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| To ask Corbyn to support Israel is an impossible demand | To ask Corbyn to support Israel is an impossible demand |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Since Jeremy Corbyn’s election as Labour party leader in 2015, accusations of antisemitism in the Labour party from Jewish community leaders have become commonplace. Now, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Jonathan Arkush, the outgoing president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, went further in his criticisms than he or others in his position have gone before. | Since Jeremy Corbyn’s election as Labour party leader in 2015, accusations of antisemitism in the Labour party from Jewish community leaders have become commonplace. Now, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Jonathan Arkush, the outgoing president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, went further in his criticisms than he or others in his position have gone before. |
| While Corbyn has often been accused of tolerating antisemitism within Labour, or of creating an environment in which it can thrive, leaders of major UK Jewish communal institutions have stopped just short of accusing him of being personally antisemitic. Now Arkush says that he believes that Corbyn has views that “are antisemitic”, due to his associations with Stop the War and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. | While Corbyn has often been accused of tolerating antisemitism within Labour, or of creating an environment in which it can thrive, leaders of major UK Jewish communal institutions have stopped just short of accusing him of being personally antisemitic. Now Arkush says that he believes that Corbyn has views that “are antisemitic”, due to his associations with Stop the War and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. |
| Arkush seems to demand not just toning down criticism of Israel, but actively supporting it | Arkush seems to demand not just toning down criticism of Israel, but actively supporting it |
| Inevitably, this raises the question of the relationship between criticism of Israel and antisemitism. I have never met a Jew who argued that any criticism of any kind is always antisemitic. Rather, in much of the Jewish community and in definitions of antisemitism supported by Jewish communal institutions – such as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition – it is criticism that is “disproportionate” and that “de-legitimises” the Jewish state that is seen as antisemitic. | Inevitably, this raises the question of the relationship between criticism of Israel and antisemitism. I have never met a Jew who argued that any criticism of any kind is always antisemitic. Rather, in much of the Jewish community and in definitions of antisemitism supported by Jewish communal institutions – such as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition – it is criticism that is “disproportionate” and that “de-legitimises” the Jewish state that is seen as antisemitic. |
| Of course, these definitions are interpreted in a wide variety of ways by Jews and others. But there is no escaping the fact that most (but by no means all) Jews find it very difficult to see anti-Zionism as anything other than antisemitic, and find it hard to consider pro-Palestinian activism (which, at the very least, tends to ratchet up the rhetoric as all single-issue campaigns do) as proportionate criticism. | Of course, these definitions are interpreted in a wide variety of ways by Jews and others. But there is no escaping the fact that most (but by no means all) Jews find it very difficult to see anti-Zionism as anything other than antisemitic, and find it hard to consider pro-Palestinian activism (which, at the very least, tends to ratchet up the rhetoric as all single-issue campaigns do) as proportionate criticism. |
| But Arkush goes further than this. In his Telegraph interview, he recalls confronting Corbyn with the question: “Why is there nothing good you can say about Israel? And he couldn’t answer. He was silent.” This seems to demand not just toning down criticism of Israel, but actively supporting the country. This is an impossible demand to make not just of Corbyn, but even of other more moderate critics of Israel. | But Arkush goes further than this. In his Telegraph interview, he recalls confronting Corbyn with the question: “Why is there nothing good you can say about Israel? And he couldn’t answer. He was silent.” This seems to demand not just toning down criticism of Israel, but actively supporting the country. This is an impossible demand to make not just of Corbyn, but even of other more moderate critics of Israel. |
| Arkush further ramps up the stakes by painting a picture of a fearful Jewish community that is starting to ask: “What is our future here?” – and is increasingly drawn to Israel’s “modern, democratic, successful society”. He seems to be backing both the Jewish community and Corbyn into a corner, where, unless Labour returns to a more supportive position on Israel, many of the UK’s Jews will depart – to Israel. | Arkush further ramps up the stakes by painting a picture of a fearful Jewish community that is starting to ask: “What is our future here?” – and is increasingly drawn to Israel’s “modern, democratic, successful society”. He seems to be backing both the Jewish community and Corbyn into a corner, where, unless Labour returns to a more supportive position on Israel, many of the UK’s Jews will depart – to Israel. |
| It isn’t difficult to find Jews who would not agree with Arkush – and I’m not just thinking of the small but significant minority of Jewish anti-Zionists. As president of the board, he would have been unlikely to make these comments publicly if he were not on his way out, and most Jewish leaders understand the value of moderating their language in order to maintain lines of communication with the Labour party. | It isn’t difficult to find Jews who would not agree with Arkush – and I’m not just thinking of the small but significant minority of Jewish anti-Zionists. As president of the board, he would have been unlikely to make these comments publicly if he were not on his way out, and most Jewish leaders understand the value of moderating their language in order to maintain lines of communication with the Labour party. |
| In any case, the Zionist Jewish majority is far from homogeneous. Some – such as many of the young activists who took part in the highly controversial Kaddish for Gaza event last month – are fiercely critical of Israel’s current path. This isn’t just a political matter; all of us set the bar differently in what we require to feel existentially secure. All that said, there remains a gap between even the more Israel-critical forms of left-of-centre Jewish Zionist opinion and Corbynite Labour; and that gap becomes a yawning chasm when we consider those Jews who are more supportive of Israel’s current politics. | In any case, the Zionist Jewish majority is far from homogeneous. Some – such as many of the young activists who took part in the highly controversial Kaddish for Gaza event last month – are fiercely critical of Israel’s current path. This isn’t just a political matter; all of us set the bar differently in what we require to feel existentially secure. All that said, there remains a gap between even the more Israel-critical forms of left-of-centre Jewish Zionist opinion and Corbynite Labour; and that gap becomes a yawning chasm when we consider those Jews who are more supportive of Israel’s current politics. |
| Labour has been repeatedly blighted by charges that it has failed to tackle antisemitism in the party since Jeremy Corbyn became leader in 2015. Supporters of Corbyn, who has a long history of supporting Palestinians in their dispute with Israel, fear the issue is being used to undermine his leadership. | Labour has been repeatedly blighted by charges that it has failed to tackle antisemitism in the party since Jeremy Corbyn became leader in 2015. Supporters of Corbyn, who has a long history of supporting Palestinians in their dispute with Israel, fear the issue is being used to undermine his leadership. |
| Labour launches an inquiry into allegations of antisemitism and bullying after a fractious election of a youth representative to its ruling body. | Labour launches an inquiry into allegations of antisemitism and bullying after a fractious election of a youth representative to its ruling body. |
| Labour expels far-left activist Gerry Downing, who had spoken of the need to “address the Jewish question”. | Labour expels far-left activist Gerry Downing, who had spoken of the need to “address the Jewish question”. |
| Activist Vicki Kirby is suspended by the party for a second time over making alleged antisemitic tweets. She apparently suggested Adolf Hitler might be a “Zionist God” and that Jews had “big noses”. | Activist Vicki Kirby is suspended by the party for a second time over making alleged antisemitic tweets. She apparently suggested Adolf Hitler might be a “Zionist God” and that Jews had “big noses”. |
| Labour suspends Khadim Hussain, a Labour councillor and former lord mayor of Bradford, after he shared a Facebook post that said “your school education system only tells you about Anne Frank and the 6 million Zionists that were killed by Hitler". He later quit the party. | Labour suspends Khadim Hussain, a Labour councillor and former lord mayor of Bradford, after he shared a Facebook post that said “your school education system only tells you about Anne Frank and the 6 million Zionists that were killed by Hitler". He later quit the party. |
| Naz Shah, the Labour MP for Bradford West, apologises for writing a series of antisemitic posts on Facebook including arguing for Israel’s population to be ‘transported’ out of the Middle East. She also resigns as PPS to John McDonnell and after sustained pressure is suspended from the party a day later. | Naz Shah, the Labour MP for Bradford West, apologises for writing a series of antisemitic posts on Facebook including arguing for Israel’s population to be ‘transported’ out of the Middle East. She also resigns as PPS to John McDonnell and after sustained pressure is suspended from the party a day later. |
| Labour suspends, but does not expel, former London mayor Ken Livingstone, after making offensive comments about Hitler supporting Zionism while defending Shah. | Labour suspends, but does not expel, former London mayor Ken Livingstone, after making offensive comments about Hitler supporting Zionism while defending Shah. |
| A two-month inquiry by Shami Chakrabarti, ordered by Corbyn, urges Labour members to avoid abusive language and references to Hitler and Holocaust metaphors. It is criticised as being too soft on the issue and regarded as compromised because Chakrabarti had just accepted a peerage. | A two-month inquiry by Shami Chakrabarti, ordered by Corbyn, urges Labour members to avoid abusive language and references to Hitler and Holocaust metaphors. It is criticised as being too soft on the issue and regarded as compromised because Chakrabarti had just accepted a peerage. |
| Jackie Walker is removed as vice-chair of Momentum after criticising Holocaust Memorial Day but is allowed to remain on its steering committee. She was earlier suspended by the party for questioning why Holocaust Memorial Day did not recognise other genocides. | Jackie Walker is removed as vice-chair of Momentum after criticising Holocaust Memorial Day but is allowed to remain on its steering committee. She was earlier suspended by the party for questioning why Holocaust Memorial Day did not recognise other genocides. |
| The home affairs select committee accuses Labour of incompetence in dealing with antisemitism and helping to create a safe space for people with “vile attitudes towards Jewish people”. | The home affairs select committee accuses Labour of incompetence in dealing with antisemitism and helping to create a safe space for people with “vile attitudes towards Jewish people”. |
| Livingstone again avoids expulsion from the party after a disciplinary panel rules he should be suspended for another year over comments about antisemitism, Hitler and Zionism. Britain’s chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, accuses Labour of failing the Jewish community by not expelling Livingstone. | Livingstone again avoids expulsion from the party after a disciplinary panel rules he should be suspended for another year over comments about antisemitism, Hitler and Zionism. Britain’s chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, accuses Labour of failing the Jewish community by not expelling Livingstone. |
| Corbyn backs a party rule change, put forward by the Jewish Labour Movement, that takes tougher line on antisemitic abuse. | Corbyn backs a party rule change, put forward by the Jewish Labour Movement, that takes tougher line on antisemitic abuse. |
| It’s now clear what the Labour party under Corbyn can and cannot do to assuage Jewish fears over antisemitism. Corbyn will make clear the party’s opposition to antisemitism and acknowledge Jewish fears and concerns. He will acknowledge that, at the very least, pockets of antisemitism exist in the Labour party. The party will work to improve disciplinary procedures against those accused of antisemitism. | It’s now clear what the Labour party under Corbyn can and cannot do to assuage Jewish fears over antisemitism. Corbyn will make clear the party’s opposition to antisemitism and acknowledge Jewish fears and concerns. He will acknowledge that, at the very least, pockets of antisemitism exist in the Labour party. The party will work to improve disciplinary procedures against those accused of antisemitism. |
| Ken Livingstone quits Labour after antisemitism claims | Ken Livingstone quits Labour after antisemitism claims |
| But what Corbyn cannot, and will not, do is to renounce his past. While he has expressed support for a two-state solution and has not made explicitly anti-Zionist statements since becoming leader, he cannot and will not do anything supportive of Israel, at least under its current rightwing leadership. | But what Corbyn cannot, and will not, do is to renounce his past. While he has expressed support for a two-state solution and has not made explicitly anti-Zionist statements since becoming leader, he cannot and will not do anything supportive of Israel, at least under its current rightwing leadership. |
| In these conditions, it is hard to see a way forward. Perhaps a new generation of Jewish leaders and a new generation of Labour leaders who are not so burdened by the past might be able to reboot the relationship. Certainly, as long as most British Jews remain Zionists – albeit with an increasing proportion of those who believe in the principle of Jewish statehood while abhorring its current reality – the relationship with the Labour party will continue to be fraught at best. | In these conditions, it is hard to see a way forward. Perhaps a new generation of Jewish leaders and a new generation of Labour leaders who are not so burdened by the past might be able to reboot the relationship. Certainly, as long as most British Jews remain Zionists – albeit with an increasing proportion of those who believe in the principle of Jewish statehood while abhorring its current reality – the relationship with the Labour party will continue to be fraught at best. |
| • Keith Kahn-Harris is a sociologist and the author of Judaism: All That Matters | • Keith Kahn-Harris is a sociologist and the author of Judaism: All That Matters |
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