Dozens of prominent anti-Israel activists have signed an open letter attacking the JC for highlighting of Jeremy Corbyn’s links to antisemites and Holocaust deniers.
It follows the publication last week of seven key questions for Mr Corbyn to answer regarding his alleged ties to Holocaust denier Paul Eisen, his defence of controversial Anglican vicar Stephen Sizer, and support for blood libel cleric Raed Salah. Mr Corbyn has also previously called Hamas and Hezbollah “friends” .
Signatories to the letter include Tony Greenstein, Professor Haim Bresheeth, Abe Hayeem, Miriam Margolyes, Professor Ilan Pappe and Michael Rosen.
It states: “Your assertion that your attack on Jeremy Corbyn is supported by ‘the vast majority of British Jews’ is without foundation. We do not accept that you speak on behalf of progressive Jews in this country. You speak only for Jews who support Israel, right or wrong.
"There is something deeply unpleasant and dishonest about your McCarthyite guilt by association technique. Jeremy Corbyn’s parliamentary record over 32 years has consistently opposed all racism including antisemitism.
"Jeremy Corbyn has nothing to apologise for in his meetings with representatives of Hamas and Hizbollah. Hamas was democratically elected in Palestinian elections generally accepted as fair, and Hezbollah also has strong electoral support in Lebanon.
"You report Paul Eisen as saying that Jeremy Corbyn donated to Deir Yassin Remembered. So did many people before discovering the existence of antisemites and Holocaust-deniers in the organisation. Many people attended the occasional fundraising concert that DYR organised, without either knowing of or sympathising with Mr Eisen’s views.
"As supporters of Israel, perhaps you agree with the racist statements of Israeli government ministers such as Eli Dahan that Jews have higher souls than non-Jews? Or Miri Regev’s belief that asylum seekers are a ‘cancer’? Or, would this be guilt by association, as in your character assassination of Jeremy Corbyn?"
The signatories:
Tony Greenstein
Ruth Appleton
Graham Bash
Prof Haim Bresheeth
Rica Bird
Mike Cushman
Laurence Dreyfus
Nancy Elan
Tom Eisner
Deborah Fink
Kenneth Fryde
Lynda Gilbert
Claire Glasman
Michael Gold
Abe Hayeem
Rosamine Hayeem
Selma James
Riva Joffe
Michael Kalmanovitz
Ros Kane
Paul Kaufman
Richard Kuper
Leah Levane
Dr. Les Levidow
Deborah Maccoby
Miriam Margolyes
Beryl Maizels
Diana Neslen
Esther Neslen
Prof Ilan Pappe
Dr. Susan Pashkoff
Roland Rance
Valerie Remy
Frances Rifkin
Dr. Brian Robinson
Michael Rosen
Prof Jonathan Rosenhead
Ben Samuel
Glyn Secker
Prof Avi Shlaim, FBA
Inbar Tamari
Dr. Philip Ward
Sam Weinstein
Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi
Devra Wiseman
Miriam Yagud
