Labour manifesto’s ‘bias’ stance on Israel changed to echo 2015 version
Opposition party's commitment on the Middle East changed after a draft was adopted with a 'bias' narrative
Labour’s manifesto commitment on Israel and the Palestinians has been changed to echo the 2015 version – after a draft adopted a “bias” narrative.
The Jewish Labour Movement wrote to all members of the shadow cabinet and national executive committee involved in the final decision-making process after a leaked draft sparked uproar.
The party’s 2017 manifesto draft had said a Labour government would support Palestinian state recognition at the United Nations and highlight the “humanitarian crisis” in Palestinian Territories. The document also brands settlement-building in the West Bank as “wrong, illegal and a threat to the peace process”.
While it urges a two-state solution, it adopts a distinctly Palestinian narrative in saying: “The expansion of Israeli settlements on the Palestinian West Bank is not only wrong and illegal, but represents a threat to the very viability of the hopes of securing a successful outcome of the peace process.
“We cannot accept the continued humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and we will support Palestinian recognition at the UN.”
A spokesman for Emily Thornberry said: “leaked language” on which stories were based on is “several versions out of date, and was originally written by a junior official only as a place-holder to assist in the drafting process.:
“The actual manifesto text on Israel and Palestine was agreed by Emily and colleagues on Tuesday evening, a full 24 hours before this old leaked language emerged, and it bears no relation to the language in that leak.”
It’s understood Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry had signed off a form of wording far more similar to the last manifesto under Ed Miliband, which called for both sides to avoid actions detrimental to peace.
But an NEC source has told the Jewish News that the wording to appear in the final version, published next week, will now closely reflect the 2015 manifesto, with an additional line on recognition of Palestine.
Urging a rethink, JLM chair Jeremy Newmark had warned the draft text “appears partisan, imbalanced and is not aligned with existing Party policy”.
Board of Deputies’ senior vice-president Richard Verber earlier said the draft “lacks any mention of terrorism, incitement or indeed political will – which suggests complete detachment from reality.”
The final version of the manifesto will also include explicit mention of the Jewish contribution to World War One after the draft Mentioned Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims but not Jewish soldiers fighting for Britain.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
