Jewish Socialists’ Group’s David Rosenberg slams titles claiming Corbyn poses an ‘existential threat’ to Britain’s Jewish community
JEWISH socialists condemned “concocted hysteria” today after three newspapers alleged that a Labour government would pose an “existential threat” to Britain’s Jewish community.
David Rosenberg of the Jewish Socialists’ Group said the unprecedented step by the Jewish Chronicle, the Jewish News and the Jewish Telegraph was “phenomenal nonsense.”
Under the headline: “United We Stand,” the three Jewish newspapers claimed that Labour’s decision to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-semitism but append guidance on interpreting some of its attached examples was “sinister.”
They accused Labour of “diluting” the definition to the point where “political anti-semitism” regarding criticism of zionism or Israel was deemed acceptable.
The papers went on to claim that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has a “default blindness” to the fears of the Jewish community, referring to the prospect of him becoming prime minister as a “clear and present danger.”
They urged Labour MPs to back a motion tabled for their first meeting after the summer recess calling on the party to accept the IHRA definition in full.
However, Mr Rosenberg, a longstanding Corbyn ally, posted on Facebook accusing the papers of “ignoring” the needs of the “considerable number of ordinary Jews” who would benefit from a Labour government “seriously committed to social and economic justice.”
A party spokesman said that Mr Corbyn has asked general secretary Jennie Formby to focus on tackling anti-semitism as her top priority.
He added that Labour’s anti-semitism code of conduct does adopt the IHRA definition, but expands on provided examples to produce “robust, legally sound” guidelines to apply to disciplinary cases.
