An open letter to Labour’s leadership candidates
Published
by
Richard Kuper
JVL Introduction
Four British Palestinians, long-time supporters and members of the Labour Party, have issued a call on Labour’s leadership candidates to take a stand against an underlying anti-Palestinian racism which is making them feel unwelcome in the Party, and to defend the right to free speech to expose Israel’s horrendous treatment of Palestinians.
This article was originally published by Facebook on Tue 17 Mar 2020. Read the original here.
An open letter to Labour’s leadership candidates
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Excellent letter. I completely agree and am truly grateful for your family contribution. As a Jewish supporter of Palestinian rights, I feel increasingly unwelcome in the current rhetoric of the Labour Party.
My Respects to the Khamis family. I fully support your letter to the prospective Leaders and I look forward to reading any replies. If there is silence from them then we know where they stand.
I worked with Juliano at the Freedom Theatre for a while and was entirely impressed with the energy he spent on creating a Cultural Interfada. I was moved by the sight of him dressed as a clown with that funny whistle in his mouth entertaining so many children from Jenin’s Refugee Camp. He helped create so much dialogue and cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians. I was shocked and saddened by his untimely killing.
The Labour Party needs to celebrate such richness in Palestinian Culture and the support from Israelis like Juliano rather than accede to the crushing and racist culture of the BoD.
Should also be addressed to the candidates for deputy-leader.
Racism is a scourge in all societies and must be opposed.
Can TM elaborate on his comment “the crushing and racist culture of the BoD”
What evidence does he have of this BoD “culture “ perhaps he could offer some evidence.
Jews worldwide must condemn racism of any kind whether committed by Co- religionists or not
I hope the contenders will respond to your deserving request. I have written to them about similar issues but had no response. The way things are going I may abstain in the leadership vote. Good luck to you.
I too have made numerous complaints since the Al J documentary- eight or nine, not sure which- using the complaints form and personal letters to Jeremy Corbyn and Jennie Formby.
Not one has even been acknowledged.
This is a powerful letter.
This is an elegant and moving letter and hurts and shames those of us who know the situation well. It is a letter that belongs on the pages of all our newspapers, a letter that belongs on the desk of every MP across all parties, a letter that needs recognition at all BBC interviews – such as the one you mention, one read by all Churchmen given place on church notice, boards talked about in schools and educational institutions.In short our public needs education and The Palestinian people recognition.Sadly this is all unlikely and herein is the tragedy, but the world changes as we are now seeing; we can only hope and pray that a ravaged society might become a better society. Thank you for your letter.
Excellent . We should send this to all our Labour MPs
Sadly I believe that there are Jews in and of the Labour Party who simply would not rest until Jeremy Corbyn was no longer leader of the Labour Party. Not because he was bad or ineffective but because he was fair and not beholden to a pro Jewish, anti Palestinian norm that we are used to. I hope the new leader will be as honourable, but I’m not holding my breathe. Jeremy Corbyns do not grow on trees. They are very rare and precious in this distinctly unfair world.
This is a powerful letter and deserves the widest publicity. I hope it elicits a reply. I wrote to Keir Starmer about the issue on 24 February, though less impressively, thinking he at least would understand what it is to be fair-minded. But I have had no answer. Like Paul Leach (above) I am thinking of abstaining in the leadership vote. How can we support any Labour leader more committed to appeasing the Israeli government than to the cause of justice?
Not just thinking of abstaining from the leadership vote, I have done so, have voted for deputy leadership candidates who DID NOT agree to the anti semitic BOD demands.
I’ve also abstained from the leadership vote, after waiting and hoping for one of them to show a backbone and stand up for Justice for Palestine.
Was happy to give my vote for deputy to one who stood their ground, and didn’t buckle at the first hurdle. May I say that I fully support your letter but won’t hold my breath waiting a reply.
If RLB is serious about the leadership then she has to move on JVL advice and information
At moment we are being asked to vote on least worst option
The only light at end of the tunnel is none of these candidates will last very long as leaders, the membership and new intake into PLP will bring them down in less than a year
I also abstained from voting in the leadership election on the same grounds. I am a Labour councillor in Crawley, Sussex, have been a Party member for 50 years.
Brilliant. Let’s hope they reply…
You have my full support! The inhumane treatment is now so blatant and yes, the silence is deafening!!!