The party's ruling body agreed to adopt the internationally accepted definition of anti-Semitism - but Jeremy Corbyn was branded 'contemptible' after trying to add an additional statement
LABOUR today agreed to adopt tougher rules on anti-Semitism in an attempt to bring the party's mounting crisis to an end.
But Jeremy Corbyn faced new fury after he tried to add a statement saying it's OK to call Israel fundamentally racist.
Party bosses voted to accept the international definition of anti-Jewish hatred - despite attempts by the far left to stop them cracking down.
Previously, Labour had refused to adopt the full definition promoted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
After four hours of talks, the party's ruling national executive committee performed a U-turn, accepting the definition including all the "examples" attached to it which left-wing activists claim could stifle debate on the Middle East.
In a bid to keep the left on side, they added a clause stating that accusations of anti-Semitism won't be used to curb legitimate free speech.
But the party leader was branded "contemptible" when it emerged he had proposed an extra statement saying it is not anti-Semitic to call the foundation of Israel racist.
The statement, which was rejected by other NEC members, read: "It cannot be considered racist to treat Israel like any other state or assess its conduct against the standards of international law.
"Nor should it be regarded as anti-Semitic to describe Israel, its policies or the circumstances around its foundation as racist because of their discriminatory impact, or to support another settlement of the Israel-Palestine conflict."
Labour Friends of Israel blasted in response: "It is contemptible but utterly unsurprising Jeremy Corbyn prioritised the right of antisemites to describe the world’s only Jewish state as racist.
"It is now even more clear that Jeremy Corbyn is part of the problem not the solution."
A Labour spokesman said today: "The NEC has today adopted all of the IHRA examples of anti-Semitism, in addition to the IHRA definition which Labour adopted in 2016, alongside a statement which ensures this will not in any way undermine freedom of expression on Israel or the rights of Palestinians.
“The NEC welcomed Jeremy Corbyn’s statement to the meeting about action against anti-Semitism, solidarity with the Jewish community and protection of Palestinian rights, as an important contribution to the consultation on Labour’s Code of Conduct.”
Far-left allies of Mr Corbyn expressed fury at the party's climbdown - the blog Skwawkbox called it a "betrayal" while columnist Ash Sarkar said it was "shameful".
The vote was welcomed by representatives of the Jewish community, but they warned the Labour leader must do more to win back the trust of British Jews.
Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies, said: "The decision by the national executive committee to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-Semitism in full with all of its illustrative examples had to be the right call.
"It is very long overdue and regrettable that Labour has wasted a whole summer trying to dictate to Jews what constitutes offence against us.
"However the adoption of the internationally recognised definition by itself, can only be the beginning. Action is what matters."
She added that Labour should speed up action against bigoted activists - and called on Mr Corbyn himself to say sorry for "past anti-Semitic comments and affiliations";.
And Labour Against Antisemitism called for the party to remove the free speech clause, saying: "There can be no caveats, no conditions and no compromises with racism, and it is an ongoing disgrace that the Labour Party appears incapable of simply doing the right thing."
Today's meeting was picketed by leftie activists who cheered an NEC member who claimed the anti-Semitism crisis was cooked up by Jewish "Trump fanatics".
Pete Willsman received a rapturous reception as he arrived for the gathering in Central London, where activists on both sides of the debate were holding protests.
The two clashing groups - dominated by far-left campaigners who oppose the IHRA definition, with a smaller number of pro-Israel activists - shouted "fascist" and "shame on you" at each other as the meeting began inside.
When Mr Willsman, who was re-elected to the NEC yesterday, arrived at the building in Central London, he was cheered by Corbynista activists.
He triumphed in the elections despite saying there was no evidence of widespread anti-Semitism in Labour and accusing members of the Jewish community of advancing the far-right agenda.
Labour's racism crisis reached new heights over the summer after the party adopted a definition of anti-Semitism which is less strict than that promoted by the IHRA.
At the protests today - attended by Corbynista MP Chris Williamson - lefties sang "oh Jeremy Corbyn" as they waved placards opposing the IHRA definition.
The demos, guarded by police, also featured campaigners wrapped in Israel flags saying: "What offends Jews is our business, not yours."
As he arrived, deputy leader Tom Watson called on his colleagues to change tack and accept the demands of Jewish groups.
He said: "I hope we can adopt the IHRA definition today, I hope that is the start of the journey to rebuilding trust."
Earlier, Ms Dick said her officers would look into 45 extraordinary cases detailed in the leaked document – including messages such as “We shall rid the Jews who are cancer on us all”.
It is believed the cases against unnamed party members and councillors are currently sitting with Labour’s internal disciplinary committee.
Ms Dick , which revealed the dossier, "We will scope it, we will see whether a crime has taken place.
"I, of course, will pass this to my experts to look at."
Mak Chisty, who was in charge of dealing with hate crime for the Met Police until late last year, told LBC that 17 of the incidents in the dossier should have been reported by Labour to the police as a race-hate incident for investigation.
Among the vile messages put out by Labour activists were "these Jewish f**kers are the devils" and calling supporters of Israel "Anglo-Zio-Nazis".
One party member subjected a young boy to "ten years of hell" by repeatedly calling him racial slurs such as "Jew-boy", according to the dossier.
Simon Johnson of the Jewish Leadership Council said: "If so many of these cases are serious enough to be referred to the police and yet Labour is dragging their heels in dealing with them, then that clearly contributes to the complete lack of confidence that the Jewish community has in the way that Labour is dealing with these at the moment.
"If Jeremy Corbyn was a competent leader of the Labour party, he would have already dealt with these cases of anti-Semitism months ago. He would have rid this party of the stain that now affects them."
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