Ken Livingstone says Israel’s creation was a ‘great catastrophe’
The ex-London Mayor claimed Jews should have been absorbed by Europe and America as opposed to going to Israel
Ken Livingstone has been strongly criticised for saying the creation of Israel was “a great catastrophe.”
The former London Mayor is reported to have made the comments on Arabic TV station Al Ghad Al Arabi in mid-April, before he was suspended from the Party last week for claiming Hitler had ‘supported Zionism ‘.
During the clip which was translated by Memri TV, he says: The creation of the state of Israel was fundamentally wrong, because there had been a Palestinian community there for 2,000 years.” Memri are dedicated to “bridging the language gap” between Middle Eastern regions and the West’, according to the Independent.
The controversial left-winger also said that post-Holocaust Jewish refugees should have been “absorbed” by Britain and America, instead of going to Israel.
“They could all have been resettled, whereas 70 years later, the situation is still very tense, and there is potential for many more wars, potential for nuclear war.”
Board of Deputies of British Jews President Jonathan Arkush said: “It is beyond comprehension that Ken Livingstone should disgrace himself with his crank history, littered with revisionism and distortion to justify his bigotry – particularly on the eve of crucial elections.
“Before he does any more damage to his reputation or that of the Labour Party, he should leave politics, for good.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
