A call for JVL’s expulsion
JVL Introduction
When David Rosenberg saw Neil Coyle MP’s call for JVL to be expelled, with others, from the Labour party he responded immediately on Facebook.
He saw the tweet as antisemitic but, perhaps surprisingly, some who commented thought it was simply because JVL was left wing and was unrelated to its Jewishness.
Rob Ferguson begs to differ and defends David’s original statement strongly, saying that “A vile undercurrent of animosity towards left-wing, internationalist Jews is now re-emerging on the Labour right.”…
We in JVL have little doubt that it is our Jewishness as well as our left-wing politics that is increasingly coming under fire. Our Jewishness does not fit.
We repost these two statements as part of an important discussion which must not be pushed under the table.
David Rosenberg
Neil Coyle MP has called for the expulsion of Jewish Voice for Labour from the Labour Party. In doing so he is calling for the expulsion of hundreds of Jewish Labour Party members. There’s a word for that which we have learned the hard way from those who label Jews, act against them and harm them. Coyle has outed himself as an antisemite.
I have a number of JVL friends who are themselves,or are children of, refugees from Nazism, or who lost relatives in the Holocaust. I can think of many in JVL who have fought for decades against antisemites and fascists and have fought, and still fight, for human rights internationally.
Their crime in Coyle’s eyes is really that do not put a blindfold on when it comes to Israeli racism, and they don’t treat the right wing Board of Deputies as a font of wisdom. For that he is calling for hundreds of Jews to be collectively punished. I hope the party will act against Coyle’s antisemitism. I know they have received complaints, but I won’t hold my breath waiting for them to act on them, even if Starmer proclaimed in April 2020 that fighting antisemitism in Labour would be his first priority.
And can you imagine the outcry from say the Board of Deputies or the Community Security Trust if a Tory politician tweeted that he wanted to expel hundreds of Jews from the Tory Party? I can. Well a Labour MP just did the same thing with regard to the Labour Party, and I can’t even hear a whimper! Gor nisht.
Rob Ferguson responded
20 July (lightly edited for publication here)
The Labour Party and Jews: the return of antisemitic animosity
A couple of days ago, David Rosenberg posted a comment on the call by Neil Coyle MP that Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) be added to the list of proscribed organisations (just agreed by the NEC as I write). David observed that Coyle was effectively calling for the expulsion of hundreds of Jews from the party and called out Coyle’s antisemitism.
David incurred responses on Facebook and Twitter from some on the left, insisting he was mistaken – that JVL was only being targeted because they were left wing, not because they were Jews. They are wrong. In demanding the expulsion of specifically left-wing Jews, Coyle is manifesting a form of antisemitism with a long pedigree, including within the Labour Party itself.
The half-decade long weaponisation of the charge of antisemitism against the left in particular and the promotion of the “new antisemitism” narrative in general, has dangerously degraded how antisemitism is understood. (And I do mean dangerously).
David’s critics misunderstand, or choose to ignore, a core dynamic of historic and contemporary antisemitism. Hatred of left-wing Jews has always acted as a key driver of antisemitic ideology. This is not simply one other element of antisemitic prejudice. Working-class movements constitute the primary foe of fascists, and far right reactionary movements. This bestows an instrumental significance to the hatred and demonisation of the left-wing Jew.
This prejudice does not arise in isolation. It is not, as is commonly conveyed, simply a bizarre manifestation of Nazi ideology. [Paul Hanebrink has written usefully on this]. The Nazis and others built on a commonly held prejudice against Jewish revolutionaries and socialists that encompassed wide layers of Europe’s ruling classes, including in Britain.
It is true that Nazi ideology explicitly cast “Judeo-Bolshevism” as in essence a racial characteristic; the dominant antisemitism of the western European establishment however tended to make an important distinction between “loyal”, “patriotic”, “national” Jews and socialists, anarchists and revolutionaries. David points to the example of Churchill’s vicious antisemitic tract of 1921 Zionism versus Bolshevism which precisely draws this distinction.
However, Churchill was expressing a very common view. Even the virulent antisemite, HA Gwynne, editor of the “Morning Post” and publisher of the Tsarist forgery, “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion”, made this distinction, writing: “A certain section of the Jews in the world are engaged in a mighty attempt to destroy the established rule in many countries and, to bring this world into communistic brotherhood”. Gwynne then continued, “But it would be downright wicked to ascribe to Jewry as a whole this mad and dangerous policy” arguing this would be “hideous antisemitism” and that fault lay not with “honest, patriotic Jews” but with “the revolutionaries of their race.”
These prejudices were reflected in some sections of the Labour movement including on the right of the Labour Party and even some elements of the trade unions, particularly during the first world war. This resurfaced on the Labour right in east London in the wake of Communist Phil Piratin’s victory in 1945 in Mile End; Stepney’s Labour leader, JC Lawder, declared that the Communists had won “in that part of the borough where people of alien origin predominate and where regard for the hoary institutions of British traditionalism is weak”.
A vile undercurrent of animosity towards left-wing, internationalist Jews is now re-emerging on the Labour right. Coyle’s call to expel Jewish members who criticise or oppose Israel is simply an explicit reflection of a deeper phenomenon. The right’s support for Jews is not unconditional. It rests on “loyalty” to the British state and imperialist interests. It is not a defence of Jews as Jews. Behind it stirs an old antisemitic animosity to left-wing Jews.
It is an animosity facilitated by the witch hunt, the conflation of Jewish identity with Zionism, and an IHRA definition that has hollowed out the meaning of antisemitism. It is in this context that Labour right-wingers like Coyle, are left free to express their vehement loathing of the Jewish left. I for one have been shocked at the virulence with which this has been expressed, not just by right wing “commentators” outside Labour, but inside the party.
In the early decades of the twentieth century liberal Jewry across Europe insisted that “Bolshevik” Jews were not real Jews. Right-wing Zionists have today picked up the baton.
Then as now, far from shielding Jews from antisemitism, this can only fuel it. It offers the far right antisemite legitimacy … and a sheild; if the Labour Party casts radical, left-wing Jews as antisemites … who are they to argue? And contempt for left-wing Jews never ends there…
Meanwhile, Islamaphobes and nuclear war supporters are very much welcome.
As a Solidarity member of JVL, I am disappointed to see JVL supporters have been crying “antisemitism” without following the principle of producing evidence. I can understand there are historical reasons to be sensitive about rightwing prejudices, in a similar way perhaps to Zionists reacting to references to Hitler. But I would suggest that the evidence relevant to the actual tweet by Neil Coyle is the statement by Keir Starmer on 30 October 2020: “The Labour Party I lead will not tolerate anti-Semitism, neither will it tolerate the argument that denies or minimises anti-Semitism in the Labour Party on the basis that it is exaggerated or a factional row.” Labour Against The Witchhunt has spoken out strongly against ” THE BIG LIE” of widespread antisemitism in the Party under Jeremy Corbyn. I expect their view is shared by the vast majority of JVL members, so proscribing it as another “denialist” organisation would be a logical next step in Starmer’s programme. If the Party were to expel only Full ( i.e. Jewish ) members, that would be clearly antisemitic, and is therefore unlikely. JVL might be spared proscription by fears that, just as unjustifed antisemitism allegations worked against Corbyn, they might also damage Starmer. Surely JVL members should always be reluctant to make THAT accusation; better perhaps to raise the voice against ‘THE BIG LIE’.
So right. In South Africa, we were known as Commie Jews.
Or he is in the wrong party, which part of the internal report did we not get
Coyle is a disgrace and has now outed himself as an antisemite. Another political scab.
Excellent unmasking of the class content of the offensive against left wing Jewish people by defenders of global imperialism.
It’s worth adding that the interwar fascist assault on ‘ Judeo – Bolshevism ‘ was a convenient scapegoating exercise that deflected attention from the capitalist crisis precipitated by the 1929 stock market crash on Wall Street. The current crisis of global capitalism, as measured by the contraction of GDP output since 2008, completely dwarfs the impact of 1929, fuelling an increasingly virulent and dangerous surge of antisemitism.
I am a member of the Labour Party, but am not Jewish. It seems to me that JVL is a well-balanced, sensible, and compassionate group of people who deserve the respected and listened to. I am dismayed by Starmer’s act of submission to the Jewish Board of Deputies, where he agreed to all their demands, was a betrayal of the principles of Human Rights which Starmer himself used to represent as a Human Right’s lawyer. For me, JVL should be front and centre of the Labour Party. If JVL members were to be expelled it would represent a further betrayal and would point to moral bankruptcy at the very top of Labour. I suggest expelling people such as Mr Coyle instead, given his obvious support for the apartheid regime which currently rules Israel.
Should there not be formal complaint against Coyle for his antisemitism?
It is blindingly obvious why Coyle wants JVL proscribed. It is because they have credibility in the eyes of the public. When JVL criticises Israeli apartheid it carries weight and authenticity. This is the last thing people such as Coyle want because the logic of it highlights the racism of Zionists such as Starmer who is a cheerleader for Israel.
I’ve just got round to reading the Mirror ‘Exclusive’ from a few days ago that broke the story about the intention to kick out the members of the four groups, and I see that the Mirror, as with a couple of papers I checked out yesterday, have the word poison in the headline, and in inverted commas. And it was only THEN that it crossed my mind that I don’t recall reading who it was that was being quoted. Anyway, I read on, and soon learnt that it was a ‘Labour source’:
One Labour source said: “Under Corbyn those from the far left fringes with poisonous beliefs and warped world-views were welcomed into the party. Keir is right to stamp out anti-Semitism and toxic extremism and get the party back into the decent mainstream of Labour values.
So I wonder what these poisonous beliefs ARE, and what their ‘warped world-views’ are? Needless to say, the ‘Labour source’ doesn’t elaborate.
A bit further on it says:
A Labour spokesman said: “Labour is a broad, welcoming and democratic party and we are committed to ensuring it stays that way.
“From time to time, there are groups the NEC will proscribe. The NEC will be asked on Tuesday to consider whether these four organisations are compatible with Labour’s rules or our aims and values.”
Yes, well the LPs ‘aims’ as it now stands are of course completely and utterly at odds with, and averse to Democratic Socialism, as Keir & Co have made crystal clear during the past year or so. And as for ‘values’……
Er, what values are they then?!
Coyle sounds like a person I do not want anything to do with along with Mann Mandelson Streeting Hodge et.al What a ghastly person he is.
well put David and Rob.
Thanks, I had not seen this before. My grandfather, and his wife and children, had to flee Germany, before the War, because he was writing in a left-wing anti-Nazi newspaper. As soon as Hitler came to power they had to escape to England. I had not previously realised the double offence of being both Jewish and a socialist. How appalling that the current Labour Party leadership and the NEC have picked up the baton of the Nazis. Goebbels could not have been happier.
Given what Keir Starmer said in his victory speech (after being elected leader) that he ‘will tear out this poison by its roots’, how come it took him fifteen months to ‘tear out’ these four groups and their members given their ‘poisonous beliefs’ and ‘warped world-view’?!
It is rather odd though that immediately prior to saying the above he said this:
I want to pay tribute to Jeremy Corbyn, who led our party through some really difficult times, who energised our movement and who’s a friend as well as a colleague.
And to all of our members, supporters and affiliates I say this: whether you voted for me or not I will represent you, I will listen to you and I will bring our party together.
In other words – and it was delivered the way it was to amuse and get lots of laughs from his fellow Blairites – he was saying: ‘Jeremy is a wonderful man who did so much for the Labour Party, and who I regard as a friend and a colleague, and who, shortly, I’m gonna crush and crucify, along with every last one of his supporters’.
Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it.
Starmer and his apparatchiks have gutted the Party – leaving a hollow shell – exposing the real “Enemy Within”. This is no coincidence and follows on from the rise in popular movements for Socialism and Socialist ideas, during the worse crisis of Capitalism – since the second World War.
The “right” is not a homogenous entity: it is a gang of conflicting ideas and interests, whose sole aim is to demolish the Party and any vestiges of Socialism and Socialist ideas.
Now it feels confident – the “Right” has a conduit for the likes of Coyle to spout vile racism, anti-semitism and support for apartheid.
I looked up Neil Coyle as I don’t know much about him to find this comment on a blog dug up from his past as a Southwark Councillor. Does not sound like this man could even spell socialism :
“Neil Coyle
bigpic.jpg
Neil Coyle is Southwark Labour’s MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark. Neil sat simultaneously on the council’s ‘independent’ Planning Committee at the same time as holding a post as its deputy Cabinet member for estate regeneration. Neil lives at ‘O Central’ – a luxury development overlooking the Heygate estate and built by dodgy developer Oakmayne, along with his wife (Sarah Lindars) who is an architect at Dan Pearson Studio (cf: The Garden Bridge). No wonder then that he was a vehement supporter of the Garden Bridge scheme and the ‘regeneration’ of Elephant & Castle.”
David mentioned the Tories, but an easier analogy would be a call for Labour to expel JLM (which actually did a lot less than JVL to get Labour elected in 2019). Imagine the outcry if a Labour MP called for that.
Covert racists and global war stooges are indeed welcome in the reformed Labour Party under the new management of the old right-wing hierarchy.
David Rosenberg is correct in his analysis. The new Labour Party is intent on forcing out socialism, internal democracy and criticism of Israeli racism. A purge of British non-Zionist free-thinking Socialist Jews, who do not fit the establishment stereotype, would obviously be fundamentally antisemitic.
I was one who commented that JVL is being targeted for socialism not Jewishness. I refer you to your own principle:
“We oppose attempts to widen the definition of antisemitism beyond its meaning of hostility towards or discrimination against Jews as Jews.”
To me you are breaking this principle especially given that you have sent 5 years countering fake antisemitism smears. Now all of a sudden a well organised socialist group is the subject of real antisemitism?
If Neil Coyle has a history of racism and antisemitism then that needs to be exposed but I can’t see it. He wants you out for your socialism, being pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist, and denial of the ‘scale’ of antisemitism in the party, not your Jewishness.
In fact there is a danger of being antisemitic in othering Jewish socialists as different from other socialists. We are all in this together because the smear is not about antisemitism. It makes no sense to counter-smear, which falls into a trap.
I am not saying that there isn’t extreme animosity towards left-wing Jews, particularly from the mob who say you can’t be a real Jew, or an ‘asajew’, if you are not a Zionist, as Rob indicates. But I disagree that this is symptomatic of a latent antisemitism that tolerates ‘useful’ right wing Jews, especially as it is right wing Jews who are the prime movers.
We can see that it is politics relating to Israel that are central. When people like Peter Beinart can be called antisemitic (by other Jews) for his conversion to a single state solution then we can also see that it is absurd to legitimise this as about “Jews as Jews”.
If Starmer’s Labour party expels me for being a Jewish socialist, I will consider it a source of pride. Bring it on.
JVL not only tackles anti-semitism head on, it does it with clarity of thought and consistency in its logic. That is a threat to the way the Labour Party under Keir Starmer has sought to address the claims that the Party is anti-semitic, by treating the words of the Jewish Chronicler and the Board of Deputies as not only unchallengeably true but also as instruction. The Party has lost its autonomy and its members’ respect in the process.
Where do I go if the LP does not want me? Worried Zionist critic wans to know.
To think this Coyle creature is a Labour MP is deeply depressing. It’s also not exactly an isolated outburst from him either. He has some form. Hopefully, someone in his constituency will initiate moves to recall him.
However, although I find Coyle’s repulsive comment shocking, it is unsurprising.
The ease with which the political assassinations of the likes of Jeremy Corbyn and Rebecca Long-Bailey were achieved, coupled with the ascendancy of a thinly-veiled racist government pursuing xenophobic and racist policies, means that racists and fascists everywhere are emboldened.
Yes Coyle is definitely being anti-Semitic. JVL was clearly singled out because if there is one thing the right and the Zionists hate it is non or anti-Zionist Jews.
Also it’s not true that JVL is being singled out because of its socialist politics. I don’t want to be unkind but although broadly pro-Corbyn JVL isn’t particularly left-wing! JVL hasn’t e.g. been the most overt critic of Momentum’s sponsorship of the fake antisemitism allegations. It has never criticised Corbyn for his acceptance of the antisemitism narrative.
LIEN/LAW clearly have got under the skin of the right because we are on the far-left. Socialist Appeal is left over business aka Militant. JVL is a different kind of target and presents a different kind of problem to the right.
Ironically and I will be blogging about it in the next couple of days those who are past masters in weaponising ‘antisemitism’ against their opponents, I refer to Labour’s apparatchiks turn out to be snowflakes when you accuse them of antisemitism!
I have just received a 4 page letter from the Labour Party’s solicitors for calling their Southern Regional Organiser Scott Horner an anti-Semite!
The threat to sue me for defamation for calling a Labour Party Regional Organiser a racist and anti-Semite after all the thousands of similar accusations against ordinary members really takes the biscuit. Suffice to say I stand behind my accusations and maybe we should have adopted this tactic much earlier one because it is they not us who are the real racists and anti-Semites.
Regarding what the ‘Labour source’ said about how “Under Corbyn those from the far left fringes with poisonous beliefs and warped world-views were welcomed into the party”, you may not be aware that as soon as Jeremy became leader, the application form (online and hard copy) to join the party was amended to include the following three questions:
1. Do you have poisonous beliefs? Yes or No
2, Do you have a warped view of the world? Yes or No
3. Would you like to see Britain’s Jews rounded up and sent to concentration camps? Yes or No
If Jewish Voice for Labour were known as Plumbers Voice for Labour, and been giving their full support to Jeremy and defending him AND posting hundreds and hundreds of intelligent and enlightening articles from numerous sources and countering the lies and falsehoods and smears and exposing them as such, as JVL *HAVE*, I have little doubt that there would have been FIVE groups in the list, and PVL would have been the other one. And along with the others, got the chop on Tuesday!
Coyle didn’t just happen by chance to say what he said, and it was planned that way, and was a shot across JVLs bows so as to (try to) put the frighteners on the ‘officers’ and the members, but particularly those who run the site, and was in effect saying ‘You’d best tone it all down a bit’.
Then again IF, in the coming weeks and months, we suddenly start seeing more and more articles in the MSM about JVL, and how they are in denial etc, etc, etc, then they are of course ‘preparing’ the ground so as to justify booting the group and members out at some point.
One things for sure though, they really REALLY don’t like people shining a light on their darkness!
Coyle is on a witch hunt for Corbyn. I saw an article the other day where he was having a go about Corbyn’s legal costs and who paid for them. I remember his leaked WhatsApp messages to Corbyn, vile bullying.
I am not Jewish, and it seems to me that any Jew who is not a Zionist is a ‘far left crazy Corbyn supporter’. I am half way through watching the Lobby and I guess they seemed to have succeeded in the Labour party.
As someone outside, I do see it as antisemitic removing a Jewish organisation for not being Zionists, and being liberal socialists. I also think the whole thing about all Jews support Zionism is antisemitic too.
I think JVL is really balanced and actually care about issues. Shame I can’t say the same about the Labour party under Keir Starmer.
If they remove you, I am done with Labour. Cancelling my membership. They seem to be hostile to minorities and people with socialist views. Also I am sick of seeing how you are never represented as a Jewish voice, only the right wing are. What’s the point of having 2 mainstream right wing parties? If I wanted to go that way, may as well go for the real deal and vote Tory. I feel politically homeless since Keir has been leader.
Just came across the following in the Jewish Chronicle:
The JC understands that one of the reasons the group JVL has not been included as one of the groups to proscribe is because they would have “reasonable” grounds to sue the party for discrimination.
The source said that “a fair number” of the group’s executive is currently suspended and they hoped they would become “insignificant.”
https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/corbynite-groups-protest-as-labour-nec-votes-on-expulsions-1.518761
And get this Leader in the Jewish Chronicle yesterday, with the headline:
‘Finish the job and remove Corbyn from Labour Party’
https://www.thejc.com/comment/leaders/finish-the-job-and-remove-corbyn-from-labour-party-1.518814
They – the smearers – have been building a mountain of falsehoods, and it looks as if they are getting to the summit!
Firs, we saw anti-Traveller statements from this party, then came islamophobia and now anti-semitism. What’s going to be next?
To request that people be expelled from the Labour Party for being members of Jewish Voice for Labour is blatantly antisemitic and therefore falls foul of the following rules laid out in the Labour Party Rule Book:-
Chapter 2, Clause I, Section 8:-
“No member of the Party shall engage in conduct which in the opinion of the NEC is prejudicial, or in any act which in the opinion of the NEC is grossly detrimental to the Party. The NEC and NCC shall take account of any codes of conduct currently in force and shall regard any incident which in their view might reasonably be seen to demonstrate hostility or prejudice based on age; disability; gender reassignment or identity; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; or sexual orientation as conduct prejudicial to the Party: these shall include but not be limited to incidents involving racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia or otherwise racist language, sentiments, stereotypes or actions, sexual harassment, bullying or any form of intimidation towards another person on the basis of a protected characteristic as determined by the NEC, wherever it occurs, as conduct prejudicial to the Party. The disclosure of confidential information relating to the Party or to any other member, unless the disclosure is duly authorised or made pursuant to a legal obligation, shall also be considered conduct prejudicial to the Party.”
Appendix 9, Part 2, Paragraph 4:-
“Any behaviour or use of language which targets or intimidates members of ethnic or religious communities, or incites racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia, or undermines Labour’s ability to campaign against any form of racism, is unacceptable conduct within the Labour Party.”
As a precedent has been previously set by Labour Party investigations such as Labour Party vs Mike Sivier, where the statements “Whether your comments are anti-Semitic is neither here nor there.” and “This is about perception… It’s about how this is perceived by the Jewish community.” were made in interview**, there is absolutely no defence for Mr Coyle to claim that he didn’t mean his statement to be antisemitic. The important point here, as Labour Party investigators have ruled, is the perception of his statement, and there is absolutely no doubt that his statement can be perceived as antisemitic.
We’ve already seen evidence, in the leaked report of March 2020, of certain factions within the party being allowed to make antisemitic remarks with little consequence, whilst other people are expelled for far less.
Having made an official complaint to the Labour Party, I trust that the rot uncovered by the leaked report has been dealt with and that Mr Coyle’s remarks will be considered grounds for suspension pending investigation, and not swept under the carpet.
**”Even superhero creator Stan Lee couldn’t save me from Labour’s fake anti-Semitism rap”, voxpoliticalonline, 13th November 2018
As one of the genuine socialists who contribute to this site I am disappointed by Tony Greenstein’s comment. JVL is clearly on the left of the Labour Party and has consistently argued that it has not been consumed by antisemitism under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn. To suggest that Jeremy Corbyn accepted the antisemitism narrative is simply wrong. He lost the whip because he refused to accept the party is awash with antisemites.
Tony Greenstein says “LIEN/LAW clearly have got under the skin of the right because we are on the far-left.” Far left? Really? He’ll be saying ‘hard left’ next. A lot of the people caught up in the witch-hunt are pretty ordinary democratic socialist CLP members who have been stalwarts of the party for many years. I guess if you gauge UK politics as shifting to the right then they become ‘far left’ but they are hardly the Red Brigades.
I agree though with Marc’s comment – the ‘wrong kind of Jews’ argument isn’t about antisemitism, just childish insult we see all the time on Twitter.
Spot on M Prichard! MP Coyle should certainly be investigated – remember Angela Rayner’s “thousands and thousands” who could be suspended ..
Yes, exactly DJ, and JVL has covered the A/S black op smear campaign and posted hundreds and hundreds of articles from numerous sources exposing it for what it is.
As for the criticism TG makes so as to supposedly substantiate his assertion that JVL isn’t particularly left wing – ie that ‘It has never criticised Corbyn for his acceptance of the antisemitism narrative’, well perhaps that’s because they don’t see it that way. I know I certainly don’t. I mean if Jeremy ‘accepted’ the anti-semitism narrative – ie the numerous allegations and claims made not only against individuals, and Jeremy himself in particular, but the left-wing membership also – then surely he wouldn’t have made a statement the day the EHRC published its (alleged) report saying that the ‘scale of the problem has been dramatically overstated’ etc. And if he somehow accepted it all, then obviously a statement condemning John Ware’s Panorama hit job wouldn’t have been released.
Did he accept the A/S narrative when he pronounced Jeffrey Epstein’s name Epshtein, and was accused of making him sound more Jewish than he actually was (which has to take the top prize for the most ludicrous A/S claim in the history of the World, and quite possibly the Whole universe)?
There was no ‘acceptance’ going on on Jeremy’s part, but simply the fact that he knew he would just get roasted whenever he refuted this claim or that claim in respect of A/S.
Just as he WAS when he DID!
There is a certain conceptual confusion in some of the discussion about whether the actions of the Labour Party bureaucracy, in its persecution of Jewish socialists for their condemnation of Israeli apartheid, are or are not antisemitic. This is because of a failure to distinguish between individual and institutional (or systemic) forms of racism. The persecution of ANY member of the LP for expressing such condemnation is certainly unacceptable and must be vigorously fought. However there can be little doubt that in the case of Jewish members such persecution also amounts to institutional antisemitism, for the following reason.
The LP’s justification for the persecution, insofar as it is internally coherent, arises from the false conflation of Jewish ethnicity, an inalienable characteristic, with espousal of a settler colonial political creed. Not only is an accused member being falsely accused of racism, ironically by her failure to endorse the ideology of a racist régime, but if she is Jewish, then her very sense of identity is being attacked in the most vicious manner: she is not a “proper Jew”. The failure of a British court to condemn the accusations by the LP against Diana Neslen, a devout 81 year old orthodox Jewish socialist and lifelong antiracist campaigner, will live on in the halls of infamy both of British justice and of the Labour Party.
In the above I refer to this kind of antisemitism as “institutional” because I do not believe that for the most part the perpetrators, whether leaders or camp followers, subjectively harbour any special antipathy towards Jews or even towards anti-Zionists or socialists as individuals. Typically they couldn’t care less about Israel or foreign policy. Many of them don’t believe strongly in anything much except their own careers which may depend heavily on the ‘success’ of the LP. Their vicious behaviour arises as a byproduct of a systemic institutional pragmatism: it is understood that any group which seriously threatens the opportunist ideology of the ruling faction becomes a group to be extirpated as soon as practicable. Fortunately since they are not in government the desired extirpation is only from the Labour Party.
To some extent other LP manifestations of racism are also a product of the same kind of institutional racism. For example many of the Labour MP’s who mindlessly intone “Israel has a right to defend itself” as if it were an infallible incantation to ward off evil spirits after each Israeli atrocity, do not have any personal antipathy to Palestinians. Some of them may even secretly be sympathetic, but they know what must be done, and what must not be said, all of course for the greater good.
Systemic racism of this kind is dependent on two conditions being fulfilled: (1) the party must be organised with near totalitarian control by the leadership, and (2) the career camp followers of the leadership must believe that the strategy will lead to power. The fact that the second condition is looking increasingly unlikely to be satisfied gives some limited grounds for hope.
Only someone ignorant of history could call for a group of Jewish socialists to be expelled from the Labour Party. Dave Rosenberg and Rob Ferguson are right to remind us about some of that history. The Nazis hated and feared Jews and Socialists — anyone who was both of these was particularly victimised. The same is true of Sarah Palin,(remember her?) who regularly denounces her enemies as ‘East Coast intellectuals’, a not-too-subtle code word for left-wing Jews in the US.
Thank you David and Rob for saying what needs to be said and for putting the current situation of left wing Jews in an important historical context.
I am a Solidarity member of JVL who joined because of their Socialist values, their internationalist outlook and strong record of support for the oppressed. Being a left wing Jewish led group it is hardly surprising that they have a particular interest in Israel and the ongoing illegal activities of the Netanyahu Government. I likewise feel a special connection with Israel, having lived there for 18 months in the 70s, after volunteering at the left wing kibbutz of Gadot in the Hula valley. This was were I learnt the Socialist value of working together for the common good with decisions made collectively through debate and rewards shared equitably. It was also where I learnt about the Balfour Agreement and how the Arabs were betrayed by the British establishment, which set up the conflict that persists today.
Having joined the LP under Jeremy I was pleased to support Keir in the election campaign having read his statement and his 10 pledges, expecting continuity in the direction of the LP with a more forensic approach. Instead I have been appalled to see the party being dragged further to the right and the persecution of the left and anyone who does not agree with the IHRC definition of AS as it is being interpreted (by David Evans?). I have attended the training on AS presented by JLM, where it was stated that it is possible to criticise Israel without being anti Semitic but I would not feel confident that this could be done without accusations of AS from the likes of Neil Coyle.
I believe in supporting the oppressed, which when it comes to Israel/Palestine is definitely the Palestinians, as the right wing colonialist Israeli government continues to defy International Law with increasing land grabs aided and abetted by right wing support in the USA from such famously anti racist figures like Donald Trump.
There is clearly a hierarchy of racism in the eyes of the right wing who I believe are cynically using the accusation of AS as a way of stifling debate and demonising the left.
I have no wish to offend anyone but I am not going to be silenced when I perceive injustice and I will always support the oppressed whether it be the appalling treatment of the Uighur by communist China, the suffering of the people of North Korea or the continued persecution of Christians, Jews and minorities in the Autocratic states of the Middle East, including those governed by Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and those who dare to oppose the revolutionary Islamic state of Iran.
I was absorbed by all the comments, there was quite a variation of thoughts.
The reaction to Tony Greenstein’s comments were strong, I’ve read many of Tony’s Bloggs on the subject of JC’s response to the attacks on him and the members and I believe we should think carefully about Tony’s accusation that JC “accepted the AS accusations, I’m sure Tony will tell me if I’ve got this wrong but I believe that Tony is saying that JC should have fought for those that were wrongly accused of AS, Ken Livingston, Chris Williamson, Marc Wadsworth, Jackie Walker Naomi Wimborne and Tony himself, all suspended or thrown out of the Party.
Back to Coyle, he is just another PLP MP that supports Israel and believes by condemning those that campaign against it, he’s going to get some kind of reward, ie a promotion or something else that will be a financial benefit to him.
Personally I don’t believe you can say he is being antisemitic, just anti anyone who supports Palestine and condemns Israel.
Oh dear. People are very defensive. I didn’t say JVL wasn’t left-wing. I said ‘although broadly pro-Corbyn JVL isn’t particularly left-wing!’ JVL represents a broad swathe of socialist Jews, from social democrats to Marxist.
The problem of Corbyn was that he took the accusations of ‘antisemitism’ personally, hence his continual denial that he was an antisemite. He never ever got it that the accusations of ‘antisemitism’ were about his positions on Palestine.
I despaired that he never ever stood his ground and made some big speeches saying that
i. He rejects antisemitism, like all forms of racis
ii. He rejects those who weaponise antisemitism to attack the left.
Instead of appeasing JLM (whom he and his office were meeting regularly) he should have understood that they had one purpose, to get rid of him.
I grew tired of repeating the mantra that it wasn’t me, or Jackie Walker or Marc W or Ken that the Zionists were after. We were the collateral damage. It was Corbyn. That was why, no matter how many concessions he made it wasn’t enough.
So not only did he throw us and Chris Williamson under the bus but he and Jennie Formby proudly boasted how many people they’d expelled. He even proposed the fast track expulsions. Did the Zionists thank him? No they treated it as proof of how antisemitism had grown under Labour.
When I complained to the BBC about the ‘Is Labour anti-semitic’ Panorama programme and said they had not asked whether it existed their response was that even Corbyn accepted it.
And then ‘denialism’ – ie if you deny the problem it is proof that you are guilty.
Even after Starmer removed the whip, instead of coming out fighting Corbyn retracted most of his original statement. He never condemned the EHRC.
Please don’t make excuses for JC. He failed because he appeased the unappeasable. Let us learn lessons instead otherwise we will never have a next time
Tony, Jeremy said on many, many occasions that he rejects anti-semitism (as he does ALL forms of racism), and did so in the Leaders Debate on the box just prior to the 2019 GE, for example. So why did you ‘despair’ at him NOT doing so, when in fact he DID.
As for Jeremy saying it’s been weaponised, I’m sure THAT would have gone down a treat with the JLM and CAA and BoD and LFI and CST and Jewish newspapers and the MSM!
And just look what happened when he DID imply THAT, when he said in his statement (the day the EHRC published its report) that the ‘scale of the problem has been dramatically overstated by political opponents inside and outside the party and the media!
I only got as far as the bit where Tony says that Jeremy should have said that he rejects anti-semitism (and that he rejects those who weaponise it etc), before I then wrote and posted my response above, and I have just now read the rest. Well , to start with, Jeremy did NOT appease JLM (and why do you single out JLM?), and of COURSE he understood that the JLM et al were trying to sabotage his leadership. How could he NOT! He’s not stupid, but even a STUPID person would be aware that THAT was their objective.
He may not have realised it at first, and quite probably believed that there WAS some A/S going on in the Oxford Union Labour Club, which was the FIRST episode as far as I can recall, and which kicked off the whole A/S smear campaign. And it’s quite possible – given the ‘outcry’ – that he believed that Ken (Livingstone) HAD said something anti-semitic, AND, Naz Shah, who Ken was defending in the radio interview.
And I can’t get my head round what you’re saying about when you complained about the Panorama program – ie you saying that ‘they had not asked if it existed’. What do you mean that they had not asked if it existed; the WHOLE program revolved around ‘proving’ that it DID, so I really don’t follow.
And since when did denying something amount to proof that you are guilty! And what on Earth do you mean that Starmer should have come out fighting?
And Jeremy did NOT retract most of his original statement. But perhaps you’d like to elaborate.