Why is Starmer Standing by Azhar Ali?

[Dogfisher]

AIBU to think that he should be out on his ear for his blatant anti-Semitism? I actually thought that Starmer was dealing with this in the LP - but this seems to suggest otherwise.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/12/labour-criticised-for-backing-rochdale-candidate-after-offensive-israel-remark

Here you go, once again: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68280098

On Monday evening, the Daily Mail published a fuller recording, allegedly of Mr Ali, blaming "people in the media from certain Jewish quarters" for the suspension of Andy McDonald from the Labour Party.

Will you now state you are embarrassed to have defended this man, and condemn his words?

That is not in the quote we are discussing.

You can't be clumsy on this stuff. He's a public figure, and went with a conspiracy theory. Not up to it

The comment is saying that there is a vocal group calling for such criticism to be labelled antisemitic.
It's quite a leap to interpret that as 'Jews are controlling the media'.

The comments were bigoted, and encourage hatred towards the British Jewish community.

"as is evident from this thread, there is a significant pressure coming from some parts of the Jewish community"
You cannot see religion through a screen, any more than you can see colour. Why on earth do you think Jewish people are the only people supporting Jewish people's right to not be abused? Jewish people are valued and welcome members of British society throughout this country, it is still thankfully a minority who think like you. I tell you what we can see through your words though, and that's your character.

It's a theory which is being widely circulated in the media, he doesn't say he believes it just that he has heard it. I have heard it too. I neither believe this or believe it to be impossible. Not because I think 'Jews are bloodthirsty ' or any such nonsense, but because it would absolutely for with a pattern of very bloodthirsty behaviour by the Israeli government.
Again I feel this boils down to 'he said something negative about Israel, therefore he must be antisemitic, therefore sack him'.

You can comment negatively on actions of individuals or groups, without it being driven by hatred or racism.

@HelloWorldItsNiceToMeetYou rather academic now isn't it?

'clumsy' is an interesting word to use.

Of course Jewish people are values and welcome members of society. Nobody has suggested otherwise.
You seem to have an outlook that anyone who does not think in exactly the same way as you is lesser...that is bigotry pure and simple.
If Jewish people are experiencing abuse due to what is happening in Israel (and I am aware of report of this) that is absolutely wrong. However, condemning the actions of Israel is not an example of abuse.
As for personal comments about my character, hmm it seems like your prejudice and bigotry is coming out.

Inarticulately explained. Is that better?

Did you mean to quote a comment?

@HelloWorldItsNiceToMeetYou

That is not credible if you want to be a MP and are tasked with representing everyone. This guy is not morally up to the job

Antisemitic conspiracy is not welcome

It has been quoted for you multiple times that this man referred to Jewish media in his conspiracy theory. Stop pretending that all the comments were about Israel when they were not, and you know very well that they were not because you have seen the quotes.

You haven't linked to anything with the phrase 'Jewish media'.

Offensive, inaccurate and anti-semitic would be better.

It is a criticism of the Israeli government rather than anti-Semitic. Offensive? If you are a member of the Israeli government maybe.
It can only be offensive to all Jewish people, if you are working on the premise that criticism of the Israeli government is a criticism of all Jewish people. I reject that. I despise the Israeli government's actions. I have absolutely no negative feelings towards people who are Jewish. I judge people who support the actions of Israel negatively.

I summarised the quote "media from certain jewish quarters", which was given up the thread many times.
Maybe the Daily Mail is easier for you to understand?
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13075993/anti-Semitic-comments-Labours-Rochdale-candidate-Sir-Keir-Starmer-ditch-man.html
in the recording, Mr Ali said Mr McDonald 'shouldn't have been suspended' before adding: 'The media – and some of the people in the media from certain Jewish quarters – were giving crap about what he said.'

Or listen for yourself: www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/02/13/azhar-ali-audio-recording-labour-party-rochdale-by-election/.

Why issue this apology then?

Some people think that nothing short of murdering Jewish people while screaming 'I hate jews' can be anti-Semitic.

Although given some of the comments I've seen about 7/10, maybe not even then.

That's why I keep posting this one remark, because this is really just the easiest example of all. If anyone can't spot the anti semitism in what Ali said, they will not see it anywhere.

HelloWorld you are blatantly wrong here. I wonder what your motivation is for posting this stuff? I would be ashamed.

This thread reminds me of one of the TERF / gender wars threads.

Everyone shouting and people being 'disgusted' at others having nuanced views of the situations.

It seems like many on here are pro Israel no matter what, and they don't really care about the Labour Party candidates, it's just another opportunity to take the moral high ground about racism and antisemitism (regardless of whether justified) with a 'no debate' mentality.
I find a lot of the pro-trans enclave to be exactly the same.