Corbyn criticises Sultana over IHRA capitulation remarks
In latest sign of tension between the co-leaders of new left-wing party Corbyn says it 'wasn't really necessary for her to bring all that up'
Jeremy Corbyn has criticised Zarah Sultana, his co-leader in a new left-wing political party, after she accused him of previously capitulating over the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
In the latest sign of tension between the two MPs, Corbyn said:” I think it wasn’t really necessary for her to bring all that up in the interview, but that’s what she decided to do.”
Outlining his own criticism of the IHRA definition, the Islington North MP added:”I think a definition that requires examples to give it life and legs shows to me there’s something badly wrong with the definition in the first place.”
Last weekend, after she was asked about what policies the provisionally named Your Party would seek to adopt, Sultana had said:”We have to build on the strengths of Corbynism – its energy, mass appeal and bold policy platform – and we also have to recognise its limitations.
“It capitulated to the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which famously equates it with anti-Zionism, and which even its lead author Kenneth Stern has now publicly criticised.”
Sultana later posted on X that she is “loudly and proudly… an anti-Zionist”.
Responding to her remarks in his own interview with Middle East Eye, Corbyn said that while Labour had adopted the IHRA definition when he was leader he was “more in favor of the Jerusalem Declaration.”
He said this definition is “simply saying that antisemitism is wrong.”
“It is wrong to be antisemitic,” added Corbyn, ” and it is perfectly possible to discuss the politics and behavior of the State of Israel without being antisemitic.
“People do that all the time. Indeed, many people in Israel do that all the time.”
Corbyn makes his criticism of the examples of possible antisemitism which are used in the IHRA defintion, despite multiple defintions of Isalmophobia – including the APPG on British Muslims – also containing their own examples of anti-Muslim prejudice.
Last month, after Sultana went public over the launch of Your Party and her role as its co-leader, sources close to Corbyn claimed he was frustrated the Coventry South MP had made the announcement.
It is claimed Corbyn had not committed to the idea of a new party or agreed that the pair should be co-leaders when Sultana broke ranks with her announcement.
Despite his one-sided stance in support of the Palestinians, Corbyn has never declared himself to be an anti-Zionist. Meanwhile Sultana’s anti-Zionist stance appears to be a new found position.
Jewish News also revealed that in 2019 she had also willingly signed a petition in support of the IHRA definition.
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