Letter to Irish Times on antisemitism claims in The Labour Party

Co-signed by fellow Jewish comrades.

"Sir, – As Jewish people, we agree with David Landy and Ronit Lentin (“Anti-Semitism claims are used for political end”, May 2nd). We question, why now?

We believe the smear campaign is partly because the British Labour Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn, is more socialist and promotes human rights for everyone – for Palestinians, for refugees and child refugees.

The campaign is timed as an attack on the Labour Party before the Assembly elections on May 5th, and to divert attention from Israeli and UK government abuses of refugees.

Of course, anti-Jewish racism exists in the UK and Ireland and it must be challenged.

However, the key issue here is Israel’s campaign to silence opposition to its continuous, brutal and murderous policies of occupation, siege and human rights abuses.

Criticism of Israeli government policy is not racism.

It is part of a long historical Jewish (and human) tradition of fighting oppression and standing up for peace and justice for all. – Yours, etc,

JO BIRD, Derry,

BECCA BOR, Derry

SUE ESTERSON, Dublin,

AISLING McGEOWN, Belfast

GAVIN MENDEL-

GLEASON, Dublin,

SUE PENTEL, Belfast,

E WHITE, Dublin."

03 May 2016