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Labour Affairs Incorporating the Labour and Trade Union Review Labour Affairs Incorporating the Labour and Trade Union Review No. 287 - May 2018 Price £2.00 (€ 3.00) Labour And Antisemitism Antisemitism is being used by the right wing within the definition which ought to be narrowed down to a simple Parliamentary Labour Party to undermine Corbyn, while message: antisemitism is a hatred of Jews simply because the Tories shelter behind the antisemitism allegations in of their racial origin and religious practices. order to cover up their Brexit divisions and their abysmal Corbyn’s PLP critics, while not accusing him directly social policies which are having such a devastating effect of antisemitism, have pointed at what they see as his on hundreds of thousands of families. In their eagerness lack of leadership on the issue. This manifests itself in to attack Corbyn at every opportunity, the Labour the slow progress made in dealing with the antisemitism oppositionists and the Tories make ideal bedfellows. they believe is endemic in the party. They argue that The International Definition of Antisemitism, (IDA), failure so far to carry out the recommendations in the agreed at a conference of the Berlin-based International Chakrabarti report, (an inquiry into antisemitism and other Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in May 2016 states: forms of racism in the Labour Party), published in June “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which 2016, is evidence of this. The report, which made twenty may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and recommendations, concluded that Labour is not overrun physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed by antisemitism or other forms of racism, but there is an toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their “occasionally toxic atmosphere.” This is now being given property, toward Jewish community institutions and top priority under the supervision of the newly appointed religious facilities. General Secretary. Manifestations might include the targeting of the state The hate mail received by some Labour MPs is assumed of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, to have originated from party members, specifically criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other Corbyn supporters among Momentum. It is of course country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitism conceivable that most of those responsible are right- frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, wing opponents of Corbyn and/or Labour, using social and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go media, twitter in particular where one’s identity can be wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms concealed, to air their despicable views. Some may claim and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative to be party members, examples of the “occasionally toxic character traits.” atmosphere” within the party referred to in the Chakrabarti The generally held view that Labour under Corbyn’s report. Those on the receiving end of hate mail, such as leadership is a hot bed of antisemitism is a hard pill to Labour members Luciana Berger and Ruth Smeeth should, swallow. Corbyn himself has been attacked by the right- if possible, check the origin and party affiliation, if any, wing press and accused of being an antisemite, when of their abusers. even his severest critics in the Parliamentary Labour Party The Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of (PLP) admit there is not an antisemitic bone in his body. Deputies of British Jews, with some Labour backbenchers, The press’s ‘evidence’ is that he has met with Hamas have criticised Corbyn for not excluding Ken Livingstone and expressed support for the Palestinians. Ergo, he is from party membership for remarks made two years an antisemite. It seems it is not possible to be opposed ago. Ignoring the fact that Livingstone’s fate does not to Israel’s actions against the Palestinian people without lie ultimately with the party leader, but with the party’s being labelled an antisemite. Although the IDA appears to National Executive Committee. contradict this. The IDA itself is a cumbersome, catch-all Livingstone’s crime, in the eyes of his opponents, was No. 287 - May 2018 to associate Hitler with Zionism. aimed specifically at a Corbyn-led He told LBC, a London local radio Labour party? Is Labour unique in station, “When Hitler won his election this? There are two possible reasons. Labour in 1932, his policy then was that The first suggests that the accusers Jews should be moved to Israel. He of antisemitism within Labour are Affairs was supporting Zionism before he grossly exaggerating the problem went mad and ended up killing six as a means of attacking Corbyn. million Jews.” Some Labour members expressed Livingstone refused to apologise for alarm when Corbyn commented Contents his remarks and remains suspended that there were merely “pockets of No. 287 - May 2018 ISSN 2050-6031 from the party. His remarks should antisemitism” within the party. A ISSN 0953-3494 have sparked a debate within the comment he was unwise to make as it Labour And Antisemitism party, rather than hysterical criticism. conceded the argument to his critics. Editorial 1 But it seems that the subject is a The second possible reason is that it is no-go area for Labour. Not one of a diversionary tactic by the Tories. No 2nd Editorial: What Should his critics in the party has proved he amount of government spin about our Labour’s Foreign Policy Be? 3 was historically incorrect in what he new, tough Prime Minister, and slick said. He has simply been silenced and media presentation can hide that fact. “Tunbridge Wells has a Drugs and suspended at the behest of the Blairite Labour’s in-fighting over Murder Problem” 5 remnants who fear one of Corbyn’s antisemitism has handed a gift to the most powerful supporters. Tories. On 17 April the government Brian Behan Remembered It’s widely acknowledged that initiated a debate on the subject, by W.J. Haire 10 Labour has a proud record of designed to embarrass Labour and opposing racism and antisemitism. ensure maximum negative media And So To War In spite of the allegations there is coverage for Corbyn. During a highly by Martin Dolphin 13 less antisemitim and racism in the emotional debate some Labour MPs Labour party than there is in the Tory pointed the finger of guilt at Corbyn, Paradise Papers - Tax Evasion party, UKIP and society at large. as if he was personally responsible for by Michael Robinson 18 Labour’s socialist message of class the antisemitic abuse of the party’s and social solidarity, rejected by Jewish MPs, while the Tory benches Regular Features many mainstream Labour members, looked on with glee. It appears that Parliament and World War One undermines racism of all kinds. it is not only the Tories who used the by Dick Barry 7 Before Corbyn became party leader occasion to drive a stake into the heart Notes on the News the recipients of antisemitic abuse, of Corbyn’s leadership of Labour. by Gwydion M. Williams 14 allegedly from individual party Antisemitism is abhorrent, but members, were strangely silent. Even why has there been no outrage from Diary of a Corbyn foot soldier though they knew that some of the Corbyn’s leading critics about the by Michael Murray 17 antisemitic remarks were made some killing, at the end of March, of thirty Parliament Notes time ago. Naz Shah, for example, Palestinian demonstrators, with 1,700 by Dick Barry 20 Labour member for Bradford West, injured, by the Israeli military at the Orecchiette 24 committed her offence before she heavily fenced Gaza border? There was elected in 2015. Her Facebook was not a word from them during No Froggy this month page showed an image of the state the 17 April debate on antisemitism. of Israel superimposed on a map of Nor has there been a word from them Labour Affairs the USA. At the time no one in the since then. Published by the Ernest Bevin Society Editorial Board PLP pointed out that the originator of Corbyn’s opponents have played a Dick Barry Christopher Winch the image was Norman Finkelstein, despicable role in the antisemitism Jack Lane Gwydion Williams a Jewish American Professor of hysteria just before the May local Political Science, most of whose government elections to be held in [email protected] Website: http://labouraffairsmagazine.com/ family died in the holocaust. Shah London and some other parts of the later apologised fulsomely to the country. We have no doubt that the Distribution House of Commons and yet was still voters will give them their answer Dave Fennell held up as an example of Labour’s by voting Labour in spite of the Editorial Address No. 2 Newington Green Mansions antisemitism. So, why the outcry accusations of antisemitism directed Green Lanes now? And why are the accusations at the leadership. London N16 9BT Labour Affairs 2 No. 287 - May 2018 2nd Editorial What Should Labour’s Foreign Policy Be? Labour Affairs does not usually com- Labour needs to return to the instincts to defend our vital interests. ment on foreign policy issues. However, of Corbyn and to promote them as the The main goal of any country’s foreign we do have views on foreign policy. In basis for a sensible foreign policy. At the policy should be to promote the interests this editorial we explain what these are same time it should be made clear that of that country. This applies to the United for our readers’ clarification. It should be our efforts in foreign policy should be to Kingdom as much as to anywhere else. clear why we do not take an active part in promote the interests of Britain, but not In addition, all countries should consider foreign policy discussions.
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