Jeremy Corbyn faces backlash over comments about UK Zionists
The antisemitism row engulfing Labour took another turn after a video emerged of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn saying certain Zionists had "no sense of English irony".
The video, which was published by the Daily Mail yesterday, shows comments Corbyn made at a 2013 conference that was reportedly promoted by Hamas' website.
Referring to a speech in parliament by Palestinian ambassador Manuel Hassassian on the history of Palestine, Corbyn said a group of Zionists surrounded the speaker and "berated" him afterwards.
In the video, Corbyn says:
This was dutifully recorded by the, thankfully silent, Zionists who were in the audience on that occasion, and then came up and berated him afterwards for what he had said.
They clearly have two problems. One is they don't want to study history, and secondly, having lived in this country for a very long time, probably all their lives, they don't understand English irony either.
They needed two lessons, which we could perhaps help them with.
Labour MP Luciana Berger slammed Corbyn on Twitter, writing: "The video released today of the leader of Labour making inexcusable comments – defended by a party spokesman – makes me as a proud British Jew feel unwelcome in my own party. I’ve lived in Britain all my life and I don’t need any lessons in history/irony."
The head of external affairs at Jewish education and training institution World ORT, Marcus Dysch, added: "Unambiguous antisemitic hate from Corbyn, a terrorist-sympathising, purge-orchestrating, fear-mongering, unaccountable, piece of work who should never have been allowed to lead a once-great party. Is it any wonder British Jews despair as this saga drags on?"
Chair of the Jewish Leadership Council Jonathan Goldstein also had choice words for the Labour leader.
"So Jeremy Corbyn believes that British Zionists (for which read Jews) do not possess normal British characteristics," he tweeted. "The only thing 'un- British' are Mr Corbyn’s views. His politics do not reflect the tolerance, fairness and inclusivity from which we have all benefitted."
A Labour spokesperson said: "Jeremy is totally opposed to all forms of antisemitism and is determined to drive it out from society. At this event, he was referring to a group of pro-Israel activists misunderstanding and then criticising the Palestinian ambassador for a speech at a separate event about the occupation of the West Bank."