Jeremy Corbyn forced to apologise over anti-Semitism within ‘pockets of’ Labour Party
Jeremy Corbyn has been forced to apologise for the anti-Semitism which has occurred within "pockets" of the Labour Party
JEREMY Corbyn has been forced to apologise for the anti-Semitism which has occurred within "pockets" of the Labour Party.
Mr Corbyn, 68, faced the possibility of a rebellion by some of his own MPs unless he addressed the issue
The Labour leader said: "Labour is an anti-racist party and I utterly condemn anti-Semitism, which is why as leader of the Labour Party I want to be clear that I will not tolerate any form of anti-Semitism that exists in and around our movement.
"We must stamp this out from our party and movement.
"We recognise that anti-Semitism has occurred in pockets within the Labour Party, causing pain and hurt to our Jewish community in the Labour Party and the rest of the country.
"I am sincerely sorry for the pain which has been caused."
Earlier today Jewish leaders had called for a protest outside parliament on Monday evening to tell Labour leaders that "enough was enough" after Mr Corbyn had been caught up in yet another anti-Semitism row.
The Jewish Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council issued a "call to action" today, saying they would be writing to the parliamentary Labour party.
They said: “Day in, day out, we the Jewish community face increasing antisemitism. Enough is enough."
Mr Corbyn's apology comes after Facebook posts emerged where it appeared he supported an anti-Semitic mural in 2012.
The graphic, called Freedom for Humanity, was painted on a property near Brick Lane in East London by international graffiti artist Kalen Ockerman, known as Mear One.
It showed a number of bankers around a monopoly board, betting with money, and a sign on the edge of the frame reads: "The new world order is the enemy of humanity."
The artist on Facebook: "Tomorrow they want to buff my mural. Freedom of Expression. London Calling. Public Art."
Corbyn replied: "Why? You are in good company. Rockerfeller destroyed Diego Viera's mural because it includes a picture of Lenin."
The Labour leader last night admitted in a grovelling statement the painting was anti-Semitic after he was confronted by Jewish Labour MP Luciana Berger.
He said: "In 2012 I made a general comment about the removal of public art on grounds of freedom of speech.
"My comment referred to the destruction of the mural Man At The Crossroads by Diego Rivera on the Rockefeller Center.
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"That is in no way comparable with the mural in the original post.
"I sincerely regret that I did not look more closely at the image I was commenting on, the contents of which are deeply disturbing and anti-Semitic.
"I wholeheartedly support its removal. I am opposed to the production of anti-Semitic material of any kind, and the defence of free speech cannot be used as a justification for the promotion of anti-Semitism. That is a view I've always held."
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