AIBU to be concerned about Green candidates and antisemitism?

[Twiglets1]

Ironically, given that the Green party is led by a Jewish man, the party has become home to political candidates causing distress and fear for many in the Jewish community.

Dr Phil Brookes, the Green Party candidate for Manor Park, Newcastle stated in a social media post that “it takes serious effort not to be a tiny bit anti-Semitic”.

Then there’s Sabine Mairey, the Green candidate for Clapham Town in south London. She posted a video on social media stating that a terrorist attack on a synagogue was “not anti-Semitism” but “revenge”.

Councillor Hau-Yu Tam is the Green candidate in the Deptford ward of Lewisham. She has expressed support for her “brilliant comrade and lawyer” Franck Magennis whose law firm Riverway to the Sea has sought the de-proscription of Hamas – the anti-Semitic terrorist group responsible for the mass murder and rape of October 7. She said she was extremely proud of Magennis for “blazing the way on this intervention”.

Ifhat Shaheen is a Green candidate in Stoke Newington. She has defended the October 7 attacks and suggested that Israel is harvesting organs from Palestinians.

Also in London is council candidate Saiqa Ali who posted an image of the Earth being strangled by a snake clothed in an Israeli flag, accompanied by the caption “It’s time to cut the head of this snake”.

Chandni Chopra is the Green Party candidate for Heaton, Newcastle. She has questioned whether Hamas used rape during their attacks despite the horrific evidence and previously described Zionism as a “mental illness”.

A second irony is that many Green Party voters will pride themselves on their anti-racist credentials. Why then is there growing support for a party whose candidates expressed such overt racism towards one of Britain’s minority communities?

We have moved from Corbyn being in charge of the assumed anti-Semitic party to now Polanski. So Corbyn was removed from being the danger to the right wing parties and now Polanski is the danger to the right wing parties it’s suggesting that he needs removing.

So as far as anti-semitism goes is the assumption in the Jewish community that left wing is bad and right wing is good?

Forgive my ignorance but this puzzles me as surely the nazi party were fascist and fascist is right wing? So you’d assume that the beliefs of right wing parties are more dangerous to minorities including Jews.

What is the structure of this change? And does this now mean that Jewish people would avoid left wing politics.

Sorry If I sound ignorant but this doesn’t make sense to me.

Extreme right wing and extreme left wing have an awful lot in common.

I’m going to vote for them. Opposing Israeli politics and violence isn’t antisemitic.

I feel like this smear campaign - like the similar one against Jeremy Corbyn - is from a frightened right wing terrified of liberal populism gaining momentum (no pun intended).

Zack needs to realise his ‘not like the other Jews’ posturing would count for absolutely zero to the extremists he’s courting. At best he’s a useful idiot.

Anti-semitism isn’t a left or right issue. It’s found on both sides and more so at the extremes.

The Green party was more of a force for good with Caroline Lucas as leader than it is now.
I have even voted Green a couple of times in those days.

I wonder if some people don't realise how much its values have changed.

Also some people seem unable to disconnect the Israeli leadership, which is hateful, from ordinary Jewish people who are trying to live ordinary peaceful lives like every decent person.

Where is the intelligence of Green (in its present form) supporters?
Even intelligence isn't needed here, just common sense.

I feel like this smear campaign - like the similar one against Jeremy Corbyn - is from a frightened right wing terrified of liberal populism

Of course you do.

You don't sound ignorant, it is honestly quite confusing.

Left wing used to be associated with anti racism but the extremes of both Left wing (the Green party) and Right (Reform) both seem racist now but in different ways.

Though I'm a "floating voter" and don't yet know who I will be voting for at the next general election, I will definitely be sticking to a more moderate party in the middle of those two extremes.

Edited to say I've just realised your question was more directed at Jewish people and I'm not Jewish but anyway - that's my thinking.

Fair enough you oppose Israeli politics and the war.

But don't you think people should care more about what happens in the UK in a UK election, than what happens in other countries? These people could potentially be running the country and their stance on Gaza won't help them to do that effectively.

The green party has lost it's way. The anti-seminitism is worrying. So is the misogyny. This is a party who are still beating the 'trans men are women' agenda.
I'm not sure where their focus on green issues went but the direction they're heading in isn't one I would vote for.

What do you mean 'deep Islamist streak'? It sounds like a slur to me and you sound Islamophobic.

Would it be acceptable to say, 'The tories are an abomination and appear to have a deep Jewish streak'?
I dont think either anti-semitism or Islamophobia should be acceptable within our politics nor on social media discussion boards.

Would it be acceptable to say, 'The tories are an abomination and appear to have a deep Jewish streak'?

You mean like at least one of their candidates has said?

Tbh I lump the Greens in with Reform, 2 sides of the same coin

Two shits in the same nappy, someone called them.

😂😂

Two cheeks of the same arse.

Why should we care more about people in the UK who are safe and well more than people who are oppresses, murdered and ethnically cleansed out of existence?

We aren’t all completely self centred. Some of us care more about using our vote to support people who desperately need recognition rather than supporting people who are getting on fine.

It's not being "self centred" to care about the country you live in, for God's sake.

It's perfectly normal behaviour. You voting Green won't help people in Gaza one jot so it's performative nonsense.

I think he's awful. Also our Labour council is awful and I know and like the local green candidate. Apparently they don't whip their councillors, so I think I will hold my nose at the local level, but would never vote for them nationally or for say regional mayor with h

@ACynicalDad I think it's fair enough for people to vote for the best local councillor in local elections.

For general elections though, I think people should take into account the fact that the Green party have several antisemitic candidates that they have failed to suspend so presumably as a political party, they don't have a problem with antisemitism.

@BollyMolly it's a local election. You're voting for people to take decisions about local planning, manage adult social care and fix potholes.

They clearly don't have a problem with antisemitism. That's the only reason they've got the tit whisperer as their puppet leader; they haven't chosen him for his intellect, economic know how, charisma, solid respectable professional background or leadership skills. He's a mask for their antisemitism and that of their supporters. He's the political embodiment of "some of my best friends are black".

I don't believe anyone doesn't realise this.

God know they haven't chosen him for his Hollywood smile.

One of my neighbours is standing as a Green candidate at the local elections, he is a really nice man.I was going to vote for him but after spending a lot of time pondering and thinking about it I have decided that I can't because it would feel like I was endorsing the parties anti semitism and I just can't do that

Good to see the consensus is against the Greens and recognition of what they have become. It's really sad to see, I remember them in the 90's with their strong stance against animal testing, festival association, clean living and seeing their old logo on the back of cars :) I would always secretly look up to Green voters for their cool hip attitude to life (I was brought up in a conservative household but always wanted to vote green). What they have become now is frightening.