EXCLUSIVE - The letter that Corbyn intended to send to Jonathan Arkush at the Board of Deputies

The only way to stop the ‘anti-Semitism’ attacks is to stand up to them and not to throw your friends to the wolves

In the Jewish News last Monday Jonathan Arkush of the Board of Deputies of British Jews called for the removal of the whip from Chris Williamson MP.  Williamson’s crime was saying that it was a pleasure to share a stage with Jackie Walker and for calling for the reinstatement of Ken Livingstone.  Tonight we learn that Christine Shawcroft has been forced to quit as Chair of the Disputes Committee for supporting a suspended member, Alan Bull.

Jeremy Corbyn is in full retreat throwing his political friends to the wolves.  Instead of standing up against this McCarthyist witch-hunt by Israel’s supporters he is like a ship without sails at the mercy of a storm.  We have to be clear.  Appeasement doesn’t work it only encourages them. 

Christine Shawcroft is the latest victim of the anti-semitism purge

We now have demands that those who criticised the far-Right ‘Jewish’ demonstration outside Parliament should also be disciplined.  This is a demonstration that included the anti-Catholic DUP and Norman Tebbit.  The little darlings have apparently been subject to abuse.  This is a complete lie.  I was there and I was called a ‘traitor’ repeatedly.  I saw people shouted down and Zionists openly parading their racist contempt for the Palestinians.  Ben Southern-Thomas, a young JVL member “came away crying” after anti-Semitic abuse from Zionist demonstrators who told him he was “not a real Jew” and was just “pretending to be a Jew.”

Last night I had a dream that I had been given the task of drafting a letter from Jeremy in response to Jonathan Arkush of the Board of Deputies letter.

There are some forms of anti-semitism which are perfectly acceptable to Tory Arkush

Dear Jonathan,

Thank you for your letter of 26^th March. You wrote about an ‘institutional failure to properly address Jewish concerns’ giving the Chakrabarti Report as ‘the most glaring example.’  I could not agree more.

I have long wanted to implement Chakrabarti’s proposals regarding natural justice and due process. Unfortunately we have only just removed the last remaining obstacle to their implementation, namely Iain McNicol. Try as I might McNicol insisted on retaining the principle of Israeli military courts, namely that you were guilty unless proven otherwise.  Indeed Labour’s National Constitutional Committee has I understand much the same conviction rate as Israel’s military courts – 99.74%.

Even now we are still experiencing problems with Sam Matthews who is refusing to depart.

You speak of my failure to ‘tackle anti-Semitism’ and that I issue ‘empty statements’ whilst doing ‘nothing to address or understand it.’.  Let me assure you that I take all racism extremely seriously. That is a consequence of what you call my ‘far left worldview’.

That was why I refused to welcome the election of Donald Trump who, in the words of the Washington Post, had presided over a campaign in which anti-Semitism was not merely an undertone but the melody.  As Dana Milbank observed ‘Donald Trump and his surrogates have been playing footsie with American neo-Nazis for months.’  The final ad of Trump’s campaign featured three Jewish bankers – George Soros, Janet Yellen and Lloyd Blankfein alleging that they were part of a ‘global power structure’.

That is why I was so surprised to hear that you had extended such an effusive welcome to Trump. The Jewish Chronicle reported that ‘British Jews have responded angrily’ to your statement. I would be interested to know why you welcomed to power alt-Right politicians, such as Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka, who are steeped in anti-Semitism.  Ha’aretz noted that Gorka, despite his links to a Hungarian neo-Nazi group was welcomed by the Jerusalem Post conference last year like a superstar.

What I don’t understand, and perhaps you would help me, is that we all agree that it is anti-Semitic to blame Jews for what Israel does, yet you say that criticism of Zionism, the ideology of Israel, is anti-Semitic.  Both can’t be true.  If you say that criticising Zionism and Israel is anti-Semitic you must also be saying that Jews and Israel/Zionism are synonymous.  Which is it?  You can’t have your matzot and eat them!  You write:

When Jews complain about an obviously anti-Semitic mural in Tower Hamlets, Corbyn of course supports the artist. Hizbollah commits terrorist atrocities against Jews, but Corbyn calls them his friends and attends pro-Hizbollah rallies in London. Exactly the same goes for Hamas. Raed Salah says Jews kill Christian children to drink their blood. Corbyn opposes his extradition and invites him for tea at the House of Commons. These are not the only cases.

The problem with all your letter, in which you say that I have ‘sided with anti-Semites rather than Jews’ is that you give a host of examples – none of which are true.

For example you say that Hizbollah commits terrorist atrocities against Jews. Hizbollah has got nothing to do with British Jews. Hizbollah didn’t even exist until Israel attacked Lebanon in 1982.  Its real crime is defending Lebanon against Israeli invasions and forcing Israel out. 

You demonise Hamas but it was Israel that created Hamas as a counter-weight to secular Palestinian nationalism. See The Washington Post Wall Street Journal and The Intercept. 

You mention that I took tea with Raed Salah, who you allege ‘says Jews kill Christian children to drink their blood.’  This too is untrue.  Raed in fact said ‘“Whoever wants a more thorough explanation, let him ask what used to happen to some children in Europe, whose blood was mixed in with the dough of the holy bread.” There was no reference here to Jews. Raed insists he was referring to the practices of the Inquisition not Jews! That was why he was acquitted by the Jerusalem Magistrates Court and it was only on appeal that he was convicted by the higher colonial District Court. Raed Salah was locked up by Theresa May on the basis of a poem that was changed by the Jerusalem Post so as to make him appear anti-Semitic. Mr Justice Ockleton of the Upper Tribunal freed him.  You are even more confused when you say I opposed his extradition.  There was no extradition! 

You say that ‘Again and again, Jeremy Corbyn has sided with anti-Semites rather than Jews. At best, this derives from the far left's obsessive hatred of Zionism, Zionists and Israel.’  Why when you deny that this is about Israel do you deliberately conflate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism? 

This poster showing George Soros, saying "Let's not allow Soros to have the last laugh!" was part of Netanyahu's friend Viktor Orban''s campaign. Someone has written "dirty Jew" on his forehead

You say that ‘Rightly or wrongly, Jeremy Corbyn is now the figurehead for an anti-Semitic political culture’.  This is mere hyperbole. I have always opposed racism. My reasons for supporting the Palestinians and opposing Zionism are the same as my reasons for opposing Apartheid in South Africa.  As you will of course know, Israel and South Africa were the best of friends. That is why people like Archbishop Desmond Tutu say that Israeli apartheid is worse than that in South Africa.

Let me assure you that it is because I am opposed to anti-Semitism that I was appalled when Netanyahu paid a friendly visit to Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban last July just after he had initiated an anti-Semitic campaign against George Soros, the American Jewish philanthropist and a childhood survivor of the Hungarian Holocaust. Netanyahu supported Orban because he too hated Soros on account of his financing Israeli human rights organisations. According to the Jerusalem Post Netanyahu is now blaming Soros for helping the 40,000 Black African refugees he is trying to deport.  Maybe that too is anti-Semitic?

Orban is currently engaged in trying to rehabilitate the pro-Nazi leader of war-time Hungary Admiral Horthy who presided over the deportation of nearly ½ million Jews to Auschwitz yet Israel has nothing to say on this. 

Yair's cartoon showing Soros as the financial manipulator, complete with Lizard and a stereotypical anti-semitic cartoon of a Jew

The neo-Nazi Daily Stormer welcomes Yair Netanyahu's antisemitic cartoon

What I find strange is that Israel has such friendly relations with all the anti-Semitic regimes in Eastern Europe – from the Czech Republic to Poland. Indeed it is hard to think of a single neo-Nazi or far-Right movement in Europe that isn’t pro-Israel! Netanyahu’s own son Yair produced a genuinely anti-Semitic cartoon attacking George Soros, complete with a Lizard and a stereotypical image of a Jewish financier. Young Yair even received praise from David Duke, ex-KKK Grand wizard and Andrew Anglin, the neo-Nazi editor of the Daily Stormer.

What I find particularly difficult to understand and perhaps you could help me, is that when the fascists tried to march through the Jewish East End of London in the 1930’s, the Board of Deputies told Jews to ignore them, stay indoors and leave it to the Police.  The same happened with the National Front in the 1970’s.  Why is it that the Board is prepared to stage demonstrations over non-existent anti-Semitism but runs away from the real thing?

Just one last favour Jonathan. You rightly ask me to remove anyone who is anti-Semitic from the Labour Party. Can I ask that you return the favour?  Jonathan Hoffman is a delegate to the Board.  He has been filmed demonstrating alongside Paul Besser, former Intelligence Officer of Britain First as well as with the EDL.  I am sure you will agree with me that the best place to start fighting anti-Semitism is at home.

Kind Regards

 

Jeremy

More evidence that Israel supports ISIS and Jihadists in Syria

Islamic Fundamentalism is the Mirror Image of Zionist Fundamentalism

This blog has carried a number of articles on the symmetry between Israel’s ethno-religious fundamentalism with its messianic settlers and the growing ascendancy within Likud of those who believe in a Third Temple and the destruction of the Golden Mosque.  That symmetry meets its fulfilment in the Syrian civil war.

General Levy at the Herzliya security conference explaining why the  main enemy is not Iran but ISIS

Israel has a number of good reasons, from its perspective, to support both Al-Nusra, the Al Qaeda group which has recently rebranded itself as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and ISIS.  Zionism is based on much the same racist and confessional ideology.  It has reproduced itself throughout the  Middle East.  ISIS and al-Nusra have long fed of the confessionalism and sectarianism that the Israeli state has created.  They also have a congruence of interests.

The Israeli military in particular has done little to hide its view that ISIS represents a useful factor in Iraqi and Syrian politics.  [see Israeli Military Make it Clear that They Support ISIS

Captured ISIS tank

Israel’s main enemy in the Middle East is Iran, which it sees as a regional competitor.  To Israeli strategists Iran, Syria and  Lebanon form the Shi’ite axis of evil.  It is not surprising therefore that Israel and Netanyahu look to ISIS and Sunni states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar as allies in the region.

It is quite clear that despite Israel’s claims that its support for al-Nusra was only humanitarian, tending its wounded fighters, the relationship is far deeper.  A moment’s thought would tell you that Israel’s denials of co-operation are lies and falsehoods.  Can you imagine that Israel would tend Hamas fighters!

Sunni Ahmed al-Rifai shrine near Tal Afar is bulldozed

The Jerusalem Post noted in New UN report reveals collaboration between Israel and Syrian rebels that 

‘a report from the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) reveals that Israel has been working closely with Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights and have kept close contact over the past 18 months. The report was submitted to the UN Security Council at the beginning of the month.

The documents show that Israel has been doing more than simply treating wounded Syrian civilians in hospitals. This and a few past reports have described transfer of unspecified supplies from Israel to the Syrian rebels, and sightings of IDF soldiers meeting with the Syrian opposition east of the green zone, as well as incidents when Israeli soldiers opened up the fence to allow Syrians through who did not appear to be injured.’

But it’s not all a one way traffic.  According to Globes, Israeli business news, Israel is or was the largest oil customer of Isis. [SYRIA - We Should Bomb Those Who Finance Terror – The State of Israel]

Prince Bandar bin Sultan, former Ambassador to USA and Intelligence Chief - believed in using Al Nusra and ISIS

Israel long gave up denying that it was intimately involved in giving support to Al Nusral Fighters.  A number of articles documented this help.  [Israeli Lies About Support for Al Qaeda Fighters Exposed] and - Syrian Killed in Attack by Golani Druze Was Islamist Fighter, Not Civilian as IDF Claimed’

Fighters from the Isis group during a parade with a missile in Raqqa, Syria.

It was all revealed in Israel when Golani Druze attacked a military ambulance carrying two wounded Al-Nusra terrorists and killed one of them  [Druze attack Military Ambulance Carrying al-Qaeda Terrorists

Below is a recent article reporting an Israeli think tank as claiming that ISIS is a ‘useful tool’ to Israel’s military.

Tony Greenstein

So-called Islamic State “a useful tool” says Israeli think tank

This is not the first time that influential and powerful Israeli figures have argued in favour of using Islamic State as a way to indirectly attack Iran

Asa Winstanley

August 27, 2016

The director of a right-wing think tank at an Israeli university has spoken out against declared US intentions to destroy the so-called “Islamic State” group.

Professor Efraim Inbar argued in an article that Islamic State “can be a useful tool in undermining” Iran.

Inbar is director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, and a professor at Bar-Ilan University, in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv. He is a academic of some repute in western elite circles.

The Begin-Sadat centre has some form. Another one of its luminaries is Mordechai Kedar, an Israeli academic who once advocated rape as a weapon of war to be used against the families of alleged Palestinian attackers. Speaking to an Israeli radio show in 2014 he said, “the only thing that deters them is if they know that their sister or their mother will be raped in the event that they are caught. What can you do, that’s the culture in which we live.”

In a mind-bending series of utterly cynical and blood-thirsty leaps of logic, Inbar argues that Islamic State is the least-bad of a series of enemies in the region for Israel. Considering the fact that Islamic State has rarely (if ever) engaged in combat with Israel, there is a certain horrible logic to his claims.

“A weak IS is, counter-intuitively, preferable to a destroyed IS,” Inbar wrote. “The continuing existence of IS serves a strategic purpose. Why help the brutal Assad regime win the Syrian civil war?”

Inbar sees Iran, Syria and the Lebanese resistance group Hizballah as far greater enemies to Israel. Although Hizballah is now engaged in the brutal civil war in Syria on the side of the regime, it defeated Israeli occupations forces in two wars. First of all, in a long guerilla war to liberate the south of Lebanon. The result of that was Israel and its proxy forces being driven out under fire in 2000. Secondly, Hizballah fought Israel to a standstill during its brutal 2006 invasion of Lebanon.

Hizballah is a serious military force which (before its divisive intervention in the Syrian civil war) once commanded massive and cross-sectarian popular support all across the Arab world. It’s no wonder then that Israel would prefer to see its guns turned against targets other than Israel. “Hizballah … is being seriously taxed by the fight against” Islamic State, gloats Inbar.

And what of Islamic State crimes, which will no doubt continue and intensify if it is not militarily defeated? No matter, says Inbar: “the Western distaste for IS brutality and immorality should not obfuscate strategic clarity … stability is not a value in and of itself. It is desirable only if it serves our interests.”

These statements may be utterly morally reprehensible, but at least they have a certain frankness to them.

Iran of course, is deemed a threat to Israel. Its nuclear energy programme is at the heart of these claims, and hence Inbar agitates against the deal made with Iran in regard to this. Israel once collaborated with the US on cyberwarfare projects such as Stuxnet, which attacked and sabotaged Iran’s nuclear energy plants. But the real threat is Iran’s independence as a sovereign state – something neither the US global hegemon nor the Israeli regional hegemon wish to tolerate.

“The Obama administration has inflated the threat from IS in order to legitimize Iran as a ‘responsible’ actor that will, supposedly, fight IS in the Middle East,” claims Inbar. A rather odd and conspiratorial formulation considering that Iranian and Iranian-backed forces have been at war against Islamic State in both Syria and Iraq.

This is not the first time that influential and powerful Israeli figures have argued in favour of using Islamic State as a way to indirectly attack Iran. In January, the then defence minister Moshe Yaalon said at a conference that if he had to pick a side out of Iran and Islamic State in Syria: “I choose the Islamic State”. He argued that “our greatest enemy is the Iranian regime”.

At the same conference, former Israeli army commander Yoav Galant argued that “developing ties between Israel’s allies and enemies as they join forces to fight Islamic State pose a threat to Israel,” and that the de facto alliance between Iran and several Western countries fighting Islamic State in Syria and Iraq “creates new challenges for Israel.”

Their logic then, was very similar to Inbar’s. Michael Oren, former Israeli ambassador to the US, said in 2014 that Israel wants to “let the Sunni evil prevail” over the greater “evil” of Iran. Speaking in the context of a massacre of Iraqi soldiers, he seemed to argue that Israel should allow the “Islamic State” to win.

All in all, it is quite a similar strategy to Israel’s tacit alliance with the extremist group formally known as the Nusra Front – which was al-Qaeda’s formal Syrian affiliate until it spit in a recent re-branding exercise.