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MP ‘pleased’ Nakba denial meeting cancelled: ‘No ifs, no buts’ on antisemitism
Suggested items on the agenda included whether the claim that “black boys are good dancers” is racist
Catherine West, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, has issued a statement after a Labour group in her constituency suggested discussing whether “Nikba denial” is worse than Shoah denial at a forum on antisemitism next week.
Stroud Green Labour has since apologised and cancelled the meeting, after it drew heavy criticism online after a list of suggested topics was emailed to some 700 members and comprised a number of offensive questions.
In a statement to Jewish News, West said: “I’m very pleased the local Labour meeting planned to be held last night in my constituency was cancelled and that the organisers have apologised (see Twitter).
“There are no excuses for antisemitism. No ifs no buts.”
Suggested items on the agenda included whether the claim that “black boys are good dancers” is racist and whether it is “okay to joke about Israel”.
Other questions were whether antisemitism should be treated differently to other forms of racism and whether it is still “actually possible” to rebuild trust with “the mainstream Jewish community”.
In a statement, Stroud Green Labour tweeted: “Our intention was to facilitate an informal discussion which could increase awareness and understanding about antisemitism, and a discussion about how we can combat this vile prejudice.
“But we realise that some of the questions accompanying the notice of the meeting were offensive and insensitive.“We wholeheartedly and sincerely apologise to the Jewish community. Yours in solidarity.”
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