It is time for Labour to say Goodbye to Labour Friends of Israel
Update: People are still writing in saying they support this – so I am updating it continuously as many people feel strongly about allowing a lobby funded by another state to interfere in the internal workings of the Labour Party
I have just sent the following letter, from 112 members of the Labour Party/Momentum to Jeremy Corbyn MP. In the light of the four Al Jazeera programmes on the penetration and destabilisation of the Labour Party (including the National Union of Students) by the Israeli Embassy, with the use of large sums of money, we call on the Labour Party to make a clean break with the Labour Friends of Israel.
LFI are not a normal group of party members seeking to win people to their point of view but an extension of the Israeli state and its Embassy in London. It uses any manner of dirty tricks and black propaganda against its opponents in order to whitewash the Apartheid State of Israel. It is as unacceptable for the LFI to use the £1+ million to subvert the democratic processes of the Labour Party as it would have been for the Apartheid government of South Africa to have done so 20 years ago.
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Joan Ryan MP, Chair of LFI, wants to know where the loot is
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| Joan Ryan MP, Chair of Labour Friends of Israel makes a joke, delighted at having bagged over £1m in slush funds |
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| Michael Rubin, LFI’s parliamentary officer boasting of his work with the Israeli Embassy |
Tony Greenstein
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Leader of the Labour Party
House of Commons
London SW1 1AA
Dear Jeremy,
We write as Jewish and non-Jewish members/ supporters of the
Labour Party and Momentum.
Labour Party and Momentum.
We welcome the fact that you have called for a Government inquiry into the revelations in the recent
series of programmes by Al Jazeera TV.
However the programmes also raise very serious questions for the Labour
Party, not least its relationship to Labour Friends of Israel and the Jewish
Labour Movement. We understand Free Speech on Israel has already called
for a Labour Party Inquiry into the implications for the Labour Party. We endorse that call.
series of programmes by Al Jazeera TV.
However the programmes also raise very serious questions for the Labour
Party, not least its relationship to Labour Friends of Israel and the Jewish
Labour Movement. We understand Free Speech on Israel has already called
for a Labour Party Inquiry into the implications for the Labour Party. We endorse that call.
In the second programme Joan Ryan MP, LFI Chairperson asks
Shai Masot, the Israeli Embassy’s Political Officer, who was caught trying to
‘take down’ Government Ministers:
Shai Masot, the Israeli Embassy’s Political Officer, who was caught trying to
‘take down’ Government Ministers:
‘What
happened with the names that we put into the Embassy Shai? To which Masot replies ‘Just now we’ve got the money.
It’s more than £1m, it’s a lot of money... it’s
not physical, it’s an approval’ to which Ryan jocularly responds ‘ I didn’t think you had it in your bag!’.
happened with the names that we put into the Embassy Shai? To which Masot replies ‘Just now we’ve got the money.
It’s more than £1m, it’s a lot of money... it’s
not physical, it’s an approval’ to which Ryan jocularly responds ‘ I didn’t think you had it in your bag!’.
The LFI’s Parliamentary Officer, Michael Rubin was filmed
boasting that he was trying to take-down the democratically elected President
of the National Union of Students, Malia Bouattia. Rubin claimed to work “with the ambassador and embassy quite a lot”.
boasting that he was trying to take-down the democratically elected President
of the National Union of Students, Malia Bouattia. Rubin claimed to work “with the ambassador and embassy quite a lot”.
Joan Ryan in
the third Al Jazeera programme was seen to concoct a wholly false allegation of
anti-Semitism against a Labour Party conference delegate, Jean Fitzpatrick, who
had come to ask Ms Ryan what LFI’s support for a 2 State Solution meant in
practice and what they were doing to achieve it. Getting no answer, Jean said that LFI had a
lot of money, which is clearly true, a lot of prestige and that a friend of
hers had got a good job at Oxford University on the basis of having worked for
LFI.
the third Al Jazeera programme was seen to concoct a wholly false allegation of
anti-Semitism against a Labour Party conference delegate, Jean Fitzpatrick, who
had come to ask Ms Ryan what LFI’s support for a 2 State Solution meant in
practice and what they were doing to achieve it. Getting no answer, Jean said that LFI had a
lot of money, which is clearly true, a lot of prestige and that a friend of
hers had got a good job at Oxford University on the basis of having worked for
LFI.
None of this
was remotely anti-Semitic yet Joan Ryan had no hesitation in transforming this
into getting a ‘big job in banking and
the City’ and an ‘anti-Semitic
attack’. On the basis of this Jean
was suspended from the Labour Party. Subsequently
the charge was dropped but this is an example of how false charges of
‘anti-Semitism’ have been concocted.
was remotely anti-Semitic yet Joan Ryan had no hesitation in transforming this
into getting a ‘big job in banking and
the City’ and an ‘anti-Semitic
attack’. On the basis of this Jean
was suspended from the Labour Party. Subsequently
the charge was dropped but this is an example of how false charges of
‘anti-Semitism’ have been concocted.
The reason for
making false accusations of anti-Semitism, such as that against Ms Fitzpatrick,
is to deter criticism of Zionism and the Israeli state. Those who make these false claims of anti-Semitism
are deliberately jeopardising Labour’s chances of electoral victory.
making false accusations of anti-Semitism, such as that against Ms Fitzpatrick,
is to deter criticism of Zionism and the Israeli state. Those who make these false claims of anti-Semitism
are deliberately jeopardising Labour’s chances of electoral victory.
Although LFI purports
to support a 2 State Solution it is clear, as Jean Fitzpatrick demonstrated,
that this is a smokescreen for its uncritical support for Israel’s military
occupation and settlement of the West Bank and Gaza. At no time has LFI ever condemned or
criticised the Occupation or the Settlements. LFI supports the 2SS knowing that it will never happen but also
knowing that it will make them appear as reasonable and even-handed rather than
an uncritical supporter of Israeli expansion and racism.
to support a 2 State Solution it is clear, as Jean Fitzpatrick demonstrated,
that this is a smokescreen for its uncritical support for Israel’s military
occupation and settlement of the West Bank and Gaza. At no time has LFI ever condemned or
criticised the Occupation or the Settlements. LFI supports the 2SS knowing that it will never happen but also
knowing that it will make them appear as reasonable and even-handed rather than
an uncritical supporter of Israeli expansion and racism.
Prior to your
election as Leader of the Labour Party you had never addressed a meeting of the
LFI. At the 2016 Conference you
addressed the LFI fringe meeting for the second time. It is clear from the Al Jazeera revelations
that LFI operates as an emanation of the Israeli state within the Labour
Party. We saw this clearly when Shai
Masot introduced Al Jazeera’s reporter, Robin Harrow to people as the Chair of
Young LFI, a non-existent organisation.
election as Leader of the Labour Party you had never addressed a meeting of the
LFI. At the 2016 Conference you
addressed the LFI fringe meeting for the second time. It is clear from the Al Jazeera revelations
that LFI operates as an emanation of the Israeli state within the Labour
Party. We saw this clearly when Shai
Masot introduced Al Jazeera’s reporter, Robin Harrow to people as the Chair of
Young LFI, a non-existent organisation.
If you continue to speak
at LFI meetings you will be taken to be endorsing a group which favours continued settlement
expansion and which opposes their dismantlement. You will also be
interpreted as lending support to
those who wage war on
Palestinians living inside Israel. Only
last week a Bedouin village in the Negev, Umm al-Hiran, which had been there
for 60 years, was demolished by bulldozers from the Jewish National Fund. One resident was killed by police
gunfire.
at LFI meetings you will be taken to be endorsing a group which favours continued settlement
expansion and which opposes their dismantlement. You will also be
interpreted as lending support to
those who wage war on
Palestinians living inside Israel. Only
last week a Bedouin village in the Negev, Umm al-Hiran, which had been there
for 60 years, was demolished by bulldozers from the Jewish National Fund. One resident was killed by police
gunfire.
Despite Palestinians
occupying only 2% of the Negev, the Israeli government and the Jewish National
Fund sought, as part of the programme of Judaisation, to demolish an Arab
village in order to make way for the Jewish town of Hiran. This is comparable to, if not worse than, the demolition in the 1970’s of Black
‘squatter’ camps in Soweto.
occupying only 2% of the Negev, the Israeli government and the Jewish National
Fund sought, as part of the programme of Judaisation, to demolish an Arab
village in order to make way for the Jewish town of Hiran. This is comparable to, if not worse than, the demolition in the 1970’s of Black
‘squatter’ camps in Soweto.
Neither LFI nor the JLM, which are always eager to
accuse supporters of the Palestinians and opponents of Zionism of
‘anti-Semitism’ have anything to say about apartheid in Israel. Ha’aretz newspaper recently warned,
in an editorial ,that with the proposed annexation of Ma’aleh Adumim, ‘Israel will cease to exist as a Jewish and
democratic state, and officially become an apartheid one’.
accuse supporters of the Palestinians and opponents of Zionism of
‘anti-Semitism’ have anything to say about apartheid in Israel. Ha’aretz newspaper recently warned,
in an editorial ,that with the proposed annexation of Ma’aleh Adumim, ‘Israel will cease to exist as a Jewish and
democratic state, and officially become an apartheid one’.
Ha’aretz also referred, in the same editorial, to
the Israeli Labour Party ‘opposition’, of which the Jewish Labour Movement is
the British wing: ‘It is pointless mentioning the opposition at this stage, since the
dead cannot speak’.
the Israeli Labour Party ‘opposition’, of which the Jewish Labour Movement is
the British wing: ‘It is pointless mentioning the opposition at this stage, since the
dead cannot speak’.
We would urge you to
cease giving any support to the Labour Friends of Israel and not to speak at
any future fringe meetings of theirs. Both
Tony Benn and Eric Heffer resigned from LFI in 1982 as a result of its support
for the invasion of Lebanon. Over the
past quarter of a century they have not changed.
cease giving any support to the Labour Friends of Israel and not to speak at
any future fringe meetings of theirs. Both
Tony Benn and Eric Heffer resigned from LFI in 1982 as a result of its support
for the invasion of Lebanon. Over the
past quarter of a century they have not changed.
Yours sincerely,
Barry Ackerman Enfield
CLP
Jane
Airs Riverside
CLP Liverpool
Airs Riverside
CLP Liverpool
John
Airs Riverside
CLP Liverpool
Airs Riverside
CLP Liverpool
Ben
Armstrong Brighton
Momentum/Hove CLP
Armstrong Brighton
Momentum/Hove CLP
Clare
N. Ayton-Edwards Kenilworth
& Southam (Warwickshire) CLP
N. Ayton-Edwards Kenilworth
& Southam (Warwickshire) CLP
Georgina
Baidoun Milton Keynes
CLP
Baidoun Milton Keynes
CLP
Hilary
Barker Penrith
CLP
Barker Penrith
CLP
Abdul Basīr Brighton
Pavilion CLP
Pavilion CLP
Peter
Bloomer Selly
Oak CLP
Haim Bresheeth Hornsey
and Wood Green CLP
Bloomer Selly
Oak CLP
Haim Bresheeth Hornsey
and Wood Green CLP
Tarin
Brokenshire Cambridge
CLP
Brokenshire Cambridge
CLP
Andrea
Burford Leicester
East CLP
Burford Leicester
East CLP
Neil
Cameron Sheffield
Central CLP
Cameron Sheffield
Central CLP
Valerie Gene Cane Brighton
& Hove Momentum
& Hove Momentum
Marilù
Cavaliere CLP: Luton South
Cavaliere CLP: Luton South
Ches
Chesney Berwick-upon-Tweed
CLP
Chesney Berwick-upon-Tweed
CLP
Brian
Chinnery Enfield
Southgate
Chinnery Enfield
Southgate
Mollie Collins Momentum
and CLP South Dorset
and CLP South Dorset
Andy
Coombes Stroud
CLP
Coombes Stroud
CLP
Graham
Coupe South
Norwood CLP
Coupe South
Norwood CLP
Patrick
Darnes Congleton
CLP
Darnes Congleton
CLP
John
Davies Liverpool Riverside
CLP
Davies Liverpool Riverside
CLP
Helen Dickson Liverpool Riverside CLP
Theresa
Dunningham Central Suffolk
& North Ipswich CLP
Theresa
Dunningham Central Suffolk
& North Ipswich CLP
Sally
Rebecca Eason East Surrey
CLP
Rebecca Eason East Surrey
CLP
Simon
Milner-Edwards Withington
CLP
Milner-Edwards Withington
CLP
Pete
Firmin Hampstead
& Kilburn CLP
Firmin Hampstead
& Kilburn CLP
Philip
Foxe Enfield
South gate CLP
Foxe Enfield
South gate CLP
Christopher
Fraser Rushcliffe CLP
Fraser Rushcliffe CLP
Craig
Fraser Cheltenham
CLP
Fraser Cheltenham
CLP
Suzanne
Gannon Vice Chair
Membership, Colne Valley CLP
Gannon Vice Chair
Membership, Colne Valley CLP
Daphne
Gilbert Hexham
CLP/Momentum
Gilbert Hexham
CLP/Momentum
Lynda
Gilbert Milton
Keynes North CLP
Gilbert Milton
Keynes North CLP
Tony
Goss Torbay
CLP
Goss Torbay
CLP
Val
Graham Chesterfield
CLP
Graham Chesterfield
CLP
Tony
Greenstein Brighton
Kemptown CLP
Greenstein Brighton
Kemptown CLP
Jenny
Hardacre South
Cambridgeshire CLP
Hardacre South
Cambridgeshire CLP
Dr.
James Hall South
Cambridgeshire Constituency Labour Party
James Hall South
Cambridgeshire Constituency Labour Party
Martin
Hall Wythenshawe
and Sale East CLP
Hall Wythenshawe
and Sale East CLP
Abe
Hayeem Harrow
East CLP
Hayeem Harrow
East CLP
Jeremy Hawthorn Liverpool Riverside CLP
Rosamine
Hayeem Harrow East CLP
Rosamine
Hayeem Harrow East CLP
Professor
Dave Hill Brighton and
Hove Momentum
Dave Hill Brighton and
Hove Momentum
Simon
Hinds Islington
North
Hinds Islington
North
Doug
Holton Hackney
North and Stoke Newington CLP
Holton Hackney
North and Stoke Newington CLP
Carole
Hope Tewkesbury
CLP
Hope Tewkesbury
CLP
Anna
Hubbard Southport
CLP
Hubbard Southport
CLP
Steve
Jansky North
West Cambridgeshire CLP/Momentum
Helen Jenner Otley and Yeadon
CLP/Chair Leeds UNISON
CLP/Chair Leeds UNISON
Peter
Jenner Otley
and Yeadon CLP
Jenner Otley
and Yeadon CLP
Chris
Knight Streatham
Momentum Group,
Knight Streatham
Momentum Group,
Marie
Lynam Hamsptead
and Kilburn CLP
Lynam Hamsptead
and Kilburn CLP
Doug
Macari Canterbury
CLP and Momentum
Macari Canterbury
CLP and Momentum
Professor
Moshe Machover Hampstead and
Kilburn CLP
Moshe Machover Hampstead and
Kilburn CLP
Dr
Alan Maddison Houghton
and Sunderland South CLP
Alan Maddison Houghton
and Sunderland South CLP
Miriam
Margolyes OBE Lambeth
Constituency Party & Vauxhall CLP
Margolyes OBE Lambeth
Constituency Party & Vauxhall CLP
Helen
Marks Riverside
CLP
Marks Riverside
CLP
Becky
Massey Hove CLP
Massey Hove CLP
Patricia McCarthy Milton Keynes CLP
Kathy
McCubbing East Reading CLP
Kathy
McCubbing East Reading CLP
Steve
Mckenzie Bexhill
and Battle CLP
Mckenzie Bexhill
and Battle CLP
Tricia
Neda McLaughlin Gillingham and
Rainham CLP
Neda McLaughlin Gillingham and
Rainham CLP
John Metson Durham City CLP
Anne
Mitchell Hove
CLP
Anne
Mitchell Hove
CLP
Brendan
Morgan N. Ireland
CLP
Morgan N. Ireland
CLP
Wendy
Morgan Aberconwy
CLP
Morgan Aberconwy
CLP
Elizabeth
Morley Ceredigion
CLP/Momentum
Morley Ceredigion
CLP/Momentum
Dr Joseph O’ Neill, Cheshire West CLP
James
O’Sullivan East
Worthing and Shoreham CLP
James
O’Sullivan East
Worthing and Shoreham CLP
Gill
Page Richmond
(Yorkshire) CLP
Page Richmond
(Yorkshire) CLP
Pam Page Brighton
Kemptown CLP
Kemptown CLP
Frankie Patterson Gosport
CLP
CLP
Allan Pearson South Ribble CLP a
Nicola
Pratt Coventry
South CLP
Pratt Coventry
South CLP
Claire Pyper South
Birmingham Momentum
Birmingham Momentum
Daniel Read Portsmouth
CLP
CLP
Janine
E Reed Islwyn
CLP
E Reed Islwyn
CLP
Joan Rudderham Coventry
North West CLP
North West CLP
Professor Richard Seaford Exeter CLP
David Selzer City
of Chester CLP
of Chester CLP
Sam Semoff Riverside CLP
Lynda Sergeant Riverside CLP
Lynda Sergeant Riverside CLP
Mehrnaz Shahabi Bristol
West CLP
West CLP
Paul Stygal Rochford & Southend East CLP
Jean Sullivan Warrington
South CLP
South CLP
Anne Tanner Cardiff
West CLP
West CLP
Max Tasker Clwyd West CLP
Andrew Thompson Birmingham
Ladywood CLP/Momentum/LRC
Ladywood CLP/Momentum/LRC
Julian Townsend Camberwell and Peckham
CLP
CLP
Gareth Walker Tottenham
CLP tr
CLP tr
Jackie Walker Thanet
CLP
CLP
Clive Walder Birmingham
Northfield Momentum
Northfield Momentum
Adam Waterhouse Southampton
and Romsey CLP
and Romsey CLP
Daniel Waterman International
Member Labour Party
Member Labour Party
David Watson Walthamstow
CLP
CLP
Ian
Watson Edinburgh
Pentlands CLP
Watson Edinburgh
Pentlands CLP
Sarah Wilkinson Ludlow CLP
Eric Willoughby Editor,
Palestine Media Digest
Palestine Media Digest
Sara Wood Hampstead
and Kilburn CLP
and Kilburn CLP
Ken Willingale Southend
West CLP h
West CLP h
Charley Young Ceredigion
CLP
CLP
Sue Young. Ceredigion
CLP
CLP
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Saying that LFI have lot of money is an anti-Semitic ‘trope’ – even though it’s true!
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This used to be called ‘verballing’ when the Police made up a confession
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