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Labour's ruling body holds crunch anti-Semitism talks Labour's ruling body holds crunch anti-Semitism talks
(35 minutes later)
Labour's ruling body is meeting to discuss whether to adopt in full an international definition of anti-Semitism following months of acrimony.Labour's ruling body is meeting to discuss whether to adopt in full an international definition of anti-Semitism following months of acrimony.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition was incorporated into Labour's code of conduct in July - but not all its examples were included.The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition was incorporated into Labour's code of conduct in July - but not all its examples were included.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he hoped the party's National Executive Committee would adopt all the examples.Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he hoped the party's National Executive Committee would adopt all the examples.
Rival protest groups are outside Labour HQ, where the NEC is meeting.Rival protest groups are outside Labour HQ, where the NEC is meeting.
Groups including Jewish Voice for Labour called on the committee to resist calls to adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism.Groups including Jewish Voice for Labour called on the committee to resist calls to adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism.
They argue that it would restrict freedom to criticise Israel's actions against Palestinians.They argue that it would restrict freedom to criticise Israel's actions against Palestinians.
Rival protesters, wrapped in Israeli flags, condemned Labour as "for the many, not the Jew" and chanted "Labour fascists off our streets".Rival protesters, wrapped in Israeli flags, condemned Labour as "for the many, not the Jew" and chanted "Labour fascists off our streets".
The meeting comes as Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick told LBC radio she would review a leaked internal Labour dossier obtained by the radio station detailing 45 cases of alleged anti-Semitism, amid claims that as many as 17 might require reporting to the police.The meeting comes as Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick told LBC radio she would review a leaked internal Labour dossier obtained by the radio station detailing 45 cases of alleged anti-Semitism, amid claims that as many as 17 might require reporting to the police.
Labour's Deputy Leader Tom Watson said he hoped the NEC would adopt the full IHRA definition and that it would be the "start of a new conversation with the Jewish community in Britain".
Labour MP Stephen Kinnock described the row as a "battle for the soul" of Labour.Labour MP Stephen Kinnock described the row as a "battle for the soul" of Labour.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the NEC should adopt the IHRA definition and all its examples - and that to add caveats, as some have suggested, would be "like pouring more fuel on the fire".He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the NEC should adopt the IHRA definition and all its examples - and that to add caveats, as some have suggested, would be "like pouring more fuel on the fire".
"The fire is clearly still burning and there is a huge amount that needs to be done to show that, not just with words but also with actions, the leadership has listened and understood the concerns of the Jewish community," said the Aberavon MP.
Labour activist and journalist Michael Segalov agreed that the NEC should adopt all the IHRA examples but with some "clarifications" because, he told Today, some of them have the potential to "veer off into restricting the right of Palestinians to describe their own experiences of oppression".Labour activist and journalist Michael Segalov agreed that the NEC should adopt all the IHRA examples but with some "clarifications" because, he told Today, some of them have the potential to "veer off into restricting the right of Palestinians to describe their own experiences of oppression".
And he added: "There are some people within the Labour Party who are using this as an opportunity to have digs at Jeremy Corbyn and have digs at the Labour Party more broadly."And he added: "There are some people within the Labour Party who are using this as an opportunity to have digs at Jeremy Corbyn and have digs at the Labour Party more broadly."
Mr Corbyn has insisted there is no place for prejudice of any kind within the party, amid accusations that he has not done enough to crack down on anti-Semitic comments by members and activists.Mr Corbyn has insisted there is no place for prejudice of any kind within the party, amid accusations that he has not done enough to crack down on anti-Semitic comments by members and activists.
The Labour leader says he is committed to protecting Jewish members from abuse while allowing vigorous debate about the role of Israel in the search for peace in the Middle East and justice for the Palestinians - issues he has campaigned on for decades.The Labour leader says he is committed to protecting Jewish members from abuse while allowing vigorous debate about the role of Israel in the search for peace in the Middle East and justice for the Palestinians - issues he has campaigned on for decades.
The party endorsed the full IHRA definition of anti-Semitism when it revised its code of conduct earlier this year after protests by Jewish groups against the party's handling of the issue.The party endorsed the full IHRA definition of anti-Semitism when it revised its code of conduct earlier this year after protests by Jewish groups against the party's handling of the issue.
But it left out four of the body's 11 examples. IHRA working definition of anti-Semitism
Working definition of anti-Semitism
On 26 May 2016, the IHRA adopted the following non-legally binding working definition of anti-Semitism:
"Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews."Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.
"Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.""Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."
Labour did not adopt these examples from the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism: But Labour left out these four of the IHRA's 11 examples of what is anti-Semitism:
On the crucial issue of Israel, the IHRA has said that attacks on the state as a collective Jewish endeavour may be regarded as anti-Semitic, but criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country is not. Labour argued that it had "expanded and contextualised" these examples to provide "legally sound guidelines that a political party can apply to disciplinary cases" and in some cases had gone further than the IHRA.
Labour said it had "expanded and contextualised" the IHRA examples to provide "legally sound guidelines that a political party can apply to disciplinary cases". In an article for the Guardian last month, Mr Corbyn said: "Our actual differences are in fact very small - they really amount to half of one example out of 11, touching on free speech in relation to Israel.
In an article for the Guardian last month, Mr Corbyn said the Jewish community "should have been consulted more extensively at an earlier stage" on the wording of the code of conduct.
This was why the party had decided to take another look at the code "in consultation with Jewish community organisations and others to address their concerns", he added.
"Our actual differences are in fact very small - they really amount to half of one example out of 11, touching on free speech in relation to Israel," wrote the Labour leader.
"It is unfortunately the case that this particular example, dealing with Israel and racism, has sometimes been used by those wanting to restrict criticism of Israel that is not anti-Semitic. The Commons Home Affairs Committee acknowledged this risk when it looked at the IHRA examples.""It is unfortunately the case that this particular example, dealing with Israel and racism, has sometimes been used by those wanting to restrict criticism of Israel that is not anti-Semitic. The Commons Home Affairs Committee acknowledged this risk when it looked at the IHRA examples."
The row has seen Mr Corbyn accused of anti-Semitism by former Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks and veteran Labour MP Margaret Hodge - charges which he has strongly denied.The row has seen Mr Corbyn accused of anti-Semitism by former Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks and veteran Labour MP Margaret Hodge - charges which he has strongly denied.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews has said full adherence to the IHRA definition should be the first step in "turning the tide" of anti-Semitism within the party.The Board of Deputies of British Jews has said full adherence to the IHRA definition should be the first step in "turning the tide" of anti-Semitism within the party.
But Jewish Voice for Labour, which backs Mr Corbyn's leadership, said support for the definition was not universal.But Jewish Voice for Labour, which backs Mr Corbyn's leadership, said support for the definition was not universal.
It said it could not support it as it fell short of providing "a clear and unambiguous statement based on attitudes to Jews as Jews, not attitudes to a country, Israel".It said it could not support it as it fell short of providing "a clear and unambiguous statement based on attitudes to Jews as Jews, not attitudes to a country, Israel".
It comes amid a row over activist Peter Willsman's re-election to the NEC.It comes amid a row over activist Peter Willsman's re-election to the NEC.
Earlier this year, he suggested Jewish "Trump fanatics" were behind accusations of anti-Semitism in Labour ranks - remarks which were widely condemned and saw him disowned by the pro-Jeremy Corbyn campaign group Momentum.Earlier this year, he suggested Jewish "Trump fanatics" were behind accusations of anti-Semitism in Labour ranks - remarks which were widely condemned and saw him disowned by the pro-Jeremy Corbyn campaign group Momentum.
Mr Willsman was cheered by supporters as he arrived at Labour HQ for the NEC meeting but opponents shouted "shame on you" at him.Mr Willsman was cheered by supporters as he arrived at Labour HQ for the NEC meeting but opponents shouted "shame on you" at him.