Muslim Labourites condemn 2 anti-Semitic attacks in Oxford
Offenders set a fire and left anti-Jewish notes outside Chabad center; statement comes as British Jews still outraged about racism in Corbyn’s party
Michael Bachner is a news editor at The Times of Israel
Muslim supporters of the British Labour Party have condemned two anti-Semitic incidents that targeted a Chabad center in Oxford earlier this month.
Attackers started a fire outside the student center in the early hours of May 19, leaving anti-Jewish notes at the scene, local reports said, adding that the fire caused no injuries or significant damage.
Days later, on Wednesday, another anti-Semitic letter was placed near garbage cans near the same center, and white powder was found on the cans. Initially feared to be a chemical substance, it was later determined by police to have been talcum powder.
The British reports did not detail the content of the anti-Semitic letters.
On Monday, the Oxford Labour Muslim Network said it condemned the incidents “in the strongest possible terms,” adding that it was sending “unconditional support” to the Chabad center and that “an attack on one is an attack on all.”
Linking anti-Semitic attacks to anti-Muslim incidents in Britain, the group called on the Oxford & District Labour Party to take action to protect local communities from racist targeting.
Labour, the main British opposition party, and its leader, Jeremy Corbyn, have been accused of not doing enough to deal with what is seen as a serious problem of anti-Semitism in the party,
https://www.facebook.com/OxLabourMuslim/posts/189483481772310
The group also commended Labour councilor for the Oxford area, Tim Hayes, who expressed support for the local Jewish community following the attacks.
“Oxford Chabad is a hub of Jewish life in the city and the people of St. Clement’s are proud that the student center has made its home here,” Hayes said last week, according to the Oxford Mail.
“We deplore every act of anti-Semitism and stand with our Jewish community,” he added.
Investigating officer George Atkinson said a “thorough” investigation was being conducted, and asked the public to provide information on the attacks.
“Hate crimes are serious offences and something we will not tolerate in the Thames Valley,” he said. “We are conducting a thorough investigation and have several lines of inquiry which we are exploring.
“However, we are appealing to anyone who may have any information about the offence to come forward.”
Allegations of Labour anti-Semitism have grown since Corbyn, a pro-Palestinian socialist, was elected leader of the party in 2015.
Corbyn has faced questions about his own links to known anti-Semites, past comments on Israel, and associations with vehemently anti-Israel figures.
British Jews and an interparliamentary committee of inquiry have dismissed as unsatisfactory an internal Labour audit that largely cleared the party of anti-Semitism allegations.
On March 26, around 1,500 protesters massed outside the British parliament in an unprecedented demonstration organized by the usually publicity-averse Anglo-Jewish leadership. In calling for the protest, an open letter from the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council accused Corbyn of siding with anti-Semites “again and again.”
Times of Israel staff and agencies contributed to this report.
