Freedom to express political opinion

I AM quite concerned about the repeated allegations of antiSemitism within the Labour Party that seem to have appeared daily during the past few weeks. I am a Labour party member and I have been involved in the Labour movement in some way or other for over 50 years.

I can say categorically that I have never encountered even a single incident of racial or religious antiSemitism.

I have found out that Jewish leaders now refer to criticism of the State of Israel as “new antiSemitism”.

I believe that the freedom to express a political opinion is at the very heart of democracy.

When the expression of legitimately held political opinions are considered to be anti-Semitic then this can only be described as political bullying.

If Israeli leaders want to rid the world of “new anti-Semitism” there are two things they must do.

Firstly, they must return their soldiers to within their own borders.

Secondly, they must begin to talk to their neighbours with respect and as equals. This is the only way that peaceful coexistence can be achieved.

Israeli people have the right to autonomy, the right to live in peace and the right to be treated as equals. So do the people of Palestine and Lebanon.

Many years ago a Palestinian said that we should learn to love our neighbours and our enemies.

Many years later an even more famous man said, “Give peace a chance.”

Allen Williams South Cornelly, Bridgend