VIDEO – Interview with Yair Lapid: Thought of Corbyn as PM “freezes the blood”

Jewish News foreign editor Stephen Oryszczuk interviews leading Israeli politician Yair Lapid about the ongoing violence in Israel and his concerns about the British Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn.

Israel’s former finance minister has said the thought of Jeremy Corbyn one day becoming prime minister “freezes the blood”.

Speaking to Jewish News in London last week, centrist opposition politician Yair Lapid, a former TV newsman who now leads the Yesh Atid Party, said he saw “no point” in trying to meet Corbyn during his visit because of his hostility to Israel.

Asked about the possibility of him in 10 Downing Street, Lapid said: “As remote a possibility as it is, it still freezes the blood in my veins, because this is someone who is obviously no friend for Israel.”

He continued: “The kind of language Mr Corbyn has used before, and the kind of people around him, with some of the views that they have expressed, it is of course a cause of worry for us.”

Lapid confirmed that he had not met, nor sought to meet, Corbyn during his London visit, adding: “In ways I see no use.”

He praised the support of Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond, saying: “We would rather have friends of Israel in key positions in England than people who are obviously unfriendly.”

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