Britain
prides itself on being a liberal state, tolerant of diverse points of
view with a judicial system based on law and evidence, but its recent
behavior has been anything but that.
by
Alexander Mercouris
Part
5 - The ‘Anti-Semitism’ Exaggeration
This
scandal has developed concurrently with a parallel one of alleged
anti-semitism in the Labour Party, which is quite clearly targeted at
the party’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn.
It is
based on claims that Corbyn—who has a well-established record of
outspoken support for the Palestinian people’s struggle for their
rights—has tolerated or even fostered a culture of anti-semitism
within the Labour Party. There are even occasional insinuations that
he is an anti-semite himself.
It
should be said clearly that the insinuation that Corbyn is an
anti-semite is malicious and absurd. Corbyn has an outstanding record
of anti-racism, and this has included a history of strong opposition
to anti-semitism.
As for
the allegations of anti-semitism by some members of the Labour Party,
some of these allegations have substance but some appear to be
legitimately contested, whilst all of the individuals involved have
been marginal figures who carry little weight in the Labour Party.
Their number has been tiny. Corbyn himself has moreover strongly
condemned manifestations of anti-semitism within the party, and those
who have been accused of engaging in it have been subjected to
disciplinary action, and where the allegation has been proved, have
been expelled.
Nonetheless
the anti-semitism campaign against Corbyn has been waged relentlessly
for weeks, gaining huge publicity in the media, with Corbyn himself
being the primary target of the attacks.
The
anti-semitism campaign against Corbyn has moreover been waged far
more relentlessly, for much longer, and with far more publicity, than
has been the Windrush affair.
This is
despite the fact that the Windrush scandal has materially affected
large numbers of innocent people, whilst the anti-semitic statements
of a very small number of marginal figures in the Labour Party have
so far as I can see materially affected no-one at all.
Though
anti-semitism should be shown no tolerance, it is impossible to avoid
noticing the contrast between the relentless and unjustified
criticism of Corbyn over the anti-semitism issue, and the gentle
treatment of May over the Windrush affair.
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