Jewish leaders refuse to meet Corbyn as relations reach new low
Representative of a major communal body offered an unequivocal ‘no’ when asked if they would take up an offer to meet - as relations plummet to a new low
Justin Cohen is the News Editor at the Jewish News
Jewish community leaders have indicated they will refuse offers to meet Jeremy Corbyn as relations between the Leader of the Opposition and the Jewish community reached a new low.
Corbyn tonight issued an unprecedented statement saying “sorry” for the anti-Semitism in “pockets” of Labour – and said he would be meeting representatives of the Jewish community in the coming days, weeks and months to rebuild “confidence in Labour as a party which gives effective voice to Jewish concerns”.
But within minutes Jewish leaders indicated they would not meet him at this time. A representative of one major communal body offered an unequivocal ‘no’ when asked if they would take up such an offer.
It comes two weeks after former Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks told the Jewish News he would not hold talks with Corbyn until more had been done to show zero tolerance meant just that.
One source said: “this statement is the first scintilla if progress but we’ve had to wait three years for this. He needs to do more before a meeting can take place.”
READ MORE:
- Sadiq Khan turns up heat on Corbyn: Labour anti-Semitism ‘depressing, saddening and unacceptable’
- Corbyn siding with anti-Semites rather than Jews, say community leaders
- Jeremy Corbyn: I’m sincerely sorry for pain and hurt caused by ant-Semitism
- Sajid Javid challenges Jeremy Corbyn to debate anti-Semitism in Parliament
- OPINION: Jews on the left deserve better than this sorry mess
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.