Five years to correct “imagined antisemitism” error
Published
by
Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi
JVL Introduction
Stop Press! It’s taken five years but the Guardian has “corrected” an article which said a Jewish Labour party member had claimed antisemitism complaints were “imagined”.
Paddy French’s latest Press Gang column on The Great British Antisemitism Scare explains.
NWI
This article was originally published by Press Gang on Thu 9 May 2024. Read the original here.
The Guardian and Adam Wagner
A small success for Press Gang this week. The Guardian has “corrected” an article which said a Jewish Labour party member had claimed antisemitism complaints were “imagined”. It only took editor Katherine Viner five years to do so …
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Israel’s “soft power” techniques and influence shouldn’t be under-estimated. I think they’ve successfully distorted the judgements and decisions of many powerful people in the lands outside Israel.
Many UK MPs from the established parties – Labour, Tory and LibDem – can be identified as individuals who still are or have recently been “Friends of Israel”. Given Israel’s conduct now and over past decades, that connection shames each of these MPs, I feel.
“Sky News” analysed the likely reasons why the few nations who voted against asking the Security Council to reconsider its negative decision on awarding Palestine full statehood did what they did.
The tiny Pacific nations which were such a large group of those voting against had each benefited from Israel’s support (eg rescue services when natural disasters struck) and close, advantageous trading relationships.
Bigger countries in this voting bloc (like the Czech Republic) also have close trading ties with Israel; and some (like Hungary) are politically akin to Netanyahu.
Which suggests Israel’s widespread influence could be lessened by us in the richer nations encouraging better “Overseas Development” government practices; and by limiting (directly and indirectly) Israeli commerce until Israel ends its “war” on the oppressed, occupied Palestinians.
The Guardian is now part of the establishment with its twists and hypocrisy. I saved myself money and upset when I stopped buying the Guardian.
I recall reading that Alasdair Henderson the barrister and the lead figure of the supposedly independent EHRC investigation of alleged antisemitism in the Labour Party was also a politician (who stood for election). But, anyway, the EHRC as an institution and in composition is part of the establishment.
I wish JVL and Stephen Marks success in the action against persecution by the changed Labour Party, changed to be part of the establishment that is.