Pro-Gaza MP suggests Shoah victims could have been offered ‘land for a homeland in Europe’
Blackburn MP Adnan Hussain was attempting to defend Jeremy Corbyn's position on Zionism
Blackburn MP Adnan Hussain has appeared to suggest Jewish victims of the Nazi Holocaust could have been provided “with land for a homeland, in Europe” rather than in Israel during an online debate about Zionism.
The independent MP, elected on the back of his support for the Palestinian cause, made the claim as he sought to defend Jeremy Corbyn’s stance in relation to Israel and Palestine after tensions broke out amongst supporters of the new left-wing Your Party.
Hussain responded to criticism by notorious ex-Momentum activist Jackie Walker in a post on X, after she highlighted Corbyn’s failure to take an openly anti-Zionist position like co-leader of the new party Zarah Sultana.
Walker, who was expelled from Labour over claims including antisemitism, said:”We are talking about Zionism now not in some mythological space.
“How can a Jewish homeland be established without settler colonialism and supremacy?”
Hussain wrote:”The question is actually complicated and not black and white.
“You can believe the Jewish people, especially after the horrors of the Holocaust, had the right to a homeland, and simultaneously be utterly opposed to a settler colonial project ethnically cleansing and committing genocide against the Palestinians.
“Who in their right mind is going to doubt JC is opposed to that? He’s dedicated his whole life to opposing it, and has paid a very heavy price.”
The MP added that he was”extremely suspicious of the motives behind the people asking for a quick sound bite of a clear-cut yes or no” in regards to Corbyn’s position on anti-Zionism.
Hussain then suggested:”Europe could have atoned for its evil and provided its victims with land for a homeland, in Europe.
“This is why it’s not black and white, the word zionism has many connotations and isn’t black and white. “JC is very clearly opposed to the settler/colonial/genocidal aspect.”
Walker responded by posting:”This is ridiculous! We are where we are NOW. Please don’t give me that nonsense about spiritual Zionism.”
Hussain had previously been criticised for describing Israel’s plan to “concentrate” Gazans in Rafah as “gas chambers” in a social media post.
Jewish groups called the comparison offensive and disgraceful, urging him to withdraw his remarks.
Dave Rich, of the Community Security Trust, said at the time:” It is hard to think of any more pointed use of Nazi language and imagery than what two Independent MPs, Iqbal Mohamed from Dewsbury and Batley and Adnan Hussain of Blackburn, posted on X this week.
“Mohamed accused Israel of committing a ‘holocaust’ in Gaza; Hussain posted: ‘We’re on the concentration camp stage. Gas chambers next?'”
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