The seven key questions left unanswered by Jeremy Corbyn’s apology
After the Labour leader's third apology over Labour anti-Semitism, Jewish News poses a series of questions he must urgently address
Jeremy Corbyn was once again forced to apologise this week after being caught red-handed doing the indefensible – this time hosting an event in 2010 comparing Israeli policy to the Nazis.
But his mea culpa raises more questions than it answers. As many have been warning for years, this is simply the latest example in a pattern of behaviour from the Labour leader spanning decades. Any denial that the rot in the party is completely disconnected from the leader’s track record is simply absurd.
There is no shortage of wider questions about the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and the action being threatened against Margaret Hodge and Ian Austin. But if the Labour leader is serious about building bridges with the community and fighting the rot in his ranks, he must now fill in the gaping holes in his own words…
- You say you pursued peace between Israel and the Palestinians and claim you back a two-state solution. But what exactly is the nature of these two states, given you have backed the right of return that would end any chance of a Jewish state?
- Why is it that you have repeatedly found yourself on platform with so many people with whom you claim to disagree? Can you point to cases where, in the pursuit of peace, you have hosted events with people with whom you have disagreed in the centre or right of the debate about the Middle East?
- Will you today make clear that comparing Israeli policy to the Nazis is anti-Semitic?
- You apologised for the ‘concern and anxiety caused’ by taking part in events with people with deplorable views. Do you also apologise for hosting this event and booking the room in the first place?
- Why did you not speak up during the meeting, when a speaker spoke of the “Holocaust religion” and suggested the celebrated survivor was its “high priest”?
- What did you expect to be said at the meeting when you agreed to book a room as part of a tour entitled ‘Never again for anyone – from Auschwitz to Gaza’?
- You said sorry for ‘pockets’ of anti-Semitism in Labour’s ranks, expressed regret over the position you’d taken on the anti-Semitic mural and now apologise for the hurt caused by your involvement in the event on Holocaust Memorial Day. On each occasion, you have been forced into these apologies by media revelations. Are there other skeletons in your closet you’d like to proactively apologise for?
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
