Corbyn refuses to apologize over antisemitism claims

UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn did little to quell accusations of antisemitism, in a Tuesday interview on the BBC .

In an interview with the British political journalist Andrew Neil, Corbyn repeatedly declined an invitation to apologize to the British Jewish community over long-standing antisemitism claims.

The main British opposition party has been plagued by antisemitism allegations, which threaten to affect Labour’s chances in the upcoming UK election on December 12.

“Eighty percent of Jews think that you’re antisemitic,” Neil accused Corbyn. “That’s quite a lot of British Jews. I mean, wouldn’t you like to take this opportunity tonight to apologize to the British Jewish community for what’s happened?”

Corbyn avoided the opportunity to tackle the matter headon, saying, “What I’ll say is this: I am determined that our society will be safe for people of all faiths. I don’t want anyone to be feeling insecure in our society, and our government will protect every community .... ”

Pushing Corbyn several times to apologize, Neil said Corbyn was “given plenty of time to do that. I asked you if you wanted to apologize, and you haven’t.”

Corbyn was asked about Labour Party member Lesley Perrin, who reportedly posted a video to social media denying the Holocaust, with Neil questioning why she got only a written warning. Corbyn responded that he had “strengthened processes” since the incident.

On the BBC’s Panorama special “Is Labour Antisemitic?,” which aired in July, it was revealed that top Labour figures had previously “interfered” with the disciplinary process of antisemitism disputes.

Prior to its July screening, the Labour Party tried to prevent the BBC from its broadcast.

Broadcaster Piers Morgan tweeted that the interview was “already a train wreck of Prince Andrew proportions.”

On Monday, Britain’s chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, wrote that Corbyn is unfit to be prime minister, because he had failed to stem “poisonous” antisemitism within the Labour Party.

British voters will cast their votes on December 12.

Ilanit Chernick and Zachary Keyser contributed to this report.