Miko Peled, the son of an Israeli general, was applauded by far-left anti-Zionist activists as he spoke at an event held by the Free Speech On Israel group
September 25, 2017 16:52
An Israeli-born anti-Zionist speaker has a told a fringe event at the Labour Party conference that boycotting Israel is justified because the country is a "racist settler regime" that is "very similar" to Nazi Germany and apartheid South Africa.
Miko Peled, the son of an Israeli general, was applauded by far-left anti-Zionist activists as he spoke at an event held by the Free Speech On Israel group.
Mr Peled, who now lives in America, called for free speech on every issue including "whether it's about the Holocaust - yes or no".
Addressing the event, which was chaired by Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, he said: "Boycotting the state of Israel is not censorship - it's putting it in its place.
"We do not invite Nazis and give then an hour to explain why they are right. This is the same thing.
"You did not invite South Africa to explain why apartheid was good for the blacks.
"In the same way you do not invite the Zionists. It was a very similar thing."
Wearing a large BDS badge, Mr Peled admitted he could not use the word "Israel" despite being born in the state.
He said: "Israel is a racist, settler colonial project.
"I don't call the country Israel. Calling it Israel is legitimising the crime. It's legitimising the settler colonial crimes. I don't believe we should do that. The country has a name - its called Palestine."
After making his remark about the Holocaust he added: "It's about free speech. Whether it's about Palestine - the entire spectrum. There should be no limits on the discussion."
What problem?! Wimborne-Idrissis-who claimed Israel is 'exploiting the Holocaust'-gets huge applause for saying Labour has no A/S problem! pic.twitter.com/I3bh433EKn
— SussexFriendsIsrael (@SussexFriends) September 25, 2017
Ms Wimborne-Idrissi also spoke out in support of Jackie Walker, the former Momentum vice-chair currently suspended by Labour over antisemitism claims.
She said: "One of the main victims of the whole antisemitism smear campaign is Jackie Walker."
She urged the audience to see Ms Walker's "amazing one woman show" - a play that alleges she is the victim of antisemitism smears.
Tony Greenstein, currently suspended by Labour over further allegations of antisemitism, told the audience that Zionism historically has been considered by Jewish people as a form of antisemtism.
"If someone says to me "Tony you don't belong here you should go to Israel "- they are either an antisemite or a Zionist - or both. Look today at the far right fascist parties of Europe - they all don't like Jews but they love Israel.
"Balfour - he didn't like Jews but he loved Zionism."
There were also calls for the Jewish Labour Movement to be expelled from Labour.
Michael Kalmanovitz from the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network said: "If you support Israel you support apartheid - so what is the JLM or LFI doing in our party.
"Isn't it time we campaigned to kick them out."
Another speaker attacked the decision to award JLM a converted prize at the Brighton conference on Sunday.
Later a delegate from Dulwich and West Norwood Labour said there was "good news" as last month her local party had defeated a motion that said Ken Livingstone should be kicked out of the party.
Another delegate from Dover and Deal Labour said Mr Livingstone had "got a few details wrong" when he compared Hitler and Zionism but said the former London ayor was the victim of a Zionist smear campaign.
