Labour in bid to shut down anti-Semitism row as crunch meeting looms
3 min read
Labour's top ruling body will meet today to decide whether or not to fully adopt an internationally-agreed definition of anti-Semitism after a bitter row that has dominated the summer.
The party has been forced to look again at its code of conduct on anti-Jewish abuse after being hit by heavy criticism from Jewish groups and some of its own MPs for omitting several explanatory examples included in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) guidelines on anti-Semitism.
At a meeting at Labour's central London HQ this afternoon, the party's ruling National Executive Committee is expected to finally endorse the full IHRA definition.
But the Jewish Chronicle reports that the party is set to risk a fresh row by also including a "free-speech clause" to allow legitimate criticism of Israel.
Richard Angell, director of Labour's centrist group Progress said that would give Labour members "a right to be racist in certain circumstances".
He said: "Labour needs to pass the IHRA definition in full – no caveats, no compromises.
"It is time Labour prioritised the rights of Jewish people to play their full part in Labour over anti-Zionists’ right to use antisemitic tropes and say the very existence of Israel is a racist endeavour. Simple."
Labour previously chose not to adopt four of the examples of anti-Jewish abuse that are included in the IHRA definition.
They include accusing Jews of being more loyal to Israel than their own nation; claiming that Israel is a 'racist endeavour'; drawing parallels between contemporary Israeli policy and Nazi Germany; and demanding Israel be held to higher standards than other countries.
But Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry this week dismissed claims the IHRA definition would inhibit criticism of Israel, while former prime minister Gordon Brown has urged Labour to adopt the definition "unanimously, unequivocally and immediately" in a bid to undo the "hurt" caused to the Jewish community over the summer.
He warned: "Amend it, change it, delete parts, rip it up and you destroy the unanimity that is essential to fight antisemitism."
WILLSMAN 'SHOULD NOT TAKE NEC SEAT'
Labour was plunged into a fresh row last night af an ally of Jeremy Corbyn who dismissed anti-Semitism allegations as the work of "Trump fanatics" was re-elected onto the NEC.
Pete Willsman was one of nine pro-Jeremy Corbyn candidates on a left-wing slate - dubbed the '#JC9' - who were voted back onto the NEC following a ballot of party members.
He came under fire last month when a recording of his comments at an NEC meeting were leaked.
He said: "Some of these people in the Jewish community support Trump - they're Trump fanatics and all the rest of it. So I am not going to be lectured to by Trump fanatics making up daft information without any evidence at all."
He later apologised "for any offence caused to those present and those to whom my remarks were reported", and subsequently lost the backing of pro-Corbyn campaign group Momentum.
Responding to his election to the the party's ruling body, Jennifer Gerber, director of Labour Friends of Israel, said: "It is deplorable that Pete Willsman has been re-elected to the NEC and a terrible reflection on Labour's commitment to tackling anti-Semitism.
"Jeremy Corbyn and Momentum should immediately call upon him not to take his seat, so his shameful remarks do not further taint the party's already tattered reputation."
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