MP ‘pleased’ Nakba denial meeting cancelled: ‘No ifs, no buts’ on antisemitism
Suggested items on the agenda included whether the claim that “black boys are good dancers” is racist
Catherine West, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, has issued a statement after a Labour group in her constituency suggested discussing whether “Nikba denial” is worse than Shoah denial at a forum on antisemitism next week.
Stroud Green Labour has since apologised and cancelled the meeting, after it drew heavy criticism online after a list of suggested topics was emailed to some 700 members and comprised a number of offensive questions.
In a statement to Jewish News, West said: “I’m very pleased the local Labour meeting planned to be held last night in my constituency was cancelled and that the organisers have apologised (see Twitter).
“There are no excuses for antisemitism. No ifs no buts.”
Suggested items on the agenda included whether the claim that “black boys are good dancers” is racist and whether it is “okay to joke about Israel”.
Other questions were whether antisemitism should be treated differently to other forms of racism and whether it is still “actually possible” to rebuild trust with “the mainstream Jewish community”.
In a statement, Stroud Green Labour tweeted: “Our intention was to facilitate an informal discussion which could increase awareness and understanding about antisemitism, and a discussion about how we can combat this vile prejudice.
“But we realise that some of the questions accompanying the notice of the meeting were offensive and insensitive.“We wholeheartedly and sincerely apologise to the Jewish community. Yours in solidarity.”
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.
