Corbyn urged to remove patronage of pro-Palestine group over antisemitism claims
An investigation into the social media activity reportedly revealed reams of antisemitic material
Jeremy Corbyn has been asked to remove his patronage from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) following claims of antisemitic abuse in the group, according to a report.
An Evening Standard investigation into the social media activity of PSC branches up and down the country revealed reams of antisemitic material allegedly shared by local branches.
The group, which claims to combat racism, is the largest UK organisation to advocate for Palestinian rights.
It has the patronage of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has previously spoken at PSC rallies and marches and even delivered petitions to Downing Street on their behalf.
Images discovered by the Standard included a cartoon comparing Israeli Jews to neo-Nazis and an image of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Adolf Hitler bathing in Palestinian blood.
Another image depicted a Jewish caricature planting hand grenades in a field on the “promised land,” according to the newspaper.
The Standard also claims Brixton PSC’s official Instagram account shared a post describing Labour MP Tom Watson as a “corrupt Israeli agent.”
The branch reportedly shared a photo of Palestinians queueing up next to a border wall, with the caption: “21st century concentrations camp? No, just Palestinians coming home from their Israeli slave jobs.”
Jewish MP Ruth Smeeth told the Standard: “Equating Jews with Nazis, endorsing antisemitic tropes and dismissing instances of British anti-Jewish hate is vile and shouldn’t be tolerated by anyone, never mind those who purport to be on the political Left.
“I would urge Jeremy Corbyn to speak out and remove his patronage from the organisation until they have condemned their supporters and expelled those who are filled with hate.”
The PSC said in a statement it “takes accusations of antisemitism very seriously and has procedures in place to address such allegations when they are brought to the organisation’s attention.”
The Labour Party has been approached for comment.
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