Corbyn visit to grave of Munich massacre terrorist stirs uproar
Jewish community leaders in Great Britain expressed shock and outrage Monday after it was revealed over the weekend that UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn had attended a ceremony honoring a Palestinian terrorist partly responsible for the 1972 Munich killing of Israeli Olympians.
Corbyn, who is currently campaigning to become Britain’s next prime minister, reportedly traveled to Tunisia in October 2014 to visit the grave of Atef Bseiso, the former head of intelligence for the Palestine Liberation Organization and direct accomplice involved in the Munich terrorist attack.
Jewish leaders called the revelation, reported by the Sunday Times, “beyond the pale,” and demanded Corbyn make his views known about Palestinian acts of violence.
“In light of today’s news reports, it is high time that Jeremy Corbyn clarify his views regarding Palestinian terrorism,” said Simon Johnson, the CEO of the Jewish Leadership Council. “At first sight, attending a wreath-laying ceremony of a known terrorist, who led one of the most notorious acts of international terrorism, the attack on the Munich Olympics, would appear to be beyond the pale.”
According to the Jewish Chronicle, Corbyn had described visiting Bseiso’s grave in a column he had written for the communist-founded Morning Star newspaper, recalling that “wreaths were laid... on the graves of [those] killed by Mossad agents in Paris in 1991,” while commenting that the day was “poignant.”
There is no record of the Mossad carrying out an assassination in Paris in 1991. But the Israeli spy agency has been accused of killing Bseiso a year later in the French capital.
Members of Corbyn’s own party also lashed out at the faction leader, with Jennifer Gerber, director of Labour Friends of Israel, stating: “It is almost unbelievable that any Labour MP would participate in a ceremony honoring a man involved in the vicious murder of innocent Israeli athletes. Unfortunately, this appears to be part of a very disturbing pattern of behavior, and we are seeking urgent clarification from the leader’s office on this matter.”
Members of the Palestinian terrorist organization Black September killed 11 Israeli athletes during the 1972 Olympics along with one German Police officer. Israel later hunted down and allegedly killed anyone involved in the massacre.
The election for Great Britain’s next prime minister is scheduled for June 8, where Corbyn faces an uphill battle from incumbent Theresa May.