The real reason Labour has waited until now to take action on Israel
www.independent.co.uk
As David Lammy announces the suspension of trade talks with Israel and new sanctions over the Gaza humanitarian crisis, political editor David Maddox explains why action wasn’t taken sooner

One of the most insane “But Jermy Bomblins!!!1” I think I’ve seen.

Antisemitic conspiracy theories suggesting Labour is being held back by Zionist interests can readily be found on social media, but none of this is true.

A visible reminder of this came when former leader Jeremy Corbyn got to his feet to challenge Lammy. Under Corbyn’s leadership, Labour became so immersed in antisemitism and so marginalised the Jewish community that the party has had to continue working hard to restore its reputation.

For this reason, Sir Keir and Mr Lammy have worked hard to support Israel’s right to defend itself in the wake of the horrific 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas.

As attacks on Gaza by Israel have intensified, Labour has softly attempted to pressure Netanyahu’s government into restraint but never been willing to go the extra mile. Arguably, as Mr Malthouse and other MPs from five different political parties claimed in the chamber, they still have not gone far enough.

But the reality is that the urgency and horror of the situation now facing the people in Gaza is the tipping point where the imminent catastrophe outweighs the shame of Labour’s recent political past.

Reminder that the entire notion that Labour meaningfully became more antisemitic under Corbyn has never been proven. Worse, revealed internal emails showed Labour HQ employees deliberately tried to undermine Corbyn, including deliberately not dealing with complaints sent to the party, only for those same employees to then try and pretend they were whistleblowers to the BBC unveiling how Labour wasn’t taking complaints seriously.

  • HumanPenguin@feddit.ukEnglish
    12·
    17 days ago

    And sorry to tell you this. But not everyone in the UK believes that fact. Just because you and I agree. Dose not mean voters as a majority do.

    I did not consider Corbyn actions to be antisemitic. But he still lost the election due to a large % of voters being convinced it was. That is the issue with democracy. The majority can be wrong. It’s down to you to convince them of the truth. Not them to just know lies are lies.

    • GlacialTurtle@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
      4·
      17 days ago

      And sorry to tell you this. But not everyone in the UK believes that fact. Just because you and I agree. Dose not mean voters as a majority do.

      Damn, I wonder if politicians who keep defending Israel and a media unwilling to call out Israels genocide might have something to do with that. Almost like it’s a responsibility on part of politicians and governments to be against genocide and to call it what it is from the beginning rather than hedging bets.

      I did not consider Corbyn actions to be antisemitic. But he still lost the election due to a large % of voters being convinced it was. That is the issue with democracy. The majority can be wrong. It’s down to you to convince them of the truth. Not them to just know lies are lies.

      And according to you, it’s OK to be a coward and not act to convince people of the truth if you prefer to kowtow to genocidaires acting offended.

      • HumanPenguin@feddit.ukEnglish
        12·
        17 days ago

        No one said anything was ok. Just the possible thought prosses of people not you and myself.

        Being unable to consider the ideas of others sans your own ideas. Is why people fail to change minds.

        There is a reason the labour right is obsessed with the idea “power is needed to invoke any change”. Mainly a long history of losing when ideals override winning. So not implementing any ideals.

        And it is needed for the left to understand their fears to address them.

        They can be wrong. But without understanding their motives and just assuming all you disagree with is evil. You and I will fail to engage them at all.

        And yes the media etc dose fuck up opinions. But knowing it ourselves is only if value if we use that knowledge to form a strategy.

        • GlacialTurtle@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
          2·
          17 days ago

          Being unable to consider the ideas of others sans your own ideas. Is why people fail to change minds.

          Reminder that the context for this is genocide, and you’re response is to turn this into a session of huffing your own farts by making this about an abstract failure to change hearts and minds, as if Keir Starmer has simply not heard a good argument as to why genocide is bad, and as if literally being in government isn’t an ideal situation with which to change minds by actually having a fucking spine and being able to put forward a case against Israel and against genocide, rather than defaulting to cowardice and defending Israel.

          There is a reason the labour right is obsessed with the idea “power is needed to invoke any change”. Mainly a long history of losing when ideals override winning. So not implementing any ideals.

          The ideals they’re implementing are cutting disability benefits, shitting on trans people, backing genocide and reinforcing far right rhetoric and policies against immigration. They’re political enemies using power for ends they prefer or are more comfortable with. not some stoner engaging in a debate about the meaning of life.