Jeremy Corbyn: anti Semite?

[winkywinkola]

My in laws, who are Jewish, believe he is. All their pals and relatives do too.

Friends with Hamas, they say.

Is he? I don't know what to think.

[JimmyGrimble]

No he isn't. It's a slur.
Neither is he 'friends with Hamas'.
He has said repeatedly that he doesn't agree with Hamas or Hezbollah but any meaningful peace process in the Middle East will have to include them.
Criticism of the Israeli state is being equated with anti semitism in some quarters. This is wrong.

[SunEgg]

Agree with Jimmy, he isn't an anti-semite.

[Bigbiscuits]

I don't know if he is an anti Semite.

But he shrugs in the face of antisemitism.

[missyB1]

No he isn't but it suits some people to say he is.

[Bigbiscuits]

Missy - which people does it suit? Jewish people?

[originalbiglymavis]

Although I believe he isn't, he has not been seen to come down like a ton of bricks on party members/MPs who have been shown to be. That is very disappointing.

[missyB1]

bigbiscuits those who just want to smear his name at any opportunity.

[MunchMunch]

When he called Hamas "friends" he said he was using inclusive language. He isn't their friend nor does he condone their actions.

[Thiscantreallybehappening]

on okay then

[QuiteUnfitBit]

I think it's a slur really.

But When he called Hamas "friends" he said he was using inclusive language. He isn't their friend nor does he condone their actions.

Inclusive language, like he says he's going to spend heaps of money on everything everyone wants, but only the top 5% will pay more.

[claraschu]

Israel govt policy =/= Jewish people
You can be critical of one without being critical of the culture and faith of the other.
I am Jewish and I like Corbyn

[namechange20050]

I'm Jewish and I think Jeremy Corbyn is great. He has stated that he was using inclusive language towards Hamas by using the terms 'friends'. He has also said that in hindsight he shouldn't have done so. I'm happy with that. You don't get too many politicians holding their hands up & saying they were wrong.

[gillybeanz]

I have friends that are Jewish, live in Prestwich and Whalley range, they are all voting labour, and think his straight talking is great.

[TolpuddleFarterOATB]

Hmm I can't say for sure whether he is or he isn't, but I'm not too impressed with him commissioning Shami Chakrabarti to write the report on anti-semitism within the party, which was a bit of a white-wash, and then all of sudden she is appointed to his team....

[paddypants13]

Interesting. Thanks for starting this thread Winky. I am confused about who to vote for and anti semitism was one of my concerns about JC. I'm not Jewish but don't want a politician in power who is anti a particular religious group.

[FloofyCat]

Clara and namechange, can I ask you how you feel about the recent Ken Livingstone affair? Personally I am very disappointed that he hasn't been expelled from the Labour Party, it's not the first time by far that he has made comments which are tasteless at best and anti Semitic at worst. Coupled with the Chakrabati report I can see how people don't have faith that JC addresses or will address anti Semitic views held by people within the Labour Party.

I am trying to avoid being sucked into the endless political threads but this aspect of JC's leadership does make me feel uncomfortable, and it's interesting to hear Jewish peoples' views on this.

[samG76]

Gillybeans - they're voting Labour in Prestwich because the candidate is a committed Zionist who hates Corbyn and was sacked by text for suggesting Labour has an antisemitism problem.

I don't know any practising Jews who have any time for Corbyn. In the recent hustings the Labour candidate was far ruder about Corbyn than the Tory. I don't think a vote for them could be considered a pro-Corbyn vote.

[lydiarose]

Rubbish!

[cingolimama]

I don't think that he's personally anti-Semitic, but he tolerates anti-semitism within the party. Which makes me, a lifelong Labour supporter for thirty years, not want to vote for him.

[winkywinkola]

My h and sil are Jewish. Natural Labour voters but they loathe Corbyn. They don't trust him at all. They feel he's not done enough to quash the anti Semitic sentiment in the Labour Party.

Sil is in Prestwich and is voting Tory. Only because LibDems won't win, she says.

[sysysysref]

He might not be anti-Semitic but he has done absolutely nothing to quell the levels of anti-semitism on the party. I think that he has a little laugh "oh those silly little Jews, making a fuss again". There is a definite anti Semitic stance in the wider membership, you only have to look at the vile tweets Emma Barnett received after the Women's hour interview. I know NO Jews who are voting for Corbyn, the latest figures I saw suggest that he has 18% support in the Jewish community. Frankly I'm surprised it's that high.

[FuzzyPillow]

Although I believe he isn't, he has not been seen to come down like a ton of bricks on party members/MPs who have been shown to be. That is very disappointing.

Ditto IRA sympathising.

I think actually what he has a problem with is saying that specific anti-establishment groups are wrong?

[GplanAddict]

Did anyone notice on QT the other night that when the question came to Shami Chikrabati on anti-semitism in the party she sighed and rolled her eyes?? I couldn't believe it! It made me question my vote ...but then the words she chose to answer the question were spot on. I felt her expression and what she was actually saying were poles apart!

[Stolengoat]

He just tells people what he thinks they want to hear like, you can all have free stuff, we know how much it will cost but we don't have the figure in front of us at the minute lol

[madamginger]

I know a lot of Jewish people in Prestwich who voted Tory because of Corbyn, including my boss. She feels he is a great threat to Israel and Jews. She said it was the first time she didn't vote for Ivan Lewis.