John McDonnell defends Jeremy Corbyn over 'no irony' British Zionists jibe amid growing fury
3 min read
John McDonnell has leapt to the defence of Jeremy Corbyn after he was criticised for saying British Zionists have "no sense of English irony".
The Shadow Chancellor rebuffed allegations that comments made by the Labour leader in 2013 were anti-Semitic, claiming instead that they had be taken “out of context.”
Jeremy Corbyn has come under fire from leading Jewish figures after footage emerged of him telling a London conference that British Zionists “clearly have two problems”.
“One is they don’t want to study history," he said. "And secondly, having lived in this country for a very long time, probably all their lives, they don’t understand English irony either."
He added: “They needed two lessons, which we could perhaps help them with.”
Jewish Labour MP Luciana Berger said the comments were “inexcusable” and said she felt “unwelcome” in the party, while Labour Friends of Israel demanded an apology fpr the "despicable" remarks.
But Mr McDonnell accused critics of "exacerbating the issue," and said: “I think all of this has been taken out of context."
He added: “To take them out of context is unacceptable and I think it’s not helping the issue."
And he said: "Whatever Jeremy has said throughout the years has always been about how to secure peace, particularly within the Middle East.
"And also peace with justice for all concerned, both for members of the Jewish community and also members of the Palestinian community."
'UNWELCOME'
But Ms Berger fumed on Twitter: “The video released today of the leader of @UKLabour making inexcusable comments - defended by a party spokesman - makes me as a proud British Jew feel unwelcome in my own party.
“I've lived in Britain all my life and I don't need any lessons in history/irony.”
Joan Ryan, the Labour MP and Labour Friends of Israel chair, said: "Jeremy Corbyn's comments, & the company in which he chose to make them, were highly offensive to British Jews.
"They should not be defended but unequivocally condemned. And I urge him again to apologise & take responsibility for actions which have caused such hurt anger & distress."
And Jenifer Gerber, the director of LFI, said Mr Corbyn had used the term 'Zioinist' as part of personal abuse - which a previous Labour report into anti-Semitism advised against.
She added: "It says a great deal about Jeremy Corbyn that his instincts and prejudices lead him to do precisely the opposite.
"Given his inability to take any personal responsibility for the crisis of anti-Semitism afflicting the Labour party, we have no expectation that Mr Corbyn will offer British Jews the apology they deserve for these despicable remarks."
But a spokesperson for Mr Corbyn said: “He was referring to a group of pro-Israel activists misunderstanding - and then criticising - the Palestinian ambassador for a speech at a separate event about the occupation of the West Bank.”
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