The Zionist set-up of Israel was historically – obviously – racist. By definition, a lot of “Western Empire” activities were. And equally obviously modern-day Israel is a state that needs holding to critical account for its actions like any other.
Labour leader Corbyn wanted to make this point at @UKLabour’s National Executive Committee yesterday. He was overridden. Regardless, it looks like he emboldened his bigoted supporters to vandalise London instead. Corbyn is responsible for this https://t.co/1sVpJYLQYh pic.twitter.com/r72yE3f4KA
” Maajid – (Mājid) [maːʤɪd] ماجد (@MaajidNawaz) September 6, 2018
Agreed!
But this is not what the Labour party anti-semitism arguments are about.
It’s about truth AND reconciliation. Freedom to state (historical) truth is one thing. Appropriateness of when and where to say it is another. Reducing the multi-layered / multi-timescale complexity – conflating many issues – into a single present-tense sound-bite / poster-slogan is a disgusting move.
Freedom of thought and expression is enshrined in UN. Reminding and assuring people that still exists (generally) in one set of (specific) rules on anti-semitism and holocaust denial is a distraction. A dangerous, divisive, diabolically-motivated distraction.
Rules are for guidance of the wise. It is plain wrong – dangerously misleading – to refine rules to cover every conceivable situation, every exception, every counter-exclusion. Formal rules should focus on their point.
There, I said it.