclusive interview with RT's London Bureau, the expatriate Israeli historian and socialist activist "totally [rejects]" allegations of anti-Semitism hurled against Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Pappé, a lifelong political activist, warned that those who are using anti-Semitism to attack Corbyn and the Jewish people around him are at risk of endangering Jews further.

"It will further ignite anti-Semitic accusations of double loyalty and will create a gulf between the universal struggle for human rights and against racism and a community that until now was identified with such causes," he said.

The Israeli academic did say that anti-Semitism is a problem on both sides of the political spectrum... not only for the Jewish but marginalized ethnicities as well.

"There is more anti-Semitism in the right than in the Left in Britain and in Europe in general. There, anti-Semites everywhere – but all in all, the Jewish community in Britain is as prosperous and safe as it had never been before.

"It is other communities like Muslims and Polish immigrants who far more exposed to xenophobia and racism."

The University of Exeter professor went on to refute claims that Corbyn is an anti-Semite, saying: "I have been involved with him in the past in some political activism and ever since I follow closely his political career and I could not find a shred of evidence for his anti-Semitism," Pappé said. "He was, and is, very critical on Israel's policies, as are many Jews including myself."

Pappé, who is a consistent collaborator with linguist Noam Chomsky, added that accusations of anti-Semitism have been weaponized to attack Corbyn due to his sympathy to the Palestinian cause.

"The Labour party, like the Conservative party, were bastions of pro-Zionist and pro-Israeli policies for years," he said. "It was very alarming for Israel and its lobby in the UK when this party elected as a leader someone who sympathizes with the Palestinian struggle for peace and justice.

"It is the first senior politician in western Europe to hold such views and Israel is afraid of a precedent and will do all it can to bring him down."

Corbyn has faced an onslaught of attacks by some Jewish groups and members of his own party, accusing him of being sympathetic to anti-Semites. Last Monday, protests against the Labour leader over the issue took place in Parliament Square. One week later, Corbyn attended Passover with Jewdas, a left-wing Jewish group within his constituency, and was slammed again for taking up with 'far-left' Jews.

Instead of focusing on the atrocities between the two warring peoples, the British media have instead focused on whether or not Jeremy Corbyn is hanging out with the right sort of Jew – a distraction, Pappé says, from recent actions in Gaza.

"I think the recent attacks, including the demonstration in front of the Parliament was meant to stifle the debate on Gaza," the academic said. "So yes this will continue – the attempt to distract the public opinion attention from Gaza, where the carnage has just begun, but inventing or blowing out of proportion cases of anti-Semitism."

Over the weekend, 17 Palestinians were killed and hundreds were wounded by Israeli forces in Gaza, according to Palestinian medics, as protesters kicked off a planned six-week demonstration demanding the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

According to Israel's military, 17,000 Palestinians were "rioting" in six locations in the Gaza strip on Friday. The military reported that protesters were rolling burning tires at the security fence and soldiers, which it said responded "with riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators."

At least 500 Palestinians were injured by a mixture of live ammunition, rubber-coated steel pellets, or teargas from Israeli forces along the fence, according to reports by the Palestinian Health Ministry.