Corbyn appoints pro-Israel MP to Labour foreign policy post

The Jewish Chronicle in London reports on the surprising appointment of a pro-Israel shadow foreign minister within the shadow cabinet of the decidedly less Israel-friendly leader of the UK Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn.

MP Fabian Hamilton is not unaware of the tensions, he makes clear in an interview with the Chronicle:

One of Labour’s new shadow foreign ministers has said he believes he can work under Jeremy Corbyn despite their differences of opinion on Israel.

Fabian Hamilton, a vocal critic of the party’s approach to the issue of Palestinian statehood during Ed Miliband’s leadership, said he knew there would be “difficult bridges to cross” in his work alongside Mr Corbyn.

…

Mr Hamilton said: “I know what the Jewish community thinks about Jeremy’s leadership and I’m well aware of Jeremy’s views, but the Labour Party is more than one person.

“I did point out my own particular views that are very different to Jeremy’s on the Middle East and I was told ‘that’s fine, he’s perfectly happy with that.’”