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THREAD: Panorama. Look, I'm absolutely not about to challenge the lived experiences of those interviewed. Some of their accounts were harrowing; the atmosphere inside HQ was clearly demoralising, and I wish them all the very best. It's mortifying that they experienced this,
But - and yes, you knew there was a 'but' coming, there were multiple issues with the programme. Large ones. Alarming ones. Biased ones.
What would a programme taking a serious, objective approach to this issue have done?
1. It'd have noted the huge amount of research which shows how small a problem antisemitism on the left is.
2. It'd have noted that antisemitism in Labout has FALLEN since Corbyn became leader
1. It'd have noted the huge amount of research which shows how small a problem antisemitism on the left is.
2. It'd have noted that antisemitism in Labout has FALLEN since Corbyn became leader
3., It'd have asked, to my mind, the most important question of all. Why is there such a massive chasm between what the data shows about AS on the left and in Labiour... and what the UK Jewish community perceive? Perceptions, I might add, which cannot and must not be ignored.
4. As well as seeking out the accounts of those interviewed, it'd have also sought out accounts from British Jews who support Corbyn and Labour. There's plenty of us. The media pretend we don't exist.
5. It'd have taken a serious approach to understanding the difference between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, and to the one problem which I do think many on the left have. Namely, that their view of what 'Zionism' means is profoundly different to that of most Jewish people.
Can I understand why people on the left hold that view? You bet I can. Their view of Zionism is, quite naturally, coloured by the Palestinians' experience of Zionism. But most Jews' perspective is, equally naturally, completely different: it's about there being a Jewish homeland.
There was precisely zero attempt to analyse any of this. What we got instead was a series of anecdotal accounts set to mood-influencing music: accounts which, I might add, often featured extraordinarily little specific detail.
We were told that awful things had happened, that people had become depressed and even suicidal: my heart goes out to them. That's beyond hideous. But we were rarely told WHY. As far as I could see, much of it came down to differences in interpretation on what AS is or isn't.
Are those differences understandable? Yes, for the same reason I mentioned above: how Zionism is viewed by many on the left. Educating many on the left as to what Zionism means to most Jews is of profound importance. But it won't change minds in all cases: quite legitimately so.
The programme, indefensibly, edited Seumas Milne's email to make him seem as though he'd said something which he had not; and quite unbelievably, repeated the same lie about Jackie Walker which only last week, the BBC was forced to retract.
The BBC retracts the lie, but Nick Robinson makes no public apology for it... then it's just repeated all over again? What is this? Soviet Russia?
And the problem with those two examples is this. It's indicative of bad faith. It's indicative of a desire to whip up a storm, exaggerate and sensationalise. That is precisely the opposite of what any responsible public broadcaster would do.
That bad faith is, of course, precisely why no-one from the Labour leadership appeared on the programme. Because they know they won't be represented fairly, or even in any kind of remotely even-handed way. This is tabloid style journalism paid for by the public on pain of prison.
Now, with all that said, did the programme reveal significant issues which must be addressed? Yes. Too often, Labour's HQ has been wildly dysfunctional: different people motivated by different things and following different agendas.
And while due process is absolutely paramount in all cases, at least some of the original decisions made have clearly been unsatisfactory... and my God, processes need to be speeded up,. Labour's bureaucracy doesn't glide into gear; it clunks. At a snail's pace at times.
But having said that:
1. More and more complaints coming in inevitably means longer delays - and the way complaints are treated as guilt by the media is disgusting, and contrary to all norms of justice. It's like living in Orwell's 1984.
1. More and more complaints coming in inevitably means longer delays - and the way complaints are treated as guilt by the media is disgusting, and contrary to all norms of justice. It's like living in Orwell's 1984.
2. As one of their statements explained, Labour DO have to ensure that it won't be sued after expelling a member who actually isn't guilty. This isn't some trivial matter; it goes right to the very heart of it.
Condemning someone of being an antisemite when they're not actually guilty of it is outrageous. It casts a stain on their character and reputation forever, and in today's climate, is now encouraging all sorts of other things. Doxxing. Threats. Including to people's families.
In that sense. Labour's caution couldn't be more understandable. It's currently being expected to satisfy a baying mob who simply aren't interested in the details or context of any particular case. Is this the UK? Or Salem?
Further, as others have pointed out already, many of the problems were at their worst when, um, some of those interviewed were in place. It's got better under Jennie Formby, quite a lot better - but she was attacked and practically demonised regardless.
And by the way: it may not ultimately have been the fault of those previously in place. I'm not here to cast aspersions at them at all. I suspect it was all part of the dysfunction; a chronic failure to communicate and trust in one another. Like too many awful office environments
Be all that as it may: when British Jews say they don't feel welcome in the Labour Party, that's utterly awful. They must be listened to. The abuse some of them have suffered is disgusting. (But having said that, the rest of us get abused daily too... and no-one cares at all).
The left must, repeat MUST, educate itself about Zionism, stop treating it as a dirty word, and understand the perspectives not just of one side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict... but BOTH sides. I know many will reject that instantly. I understand why, but please don't.
With any issue such as this, care, sensitivity, empathy, understanding and kindness are so so important. This is long and rather dry, but I tried to understand both sides' perspectives last year. In this post here, which underscores how intractable it is: https://www.facebook.com/shaun.lawson.12/posts/10155193684747583
Yet it's all a lot easier said than done. If you get a group of friends together and start discussing Israel and Palestine over dinner, sparks fly and tempers flare incredibly fast. It's like no other issue in that sense.
Extrapolate from that what it's like living in either Israel or Palestine. The fear, the loathing, the hatred, the rage..,., on BOTH sides. Then try figuring out how peace can be achieved. It's a nightmare. There's a reason this conflict has gone on so long without being solved.
Quite often, Israelis used to their country being demonised all over the world will say: "Come visit. See what it's like for us". I completely understand why most reject that for entirely principled reasons on their part - but believe me, it adds to learning, perspective, empathy
All of which is pretty darn vital if trust is ever to be rebuilt and peace is ever to be achieved. One other thing: if you ask any Jewish Labour member "but what about Israel? What about what it's doing to Palestine?", for heavens sake, stop. IT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
But again, having said that: so many people in the Labour movement care about this issue for entirely natural and good reasons. It's a burning injustice. Palestinians die practically every day. Palestinians lost their homeland. British imperial history is tied up in it all too.
Not only that... but which part of the world has always captivated humanity more than any other? The Middle East. It's unique. Its culture, its sheer beauty and spirituality, its long history is extraordinary. Israel, Palestine, Babylon. Mesopotamia. Persia. Turkey, Egypt.
I've always felt strangely drawn to the region without being able to articulate why? The answer probably lies in my blood. I'm sure very distant relatives came from there. And so many others are drawn there by the same vibrancy and magic. In short: we CARE about the Middle East.
But caring about it so much gives nobody anywhere the right to berate any UK Jew - or anyone other than the Israeli government or army - for what happens in Palestine. Please, please, please don't do it.
This has been a long thread. Devoted to what, in the great scheme of things, remains a small problem. The media's misrepresentation of it isn't just outrageous; it's extremely dangerous, on multiple levels.
It leads to massive numbers of good, humble, compassionate people being smeared, attacked and called 'racist' for wanting a Labour government. And I promise you: the more this is whipped up, the more Jewish leaders will start sounding like the boy who cried wolf.
In the, please God, never to occur eventuality of British Jews coming under attack in any manner similar to Nazi Germany, most of those being smeared right now will be manning the barricades and on the frontline defending my fellow Jews. That's how disgusting this is.
But the broader public? They'll stop listening. These accusations are being thrown around like confetti, and weaponised for political purposes. It's a disaster. If it continues, heaven only knows what'll result. Britain looks more like Weimar Germany with every passing day.
Two other things before I wrap this up.
1. I was going to say that I await the Panorama on Tory Islamophobia with interest... but you know what? If they ever do that documentary (I'm not holding my breath), it'll be a whitewash. That is what our public broadcaster now is.
1. I was going to say that I await the Panorama on Tory Islamophobia with interest... but you know what? If they ever do that documentary (I'm not holding my breath), it'll be a whitewash. That is what our public broadcaster now is.
So here's Owen Jones expressing the most righteous outrage at the despicable, terrifying normalisation and acceptance of Islamophobia across the media and in the Tory Party. Which is racist to its very core, and becoming plain fascist in its views. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/10/islamophobia-tory-party-britain
2. And finally: I hate to break this to some people, but 'antisemites' do NOT have the record Corbyn does, do NOT do regular interviews and videos expressing their hatted for the evil of antisemitism, and do NOT hold comprehensive inquiries into it in their own party.
He's been naive at times, he's been stupid at times, he's been lazy at times... and his 'hand of Israel' comment was disgraceful. But that's it. He's a profoundly good, honourable man who wants a better world for everyone living in it.
Racist parties are racist in their ideas, their policies, their manifestos. And they elect racists to lead them. Like Boris Johnson's being elected to lead the Tories - and heaven help us all - the UK right now.
Elephants and mosquitos. If the media and our politicians don't start challenging the elephant instead of obsessing with the mosquito, I dread to think what'll become of the UK. But that's not to say Labour can't do better. It can. And it damn well must. /ENDS
