Jeremy Corbyn

• AS campaigners for Palestinian human rights, we are dismayed by the Labour Party’s decision to suspend Jeremy Corbyn for speaking out against the report of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission into anti-Semitism in the Labour Party – for his statement that “the scale of the problem was… dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party, as well as by much of the media.”

We believe this was a breach of his right to free speech as guaranteed by the European Human Rights Commission. Ever since Corbyn became Labour leader, we have witnessed smears by media and pro-Israel supporters about “Labour anti-Semitism”.

The EHRC findings are based on 70 case studies from the period between March 2016 and May 2019. However, according to an internal Labour Party report leaked last March, until the spring of 2018, LP headquarters was controlled by a fiercely anti-Corbyn team.

According to this report, these officials repeatedly neglected anti-Semitism complaints in the Labour Party, seeking to undermine Corbyn and his radical programme, including his support for Palestinian rights.

The EHRC report alleges unwarranted interference in the internal investigations – in 23 of the 70 cases studied. But in many of the examples cited, it would appear the leader’s office was interfering not to hamper the investigations but to speed them up.

Of course anti-Semitism has grown in recent years, as has Islamophobia. And it would be surprising if this hadn’t also occurred within the Labour Party.

However in 2016, the Corbyn-commissioned Shami Chakrabarti report on anti-Semitism in the Labour Party found few genuine cases. The Home Affairs Select Committee concluded similarly that anti-Semitism was not more prevalent in the Labour Party than other parties.

In July 2019 the Skwawkbox website listed 50 cases of Corbyn standing with Jewish people. The idea that he is anti-Semitic is absurd.

While opposing all forms of genuine anti-Semitism, we should not conflate its rejection with opposition to Israel’s apartheid policies and actions towards the Palestinians.

MEMBERS OF CAMDEN PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN
SABBY SAGALL, Chair (personal capacity)
STEPHEN KAPOS
HELENA AKSENTIJEVIC
ROBERT BOYCE
JANET GREEN
ROGER HIGGINSON