Labour’s pro-Israel group slams ‘free speech’ addition to anti-Semitism definition

Labour Friends of Israel slams the UK Labour party and its leader Jeremy Corbyn for including a clarification with its acceptance of a broader, internationally accepted definition of anti-Semitism that explains that the right to “free speech” on Israel would not be curtailed.

“It is appalling that the Labour party has once again ignored the view clearly and repeatedly stated by the Jewish community: that it should adopt the full IHRA definition without additions, omissions or caveats,” the group’s director Jennifer Gerber says in a statement.

“The IHRA definition has been adopted in full by 31 countries, including the UK, as well as over 130 UK local councils, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the judiciary,” she adds. A “freedom of expression on Israel” clause is unnecessary and totally undermines the other examples the party has supposedly just adopted. Labour appears determined to provide a safe space for antisemites. This decision is a sad reflection on Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the party and the culture it has instilled.”