JLC chief’s warning over Corbyn antisemitism row
LABOUR’S ANTISEMITISM crisis will not be resolved until Jeremy Corbyn properly engages with mainstream British Jewry and “accepts our claims are justified”, the chair of the Jewish Leadership Council has warned.
Speaking to the JC two months after meeting the Labour leader in Westminster, Jonathan Goldstein said Mr Corbyn’s failure to challenge anti-Zionist voices on the “very fringe” of the community “spoke volumes” about his commitment to solving the problem.
Mr Goldstein cited the selection of Gordon Nardell QC, a hard-left activist, as Labour’s in-house lawyer handling antisemitism cases, and the inflammatory comments of Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) co-founder Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi during a radio interview as clear signs of the climate Mr Corbyn has allowed to flourish under his leadership.
Mr Goldstein said: “In the meeting the JLC and Board of Deputies had with Mr Corbyn, I asked him to publicly disassociate himself from JVL.
“Privately he said to me that these people ‘did not speak for him’. I asked Mr Corbyn directly to come outside and say publicly that the people did not represent his views.
“But the Labour leader’s lack of action on this issue speaks volumes — especially when he seems so happy to speak out on so much else.”
Mr Goldstein cited Ms WimborneIdrissi’s remarks on LBC radio last Friday, in which she claimed criticism of Mr Nardell’s appointment was being made by community campaigners and MPs such as John Mann who “will only be happy if we have a QC in the pocket of the Israeli embassy”. Mr Goldstein said: “To me this is nothing less than a classic antisemitic trope — and one that Mr Corbyn should have wasted no time in condemning.
“If Mr Corbyn had spent 10 per cent of the time over the years with our community, compared to the time he has spent with anti-Zionists, we would not be in the situation we are in today. “He has not engaged with our community — he has only engaged with the fringe, with people completely outside mainstream British Jewry. “The Gordon Nardells, the Jenny Mansons, the Naomi Wimborne-Idrissis — they are not involved with Norwood, they are not involved with Jewish Care, they are not involved with the CST.”
Mr Goldstein said recent months had been “momentous” and the energy within the Jewish community had been “positive and this is something we must seize upon”.
But the prospect of a follow-up meeting with Mr Corbyn and Jennie Formby, Labour’s general secretary, next month — as originally scheduled — was by no means a certainty, he admitted. There has been no communication between the sides since April’s meeting.
Mr Goldstein said he wanted to encourage pro-Zionist Jewish left-leaning activists who have refused to quit the Labour Party under Mr Corbyn.
The JLC leader attended last week’s Jewish Labour Movement AGM and praised those present for “sticking their necks out” in the most challenging circumstances.
He told the JC: “The work of the JLM is absolutely crucial. Their work in fighting this pernicious evil from within the party is vital. You have Jewish Labour members who are attending meetings, reporting incidents, calling out antisemitism.
“We should not have to choose between our political principles and our religion. This is an unacceptable position for anyone to be in.
“To be a Jew and to feel that one of the main political parties is not a safe space for you is unconscionable.
“No one deserves to be politically homeless, but the situation as it currently is, is rendering many in the community as such.” But Mr Goldstein also took aim at community members “from outside of the Labour tradition” who have labelled Jews remaining in Mr Corbyn’s party as “traitors”.
“Let me say clearly that the leadership of the community rejects this,” he said. “Staying and fighting, even against the odds, is a worthy cause and deserves respect rather than abuse. The notion we should create this no-go zone within the Labour Party is misguided.” Mr Goldstein praised Labour MPs including Luciana Berger, Dame Louise Ellman, Ruth Smeeth and John Mann who have openly confronted Mr Corbyn over Jew-hate in their party.
“We felt it was crucial to support Luciana when she confronted Mr Corbyn over his support for the now infamous antisemitic mural,” he said.
“The JLC sees itself as the body, together with the Board, to mobilise the community.
“We have a fair way to go before we can say we are out of the woods on antisemitism within Labour but I am confident our voices are being heard across the wider community.
“We won’t win this battle if we only talk to ourselves. We have allies everywhere and we need to mobilise them and work with them.”
His lack of action on this issue speaks volumes’