Jeremy Corbyn supporters claim anti-Semitism scandal a ‘witch hunt’ by the ‘British Israel lobby’ to topple Labour boss
As they vowed to fight for suspended members to be brought back into the party, activists at a Jewish Voice for Labour meeting applauded members who were kicked out for bringing the party into disrepute
HARD-left supporters of Jeremy Corbyn tonight lashed out at the “British Israel lobby” and claimed the anti-Semitism scandal was just a “witch hunt” to topple the Labour leader.
As they vowed to fight for suspended members to be brought back into the party, activists at a Jewish Voice for Labour meeting applauded members who were kicked out for bringing the party into disrepute.
Plunging the party into a fresh row over anti-Semitism, Jewish Voice for Labour’s Jonathan Rosenhead told a packed room of supporters that reports of anti-Jew hate in Labour, and its definition had been “distorted”.
And he claimed that there was less of a problem with anti Semitism in Labour than the rest of the country.
He said that Labour’s ruling body was “rolled over” in the face of a “political assault of lies and half truths” to accept the IHRA’s definition of Jew hate. And Labour’s NEC would “live to regret” adopting it.
He and also made references to the “formidable power of our very own British Israel lobby”. “We thought we only had one in America, but now we know better,” he said.
Expelled anti-Zionist activist Tony Greenstein, who claims he was a victim of a “witch hunt”, said the scandal which has dogged Labour all summer was a plot to “toppled Jeremy Corbyn”.
Addressing supporters, he said: “Anti-Semitism is a stick to beat the left with.”
And launching their new campaign to influence Labour’s internal code of conduct on anti-Semitism, Jewish Voice for Labour argued that comparing Hitler to Israel was NOT offensive and was not anti-Semitic.
Leaflets handed out said: “such comparisons are only Semitic if they show prejudice, hostility or hatred against Jews” and that the comments were “key points in political debate”.
And activists also defended ousted Momentum boss Jackie Walker, who was suspended for claiming that Jews financed the slave trade and attacking Holocaust Memorial Day.
Last year she brought a play to Labour conference describing her treatment as like being lynched.
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JVL chairwoman Jenny Manson said the group would work to "resolve" some of the disciplinary cases which had seen outspoken activists including Mr Wadsworth and Jackie Walker being suspended or expelled.
"We can't allow the injustice that has been going on for the past two years to just go by without trying to do something to bring back fairness," she said, calling the treatment of Mr Corbyn an “injustice”.
Tomorrow Labour’s conference will debate Palestine for the first time ever - after it was voted to be included by activists.
The motion is said include statements to condemn the killings of Palestinians by the Israeli military.
