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The U.K. is finally taking the Labour Party’s anti-Semitism seriously. Here’s why Jews everywhere should care.

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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking during a visit to the Regents Park Mosque in London, May 19, 2019. (Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images)
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking during a visit to the Regents Park Mosque in London, May 19, 2019. (Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images)

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking during a visit to the Regents Park Mosque in London, May 19, 2019. (Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images)

(JTA) – On a recent speaking tour in North America, I was asked repeatedly about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn.

Corbyn’s Labour has become an existential threat to British Jews, and audiences smartly inquired what could be done to stop growing anti-Semitism in U.K. politics from endangering Britain’s Jews.

We hear from members of our community constantly that they are preparing to leave the country should Corbyn become prime minister. [Read more…]

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British Labour Party official suspended for saying Israeli embassy ‘whips up’ anti-Semitism claims

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Jeremy Corbyn leads the British Labour Party. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)

Jeremy Corbyn leads the British Labour Party. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)

(JTA) – Britain’s Labour Party suspended one of its top officials after he was recorded accusing the Israeli embassy of “whipping up” anti-Semitism claims against the movement’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn.

Peter Willsman, a member of the party’s National Executive Committee, was suspended Friday morning, the Jewish News of London reported. [Read more…]

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Labour anti-Semitism probe is punishment for party’s pro-Palestinian stance, U.K. ex-minister says

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(JTA) – A former Labour Party cabinet minister suggested that a British government watchdog’s inquiry into anti-Semitism in her party is meant to punish supporters of the Palestinian struggle.

Clare Short, who served under former prime minister Tony Blair, said Tuesday on the BBC that the inquiry by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, or EHRC, owes to how “anyone who is sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinians is called anti-Semitic” and “a widening of the definition of anti-Semitism to include criticism of Israel.” [Read more…]

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British government watchdog launches Labour Party anti-Semitism probe

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A van transports a billboard about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party on London's Parliament Square, April 17, 2018. (Cnaan Liphshiz)
A van transports a billboard about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party on London's Parliament Square, April 17, 2018. (Cnaan Liphshiz)

A van transports a billboard about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party on London’s Parliament Square, April 17, 2018. (Cnaan Liphshiz)

(JTA) – The United Kingdom’s foremost government watchdog on racism has officially launched an investigation into the Labour Party’s anti-Semitism problem.

The move, announced Tuesday, is unprecedented in that it focuses an official government inquiry on racism and hate speech into one of the county’s oldest parties, which used to be regarded as mainstream and moderate. [Read more…]

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British Jewish group demands investigation into Labour Party’s ‘endemic anti-Jewish’ behaviour

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Jeremy Corbyn addresses the crowd in Trafalgar Square in London, England, July 13, 2018. (NIKLAS HALLEN/AFP/Getty Images)

British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses the crowd in Trafalgar Square in London, England, July 13, 2018. (NIKLAS HALLEN/AFP/Getty Images)

(JTA) – A Jewish advocacy group in London has accused the British Labour Party of “endemic anti-Jewish behaviour” and wants the government to investigate.

The report by Labour Against Anti-Semitism contains “15,000 screenshots taken from hundreds of Labour members ‘and officials’ promoting anti-Semitic views.” It was submitted to the British Equality and Human Rights Commission and seeks a “full-scale anti-Semitism probe.” [Read more…]

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Jeremy Corbyn wrote foreword praising book that says Jews control banks and press

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Jeremy Corbyn leads the British Labour Party. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)

Jeremy Corbyn leads the British Labour Party. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)

(JTA) – British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote a foreword to a book that says that banks and the press were controlled by Jews.

Corbyn wrote the foreword praising the new edition of JA Hobson’s 1902 book Imperialism: A Study, for a new edition issued in 2011. He wrote the foreword four years before he became head of the Labour Party, whose leaders have been accused of tolerating anti-Semitism in the party’s ranks and even encouraging it with anti-Israel as well as what some have deemed anti-Semitic rhetoric. [Read more…]

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British Labour Party MP attributes beating of imprisoned Guatemalan boy by soldier to Israeli army

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Official portrait of Grahame Morris (Chris McAndrew - UK Parliament)
Official portrait of Grahame Morris (Chris McAndrew - UK Parliament)

Official portrait of Grahame Morris (Chris McAndrew – UK Parliament)

(JTA) – A Labour Party member of parliament from the United Kingdom attributed to Israel the beating of an imprisoned Guatemalan boy by a soldier, then apologized.

Grahame Morris on Monday posted the four-year-old video on Twitter, adding: “Marvellous, absolutely marvellous the Israeli Army, the best financed, best trained, best equipped army in the world caught on camera beating up Palestinian children for the fun of it. May God forgive them.” [Read more…]

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan joins Jewish Labour movement

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan (Rob Stothard/Getty Images)
London Mayor Sadiq Khan (Rob Stothard/Getty Images)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan (Rob Stothard/Getty Images)

(JTA) – The Muslim mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, joined the Jewish Labour Movement as an associate member in solidarity with British Jews.

In a statement last week, Khan called on his colleagues in the Labour Party to follow suit and said he took the action to demonstrate “support and appreciation” for British Jews. [Read more…]

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Jeremy Corbyn in recording casts doubt on British Labour Party’s ability to review complaints of anti-Semitism

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Jeremy Corbyn leads the British Labour Party. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)
Jeremy Corbyn leads the British Labour Party. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)

Jeremy Corbyn leads the British Labour Party. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)

(JTA) – British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn admitted privately that evidence of anti-Semitism in the party has been “mislaid, ignored or not used,” The Sunday Times reported.

Corbyn made the admission during a meeting in February with Jewish Labour lawmaker Margaret Hodge, which was secretly recorded. [Read more…]

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British Labour Party has failed to investigate hundreds of anti-Semitism cases, leaked emails show

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Members of the British Jewish community holding a protest against anti-Semitism in the Labour party, outside the British Houses of Parliament in central London, March 26, 2018. (Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images)
Members of the British Jewish community holding a protest against anti-Semitism in the Labour party, outside the British Houses of Parliament in central London, March 26, 2018. (Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images)

Members of the British Jewish community holding a protest against anti-Semitism in the Labour party, outside the British Houses of Parliament in central London, March 26, 2018. (Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images)

(JTA) – Britain’s Labour Party has failed to investigate and discipline hundreds of anti-Semitism cases, according to a leak of party emails.

The Sunday Times reported that of 863 complaints overall made by March 8, 2019, 454 are unresolved, including 249 where the party has not yet opened an investigation, as well as 176 ongoing investigations. [Read more…]

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