Jewish leaders refuse to meet Corbyn as relations reach new low

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:

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• 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