Jewish watchdog head ‘disturbed’ by anti-Semitism

A FORMER leader of Israel’s Labour party has said he is “extremely disturbed” to have seen Jewish MPs quitting or being “shoved out” under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

Isaac Herzog, who is now chairman of the Jewish Agency, which monitors anti-Semitism, warned that it was also “outrageous” to see political figures “casting doubt” on the Holocaust. In an interview with The

Sunday Telegraph, Mr Herzog welcomed a recent letter from Boris Johnson identifying the safety of Jewish people as a “top priority” for the Government. “It was detailed and serious,” he said.

The Jewish Agency also helps Jews across the world to emigrate to Israel. Earlier this month The Jewish

Chronicle reported that fears about Mr Corbyn becoming prime minister had driven interest in meetings arranged by the Jewish Agency to facilitate discussions about emigration.

Asked whether he was aware of an increase in enquiries as a result of the election, Mr Herzog said: “We haven’t yet seen anything of a dramatic nature. I think we need to see what the outcome will be.”

Last year Mr Herzog’s successor as Israeli Labour leader cut ties with Mr Corbyn’s party.

Mr Herzog said: “I don’t want to interfere in British politics so I don’t have any intention of doing so. However on the merits of the issue we see worrying signs of anti-Semitism throughout and we see political phenomena where it is clear, when Jewish Labour MPs, like Louise Ellman, are resigning or shoved out of the party ...

“I was the chairman of the [Israeli] Labour Party for two years, I attended Labour party conferences in England. I am extremely disturbed that these voices in Labour are disappearing.”

Mr Herzog, a former lawyer, added that he did not think the treatment of some Labour MPs “reflects in any way the majority of British people”, but continued: “I am also extremely disturbed by British people mitigating the Holocaust. I mean, this is Britain, that saved the world from the Nazis.”