Welsh Assembly member blames Israel for Jew-hate, says shuls have ‘siege mentality’
A LABOUR politician who suggested the Jewish community had a “siege mentality” over security at synagogues has admitted her comments were “insensitive” and left her open to “accusations of intolerance”.
Jenny Rathbone, the Welsh Labour Assembly member for Cardiff Central, also said she was “meeting one of my local rabbis later today [Wednesday] to apologise directly”.
Ms Rathbone was speaking during an event where she was asked about bolstered security at Cardiff United Synagogue amid growing antisemitism.
She said: “How much of it is for real and how much of it is in their own heads is really hard for an outsider to judge — but I think siege mentalities are also part of this.”
She also suggested that the actions of the Israeli government were behind growing hostility towards British Jews.
A recording of the comments, which are believed to have been made in or around November 2017, was leaked to the JC on Tuesday.
In a statement released on Wednesday after the JC reported her remarks, Ms Rathbone said: “I accept the comments I made last year were insensitive and have laid me open to accusations of intolerance.
“I’ve always appreciated the good relationship I’ve had with my local Jewish community and I apologise for any upset that my remarks may have caused to individual constituents and the wider Jewish community.
“I am meeting one of my local rabbis later today to apologise directly.”
Ms Rathbone added that with rising levels of antisemitism across the West and in the wake of the Pittsburgh synagogue attack, “no one can or should downplay the fears and concerns that many Jewish people are experiencing”.
She said she was “deeply sorry” that her remarks had been misunderstood.
The former London Borough of Islington councillor added she hoped she would be able to “work closely with local Jewish community” to “deepen my understanding of their concerns and experiences”.
But it also emerged that in a tweet in August, Ms Rathbone accused the Israelis of being behind accusations of antisemitism in the Labour Party: “Israeli Govt continues its relentless campaign against @jeremycorbyn Why are our media not investigating this level of foreign interference in UK politics?”
The Jewish Labour Movement said Ms Rathbone was unfit to serve in the Welsh Assembly and to remain a Labour Party member without “a full and unreserved apology”.
In a statement, the JLM said: “With antisemitism on the rise in the UK, Assembly Member Rathbone thinks it appropriate to blame her Jewish constituents for the racism they face. It shouldn’t need saying that Jews do not suffer from a ‘siege mentality’ and are not responsible for the actions of the Israeli government in the Middle East.”
Simon Johnson, chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: “The security infrastructure of our community has been built over a number years to ensure our safety. It is not down to a perceived risk, but a very real one.
“We have seen deadly attacks on Jews in recent years in Toulouse, Paris, Copenhagen, Brussels, and most recently in Pittsburgh. Antisemitism is not the fault of the Jewish community and it is perverse to paint it as such.”
A Community Security Trust spokesperson said: “Jenny Rathbone’s dismissal of the need for security at synagogues suggests a remarkable ignorance and lack of empathy.”
Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl said it was “inexcusable” to suggest “these necessary security measures are somehow part of the Jewish community’s collective paranoia”.
On Wednesday evening the Welsh Labour Party said Ms Rathbone faced possible disciplinary action over her remarks.“These remarks are totally unacceptable… The Chief Whip is now considering what disciplinary action is available to the Labour Group.”