Labour MPs are accused of stoking tension
LABOUR MPS have been stoking tension by tweeting “ill-advised and illinformed” posts about the Israel-Palestine conflict, say campaigners.
Despite repeated warnings about rising antisemitism on social media and elsewhere, scores of Labour MPs came out on Twitter to declare solidarity with Palestine, with some even taking part in demonstrations where protesters held provocative banners comparing Israel to Nazi Germany.
Other MPs called for sanctions against Israel and urged constituents to join them at a mass march on the Israeli Embassy on Saturday, where nine police officers were injured as they dispersed the crowds.
Fiona Sharpe, spokeswoman for Labour Against Antisemitism, said: “Some of the social media comments from Labour MPs over the last few days regarding the situation in Israel and Gaza have been ill-advised and illinformed. They have a duty to use their platform responsibly and they are failing to uphold that responsibility.”
Ian Austin, chairman of the cross-party campaign against extremism Mainstream UK, said: “Conflict in Israel leads to an increase in antisemitism in the UK, both online and in our communities. British politicians on all sides should be calling for a de-escalation of violence to avoid yet more bloodshed in Israel and Gaza.
“Instead too many Labour MPs are using social media to stoke tensions when they should be seeking to calm them.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer came under fire on Tuesday for tweeting that “Israel must respect international law” without mentioning Hamas’ rockets. Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said he would be joining a march to the Israeli embassy and urged his “Muslim constituents” to join him. Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana was among those who joined a demonstration outside Downing Street on Tuesday night in which protesters carried banners comparing Israel to Nazi Germany.
Richard Burgon, chairman of Labour’s
They have a duty to use their platform responsibly’
Socialist Campaign Group, led calls for sanctions against Israel.
He tweeted: “We need action from the British Government to put pressure on Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestine, its colonial settlements and the siege of Gaza.”
In a video statement to the Foreign Secretary, Naz Shah, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion, called for sanctions on Israel and declared: “The longest military occupation the world has ever seen must end.”
Calling for a ban on arms sales to Israel, Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle tweeted:
“I ask you if any European nation stormed places of worship and killed children at home in the fight against ‘terrorism’ would it be acceptable?”