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Jeremy Corbyn: I hope we can draw a line under Labour antisemitism row
He insists party are 'allies' in fight against Jew-hate
September 26, 2018 12:14
He insists party are 'allies' in fight against Jew-hate
September 26, 2018 12:14Jeremy Corbyn has said he hopes to "draw a line under" Labour's antisemitism crisis, saying the "row" over the issue has caused Jews "immense hurt".
On the final day of a fraught conference that saw a sea of Palestinian flags appear during a foreign affairs debate and Mr Corbyn rub shoulders with a man who defended the right to question the Holocaust, the Labour leader took to the stage to say antisemitism had caused "dismay" within the party.
"I hope and believe we can work together to draw a line under it," he said in a message to British Jews during his speech to the conference on Wednesday.
He said Labour was anti-racist and must, as such "listen to those communities suffering abuse", adding: "The Jewish people have suffered a long and terrible history of persecution and genocide...
"The row over antisemitism has caused immense hurt in the Jewish community and great... This party, this movement, will always be implacable campaigners against antisemitism and racism in all its forms.
"We are your allies."
He added a Labour government would "guarantee whatever support is needed to ensure the security of Jewish community and places of worship".
He attacked the Conservatives for condemning Labout antisemitism and then "endorsing Victor Orban's government the next day", a reference to Tory MEPs opposing EU action against the Hungarian prime minister.
Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl said Mr Corbyn's words mean nothing until Labour takes the necessary steps to deal with antisemitism in its ranks".
"Words have long ceased to be enough. Actions are what matter," she said, adding the party had to kick out antisemites, discipline those deny Jew-hate is a problem "particularly if this emanates from parliamentarians, local councillors or trade union leaders" and provide training on antisemitism "delivered by a trusted and reputable partner"
She added Mr Corbyn should give "a heartfelt apology to British Jews and to Israeli victims of the terrorists with whom he has shown solidarity".
"Labour cannot ‘draw a line under’ this crisis and regain any shred of confidence from the Jewish community until this takes place,” she added.
Before the party's conference began, Mr Corbyn refused to personally apologise for the party's antisemitism crisis during an interview with Andrew Marr.
He was asked by the presenter if he would look into the camera and apologise to Jewish viewers.
But Mr Corbyn responded that he would “simply say this. I am an anti-racist and will die an anti-racist. Antisemitism is a scourge in any society and… I will continue to oppose it all my life.”