Jews attack Corbyn as ‘cynical and incompetent’

Newspaper commentary by leader admitting there is ‘a real problem in Labour’ backfires over its timing

JEREMY CORBYN last night inflamed tensions with the Jewish community after a comment piece intended to build bridges prompted a backlash.

The Labour leader admitted in an article for The Guardian that the party had a “real problem” with anti-semitism, but went on to accuse Jewish newspapers of “overheated rhetoric”.

Jewish groups were left struggling to respond as his article was published just before the Sabbath, barring orthodox Jews from using phones and computers. “It’s either deeply cynical or incompetent,” one Jewish leader said.

Critics also highlighted the fact that parts of the opinion piece were copied from an article he published in April. After weeks of intense criticism, Mr Corbyn said that trust between Labour and the Jewish community was at a “low ebb” and warned anti-semites: “You do not do it in my name”.

However, he refused to back down over his refusal to accept an internationally recognised definition of antisemitism, arguing it could restrict legitimate criticism of Israel.

The Jewish Labour Movement said: “Nothing has changed. There is no trust left. We find ourselves asking once again for action, not words.”

Last week three Jewish newspapers printed the same front page with the headline “United we stand” and warned Labour posed an “existential threat” to Jewish life in Britain.

In his newspaper article, Mr Corbyn said: “I do not for one moment accept that a Labour government would represent any kind of threat, let alone an “existential threat”.

“That is the kind of overheated rhetoric that can surface during emotional political debates. But I do acknowledge there is a real problem that Labour is working to overcome. And I accept that, if any part of our national community feels threatened, anxious or vulnerable, not only must that be taken at face value but we must all ensure those fears are put to rest.” He then warned his supporters that “denying the continuing problem doesn’t help”.

He added: “Labour staff have seen examples of Holocaust denial, crude stereotypes of Jewish bankers, conspiracy theories blaming 9/11 on Israel, and even one individual who appeared to believe that Hitler had been misunderstood. People holding those views have

‘I do not accept that a Labour government would represent any threat, let alone an existential threat’

no place in the Labour party.” But he defended Labour’s decision not to accept the international definition of antisemitism. He said: “It is unfortunately the case that this particular example, dealing with Israel and racism, has sometimes been used by those wanting to restrict criticism of Israel that is not anti-semitic,” Mr Corbyn said.

Mr Corbyn also said in his article that anti-zionism – opposition to the existence of Israel – was not racist.

It came as Dame Margaret Hodge threatened to take Labour to the High Court.

The veteran Jewish MP hit out at Labour’s “untenable” and “extraordinary” investigation into her, after the former Labour minister, whose relatives were murdered in the Holocaust, branded Mr Corbyn an “anti-semite” in Parliament over the party’s failure to adopt the recognised definition of antisemitism.

Her lawyers claimed that this was a breach of “natural justice” and that Labour had failed to spell out the allegations levelled against her.