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Labour candidate "mortified" over tweet backing Israel arms embargo
Fiona Smith, who is standing in Hertsmere, says she has "no animus towards Israel"
May 5, 2017 10:43
Fiona Smith, who is standing in Hertsmere, says she has "no animus towards Israel"
May 5, 2017 10:43Labour's general election candidate for Hertsmere has said she is "mortified" about a post that appeared on her Twitter account backing an arms embargo on Israel.
Fiona Smith, who is standing in a contituency where over 14 per cent of the voters are Jewish, said the comment was posted in 2014 as a result of her clicking on a web page promoting an Amnesty International campaign.
The tweet read: 'Call on the UK government to halt the supply of arms to Israel. We must not facilitate war crimes.'
Ms Smith said she understood Jewish voters in Hertsmere would have been "hurt" after reading reports of her message sent at the height of Israel's conflict with Hamas three years ago.
She explained: "This single tweet is three years old and happened as a result of my clicking on an Amnesty International campaign.
"I have no animus towards Israel whatsoever and am mortified that anybody might have been given that impression.
"I have a track record of campaigning against arms policies more generally including Saudi arms deals.
"I recognise that the explicitly stated policies and actions of terror groups like Hamas and Hezbollah and the threat from Iran all create unique security and defence requirements to enable Israel to protect its citizens.
" My understanding of this is underpinned by my background in our armed forces.
Ms Smith added: "I support a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. I support Labour Party policy opposing boycotts of Israel. They do nothing to further the cause of peace. I look forward to visiting Israel and building close links with our sister Labour Party over there."
Conservative candidate Oliver Dowden, who won the seat in 2015 with a majority of 18,461, said: "Hertsmere needs a strong voice for its Jewish community not a Labour candidate who attacks Israel and whose leader offers friendship to Hamas and Hezbollah while antisemitism festers.
"As Hertsmere's MP, these are exactly the sort of attitudes I sought to challenge - both as an officer of the Conservative Friends of Israel and Chairman of the Parliamentary group for British Jews."
