3 min read
ByJonathan Goldstein, Jonathan Goldstein
Jonathan Goldstein is staying positive in the face of growing antisemitic sentiment. Because he has to
October 25, 2018 10:52Many people who have worked with me are aware of my habit of walking around my office singing. My favourite tune to hum to over the last six months has been Monty Python’s Always look on the bright side of life. For us as a community I think it is important that this should become one of our theme tunes.
Let’s start with the bad news — of which, sadly, there is plenty.
Every day since we called the demonstration against antisemitism in the Labour Party in Parliament Square, I have asked myself whether that was the right decision. This is particularly because we hoped to reduce levels of antisemitism within the Labour Party but, regrettably, the opposite has appeared to occur and perhaps even worsened on the fringes. The inactivity of the Labour leadership has created a space that has become occupied by unpleasantness and vitriol.
We met Jeremy Corbyn on April 24, 180 days ago this week. To date, not one of our requests has been met. Even the resolution at the Labour NEC to adopt IHRA was overshadowed by Mr Corbyn’s personal statement which appeared to undermine the final vote and left the impression that the decision would be overturned in the near future. It is significant that that meeting coincided with the re-election of a candidate who had been heard on tape expressing overtly antisemitic tropes.
Similarly, we are no further along with the disciplinary process other than the voluntary resignation of Ken Livingstone from the party. There is no transparency and many high-profile cases remain outstanding. The leaked transcripts from the earlier Livingstone hearing, which included outrageous comments by witnesses on behalf of Mr Livingstone and even his own QC, show how the party’s process is not fit for purpose. Transparency is needed but refused. Extraordinarily, press reports of the leader’s office backing a member of the Jewish Voice for Labour as a member of the constitutional committee overseeing cases, when he himself appears to deny the existence of the problem in the party, appear to be true.
Combine all that with the deluge of stories over the summer surrounding Mr Corbyn himself — all of which remain inadequately answered, from the infamous “English irony” comment to the Tunis cemetery ceremony — and the picture appears extremely negative.
For a strongly Zionist community, the summer can probably be best summarised by the picture of Palestinian flags being enthusiastically waved at Labour Party conference during a so-called “debate” on the Middle East, during which Zionist-leaning members of the party felt intimidated against speaking.
Let’s be clear, the vast majority of our community believe in a two-state solution, with Israelis and Palestinians having national self-determination and secure borders. Yet to our community the debate felt explicitly like a defiant act to show that the party will not be influenced by the antisemitism issue.
We have to be honest and say that the relationship with the Labour Party has significantly deteriorated this year and since April there has been no attempt by the Labour leader’s office to mend fences and find some common ground. While it’s fair to say that the general secretary has reached out on various consultations, leadership starts from the top and from there we have silence. A promised meeting at the end of July never materialised but one does wonder what there would be to discuss given the party has entrenched itself so deeply into its long-held positions.
They have made it clear where they stand — and it is not with us.
So where does the positivity come from?
Let’s start with us as a community. We have found our voice. Many people have told me that the last six months have given us our spine. People have become energised to engage with our organisations. Many of our main communal bodies are thriving. Our schools are bursting at the seams looking for additional places. I’m told anecdotally that many of our synagogues felt that energy over the high holidays.
Jews have a long history of those who oppose us but we have found our voice and will continue to use it.
The support we have received from the wider public must be recognised. From the Prime Minister at the UJIA dinner or at the despatch box, to those brave and defiant Labour MPs who stand with us, to the Archbishop of Canterbury and other ethnic minority groups. And that’s to say nothing of the support from the indomitable J K Rowling and Trevor Phillips, and many other public figures. This is about British values.
British Jews have lived here since the 17th century and we have faith and confidence in the British people to recognise inappropriate behaviour in our politicians when it manifests itself. This is a tolerant and anti-racist country. As my friend Gerald Ronson, the Chairman of CST, has said publicly, and I will reiterate, I am British and Jewish and proud equally of both.
We must not allow ourselves to be defined by this issue and we are going nowhere. Our contribution across all sectors of British society over generations has been significant and that will win the day.
Just last week in Parliament, the Mitzvah Day organisation (our newest member at the JLC) highlighted how we as a community seek to impact positively those in need around us.
As a community, we will not stand down. We will not be deterred. We will raise our voice and be unashamed and I shall keep singing the words of Monty Python because I have faith that fairness and decency will win the day.
Jonathan Goldstein is the Chair of the JLC
