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Momentum missed an opportunity to educate left wingers about antisemitism

The campaign group's video could have explored the complicated connection British Jews have with Israel, writes Rosa Doherty

November 13, 2018 10:45
Tania Shaw as she appears in the Momentum video
3 min read

I was in Israel when Momentum released its second video on antisemitism, in what looked like a genuine effort to tackle the problem among its members. It focuses on Tania Shew, who is like me in many ways. She said she would never dream of visiting the Jewish state.

In the video, Tania, a Jeremy Corbyn supporter, talks about her experiences of antisemitism in the Labour Party. The video outlines an informative history of British antisemitism, and how it manifests itself on the left today.

So far so good. Tania says she is asked about Israel "within seconds" of revealing she is Jewish - an experience nearly every Jewish person will identify with, especially those on the left.

“Israel is a country half way across the world which I have literally never been to,” Ms Shew says. “I can’t vote in their elections.”