Jeremy Corbyn refuses to answer questions after revelation he hosted event comparing Israel with Nazis on Holocaust Memorial Day
LABOUR’S spiralling anti-Semitism crisis has hit a new low after Jeremy Corbyn hosted an event comparing Israel with Nazis on Holocaust Memorial Day.
The party leader stayed silent this morning when questioned about his organisation of an event in parliament called “Never Again for Anyone — Auschwitz to Gaza”.
Mr Corbyn, who was a backbencher at the time in 2010, has though issued an extraordinary apology after the revelations by .
He admitted that by being pro-Palestine he has “on occasion appeared on platforms with people whose views I completely reject”.
And he added that he “apologises for the concerns and anxiety that this has caused”.
But Labour MP John Mann said the event puts him in breach of the party’s code on anti-Semitism, and in breach of “any form of normal decency”.
The veteran campaigner on the issue told the BBC after this latest incident: “The Labour Party is seen by most members of the Jewish community to have declared war on it.”
Leaving his home in North London this morning Mr Corbyn refused to speak to the media, instead getting into a taxi with his wife.
Meanwhile his right-hand man John McDonnell said the crisis "has really shaken us to the core".
The Shadow Chancellor said he wanted the party's approach to be resolved as soon as possible.
The event Mr Corbyn hosted a talk by Hajo Meyer, a Jewish survivor of Auschwitz, entitled The Misuse of the Holocaust for Political Purposes.
A passionate anti-Zionist, he had repeatedly likened modern Israel to the way the Nazis acted.
One of the key issues in Labour’s row is the failure to adopt an internationally-recognised code on anti-Semitism, specifically a section on making such a comparison.
At the event Mr Meyer, who died in 2014, spoke out against the use of "Nazi genocide of Jews to justify the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by the state of Israel".
And he said Jewish author and Nobel peace prize winner Elie Wiesel was the “high priest” of the Holocaust religion.
At the time Mr Corbyn defended hosting Mr Meyer in the House of Commons, saying: "Hajo has survived and spent the rest of his life working and campaigning for justice for people all over the world.
“He has spoken out against the dehumanising effects of occupation very forcefully. Sadly, for much of this he has been condemned, which I regret."
But eight years later he has now said sorry, making his first comments on Labour’s anti-Semitism crisis in weeks.
Mr Corbyn told The Times: “The main speaker at this Holocaust Memorial Day meeting, part of a tour entitled Never Again — for Anyone, was a Jewish Auschwitz survivor.
“Views were expressed at the meeting which I do not accept or condone.
“In the past, in pursuit of justice for the Palestinian people and peace in Israel/Palestine, I have on occasion appeared on platforms with people whose views I completely reject.
“I apologise for the concerns and anxiety that this has caused.”
But Gideon Falter, chairman of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said Mr Corbyn’s apology “rings utterly hollow”.
He added: “We do not believe him. He is an anti-Semite, his party is institutionally anti-Semitic, and that is why we have now called in the Equality and Human Rights Commission to defend British Jews from this existential threat.”
And Mr Mann, the chair of the Parliamentary group on anti-Semitism, blasted Mr Corbyn over the event.
He told Radio 4’s Today programme: “It is extraordinary that someone would organise a counter demonstration on Holocaust Memorial Day.”
And Jewish Labour MP Louise Ellman said she was “absolutely appalled” by the reports, hitting out at the party’s failure to tackle comments comparing Israel with the Nazis.
She told BBC Two’s Newsnight: “I am exceedingly disturbed that Jeremy was actually at a meeting where these sorts of comments were made.”
The backbencher said it had made her wonder “if this is the reason that the Labour Party wanted to dilute the definition in this way”.
Another Labour MP, Stephen Kinnock, said: “This is now a full-blown crisis for our Party.
“Three things must happen today: Jeremy Corbyn must confirm that likening Israel to the Nazis is an anti-Semitic act; the NEC must adopt the IHRA definition in full, and the Margaret Hodge and Ian Austin inquiries have to be halted.”
There is anger from Jewish groups, with Karen Pollock, chief exec of the Holocaust Educational Trust, tweeting: “On Holocaust Memorial Day, when people from all backgrounds, parties and faiths came together to remember the unique evil of the Holocaust, Mr Corbyn chose to chair an event undermining its very purpose - deliberately distorting of the truth of history’s greatest crime.”
And Dave Rich from the Community Security Trust said: “Using Holocaust Memorial Day as a platform for comparing Gaza to Auschwitz looks very much like a deliberate provocation, and comments about Judaism being replaced by a ‘Holocaust religion’ are grotesque.”
It is the latest in a series of damaging incidents for the party, which saw one of Mr Corbyn’s allies on Labour’s ruling executive suggest Jewish "Trump fanatics" were behind the accusations of anti-Semitism.
Jewish leaders demanded answers over why Peter Willsman got off scot-free after a recording was leaked of his extraordinary rant.
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They accused Labour of double standards after it emerged the NEC member won’t face disciplinary proceedings - while two moderate MPs are being investigated after criticising Mr Corbyn.
Deputy leader Tom Watson branded Mr Willsman a “loud mouth bully” who “disgusts” him while former minister Yvette Cooper said his remarks were “appalling”.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, said Labour had let Mr Willsman off with a slap on the wrist, and its President Marie van der Zyl said he should be expelled.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism has also referred the party to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, saying it has “created an atmosphere in which Jewish members and/or associates are discriminated against".