British Jews meet controversial Labour leader
February 9, 2016The main representative body of Jews in Britain on Tuesday met with opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is known for his controversial past statements in support of terrorism.
In a statement, the Board of Deputies of British Jews said its leadership had held discussions with Corbyn “on a range of matters of interest and concern to the UK Jewish community.”
“The meeting has resulted in significant clarifications of the views of the Leader of the Opposition on key issues for the Jewish community,” it said.
Board President Jonathan Arkush, who represented the Board together with Chief Executive Gillian Merron, said that there had been welcome agreement in some key policy areas but that there were still matters on which the Labour leader could make firmer commitments.
“We had a positive and constructive meeting and were pleased that Mr. Corbyn gave a very solid commitment to the right of Israel to live within secure and recognized boundaries as part of a two state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict,” said Arkush.
“Corbyn affirmed his support for shechitah (Jewish ritual slaughter -ed.), brit milah and Jewish faith schools. He also resolved in strong terms to fight anti-Semitism from wherever it comes,” added Arkush, who added that Corbyn “rejected any sort of violence or intimidation such as occurred at King’s College London last month.”
Arkush also called on the Labour leader to “do more to address profound and real concerns about past meetings with people or organizations with extremist or anti-Semitic views. We are also looking for the Labour leadership to show with more clarity that it will maintain its longstanding opposition of boycotts against Israel.”
“However,” he continued, “this is the beginning of a conversation between the Jewish community and the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and we will be meeting him again later this year.”
Corbyn has previously stirred up controversy due to his anti-Israel comments and by calling Hamas and Hezbollah his “friends”.
British Jews have voiced deep concern over Corbyn’s disturbing links to a wide range of extremists, spanning far-right holocaust deniers, an anti-Semitic Christian minister and Islamist terrorist groups.
Shortly after getting elected Labour leader, Corbyn caused more controversy when he spoke at Labour Friends of Israel’s (LFI) reception, where he gave a speech in which mentioned the “siege of Gaza” and even Syrian refugees, but didn’t say the word “Israel”.
That raised the ire of one audience member, who stood up at the end of the speech and repeatedly demanded Corbyn “say the word Israel!”
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...