The Boris Johnson interview: PM vows to tackle antisemitism and Islamophobia
Speaking to the Jewish News today, Johnson dismissed charges that he used 'selective outrage' about antisemitism as 'rather unfair'
Jenni Frazer is a freelance journalist
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed that if re-elected he will “crack down on all varieties of antisemitism and prejudice, including Islamophobia,” and pledged that an inquiry on varying forms of racism would “start before the end of the year and be entirely independent”.
Speaking to the Jewish News this week, Johnson dismissed charges that he used “selective outrage” about antisemitism as “rather unfair”. He cited both his Jewish and Muslim antecedents in his defence. His comments came after a group styling themselves “Jews Against Boris” took out a full-page advert in the Jewish Chronicle which attacked the prime minister for “openly appealing to the far-right to secure power. He is demonising minorities, promoting discriminatory policies and undermining the democratic safeguards that we rely on”.
Thirty-five years ago Mr Johnson was a volunteer on Kibbutz Kfar Hanassi, and, although he has visited Israel many times since, he said his stint in the “steamy environment” of washing-up in the kibbutz kitchens had laid the foundations of his love of Israel. Not, he hastened to clarify, that he had embraced the “socialist ideal” of the kibbutz.
But the prime minister did not accept criticism that he had been the architect behind Britain’s tough United Nations resolution just over three years ago, denouncing Israel’s settlement policy. “We were merely echoing Britain’s policy [on settlements],” he insisted. “The best way forward is a two-state solution”.
He did not respond to a question about how Britain might act now that President Trump has announced that American policy was no longer against settlements.
The prime minister was on happier ground when it came to denouncing payments in the Palestinian territories for the families of terrorists. He said that such payments were “completely wrong: we should not be bankrolling terror.” If he wins the election, he said, he would insist on “more stringent conditions attached” and a “much closer scrutiny” of money given to the Palestinian administration.
He also said he would not be inclined to follow the Labour pledge of recognising the state of Palestine as an early act in government. A Conservative government would not recognise a Palestinian state unless there were more moves towards peace from the Palestinians, he said.
Johnson this week reaffirmed his support for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, adopted in full by the Conservative Party in 2016.
“Britain’s Jews will always have my support and that of the Government I lead,” he wrote.
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.