Jeremy Corbyn for U.K. Prime Minister
Published
by
Richard Kuper
JVL Introduction
Like Amira Hass, Gideon Levy has always stood tall among journalists still writing critically in Israel’s leading left liberal daily, Haaretz. Consistent in his implacable criticism of Israeli governments past and present for the occupation and their increasing ethno-nationalism, he believes a Jeremy Corbyn government will be good for Britain – and for Israel.
This article was originally published by Haaretz on Fri 9 Aug 2019. Read the original here.
Jeremy Corbyn for U.K. Prime Minister
Israelis regard him as a sort of alien – the left here has never been led by an Israeli Corbyn, nor by anyone who can hold a candle to him
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Thank you Gideon Levy. We need to hear more voices like this. it was a grave mistake when the Labour Party adopted the IHRA version of anti-semitism.I don’t understand what prompted this and what they thought could be gained from it. It’s just caused
more problems and more confusion. it’s difficult to get our voices out there that is people who support Palestine and deploy the actions of the Israeli state. apart from demonstrations and raising awareness in town centres through leaflets and flyers that’s all we can do as ordinary citizens.
Gideon Levy, you’re a star! Hopefully you’ve sent this article for publication in the British media. If a British person had written this article, he/she would doubtless be branded an antisemite.
At last – a Haaretz article about Corbyn and supposed Labour antisemitism which says its a load of tosh. Thanks to Gideon Levy, who has broken ranks with fellow journalists on his paper who have joined the anti-Corbyn howls.
Please let me know when and where this is published in UK. Maybe the Guardian will publish it but now they are just as biased as other papers
While it is excellent that Ha’aretz readers got an opportunity to read a more sane, objective view of Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party in Britain, and I very much appreciate Gideon Levy’s intentions here, he nevertheless has a very problematic statement towards the end of his article, and uses an unfortunate quote whose origins I suspect he is unaware of.
Levy rightly criticises the Israeli government’s Nation-State law which effectively says that Israel’s actions represent the Jewish people. Levy warns of the price for this claim: Jewish people in general will be seen as partners to the crimes committed by the Israel’s government or military. Levy says: “Israel’s policy is inflaming anti-Semitism in the world.” But this is a very dangerous formulation that absolves antisemites of responsibility for antisemitism. However artrociously the Israeli government/military behave, there is never an excuse for antisemitism. We should be able to condemn Israeli actions and also condemn any outbreaks of antisemitism.
Perhaps more unfortunate is the quote Levy attributes to Hajo Meyer a Dutch Holocaust survivor: “Once an anti-Semite was a man who hates Jews. Today an anti-Semite is a man whom the Jews hate.” Meyer did indeed write that in a book, but he didn’t invent it. He took it from another book written a few years earlier by a far right American Journalist who enjoyed the company of Holocaust deniers.
This quote both denies the real existence of antisemitism and also absolves antisemites of their antisemitism. If it is still not clear what is wrong with it, try and substitute “islamophobe” for “antisemite” and “Muslims” for Jews. Hopefully it will become clearer.
Thank you for your clarity and analysis. Short, sharp and accurate