Does Labour have a problem with Anti-semitism?

krish

No need to wait ...
Chuka Umunna: "Labour is shedding BME votes at the most alarming rate"

Toko Black

- Edited for balance -

Human beings as a whole are naturally bigoted, tribalistic and prejudicial against other groups they don't identify with as a default evolved response.
We as a species have however moved beyond being part of isolated packs into wider communities of local, national and even international societies.
Through education, knowledge and experience, we endeavor to control and suppress many of our inbuilt evolved responses that are no longer compatible with the social situations and communities we find ourselves in.
There are significant numbers of people who through a lack of education, knowledge, experience or environment (being surrounded by others with particular prejudicial views culturally or ideologically) as well as those that struggle to suppress or keep their instinctive responses under control.

Compare the public attitudes towards abortion, homosexuality, atheism etc in NI with that of England. It is not dissimilar to the difference in Muslim attitudes on the same issues in contrast with the England as a whole.
Yet we tend to focus on those issues as setting apart and being critical of Muslim communities whilst hardly mentioning those issues in relation to NI at all.

That doesn't mean we have to excuse those attitudes and behaviors, just lets be a little more open, honest and balanced in who comes under our criticism.
If something is wrong it is wrong, if we are willing to overlook or play down wrong doing by one group we should not punish or castigate another group for doing the same..... and more importantly, if we believe punishing one group for doing something wrong, we must punish any others that do the same.

robel

Unfortunately its widespread in the Arab ME, promoted at government level, through schools and religious schools and even TV shows and debates.

Toko Black

The 48% of Israeli Jews say that Arabs should be transported or expelled from Israel.

robel

Labour has secretly suspended 50 members for anti-Semitic and racist comments

"A senior source within the party told The Daily Telegraph that the problem went much further and the compliance unit has actually suspended 50 members  in the past two months."

robel

I dare say there are plenty of Israeli's who have had enough terrorism to last a lifetime and wish for the quiet life, finally.

Hate is however and well documented in the Arab world through the education system and the UNRWA, through TV shows, through government, Mein Kampf being a best seller, Holocaust denial and Holocaust cartoon competitions, hysterical one sided motions past at the UN, day in day out against Israel when thousands are being killed elsewhere and all because of the Islamic voting bloc there.

On the up side Israel tries to show a human side, like helping Syrians wounded in the their conflict, travelling the world to assist in disaster areas, helping refugees when they arrive at Lesbos. Some amazing stories out there of people escaping places like Darfour in order to get to Israel. Israel is a country full of refugees who have escaped persecution from around the world, regardless of religion and colour.

Just the other week, a young Syrian girl escaped the conflict and needed treatment, she went to Israel for this. The Doctors there discovered she also had, I think bone marrow cancer, they refused to let her leave. They found a relative of hers in Syria who could donate. They organized a mission to bring the relative to Israel and they carried out a life saving operation. There are countless stories like this.

Its ironic that both the PA and Hamas choose to send their relatives to hospitals in Israel when they need medical care.

Thankfully Israel continues to thrive and blossom despite various genocidal threats from those peaceful people around them.

Toko Black

So that justifies a majority support for ethnic cleansing ?

There is no question that countries based around theocracies tend to be significantly more prejudiced against other races, creeds etc. and that this is a major problem for humanity.

However, the fundamental debate here is whether Naz Sha was anti-semitic and deserves to be punished for suggesting if Israel was moved to the US, ie the relocation of Israeli Jews to live in America it would be better for the middle east - along with Ken Livingstone being called anti-semitic for defending Sha.

Yet here you are brushing off and justifying nearly half the Israel Jewish population being in favor of ethnic cleansing.

It is hypocrisy of the highest and most disgusting order imho.

Cliff

You have to be a bit pragmatic about this.
We can make changes in own country but can do little in other areas.

For instance anti Israel / anti Jew is pretty much taught in many Muslim countries from primary school up. It is ingrained. I know that if I talk to any average Muslim in the middle east or Pakistan, they will tell you that Israel is the enemy and the root of all evil. We cannot do anything about that from the UK.

If you speak to more politically thinking Arabs they will concede that actually the greatest enemy is Iran. But that is quite a jump as it goes against common wisdom.

What you describe in N.I. hardly compares, but we do have the power to change attitudes there.

In the UK, where we have immigrants and religion that have brought in anti-Semitism, it must be stamped down on. We also have Islamic schools supported with Arab money and we must not turn a blind eye to what is being taught in these schools.

We have to take action against this because, at worst, it culminates in a Paris style attack..

Corbyn needs to man-up, and not sit on the fence. Because the present revelations, and his past associations, are increasingly seen as a leader overlooking anti-Semitism.

Toko Black

I totally agree.

But just like certain members of the Muslim community and their apologists that cry prejudice and intolerance when any criticism is directed at issues surrounding Islam, muslims or muslim countries, members of the Jewish community and their apologists do precisely the same.

We should stamp down on prejudice and intolerance - full stop. Not allow it in some areas and not others.


I am extremely anti-religious/faith based education for the very reasons of promoting insular, prejudicial world views that are not compatible with the secular ethics and morality of most western democracies today.

Cliff

Oh, hadn't noticed