Your Party leader Jeremy Corbyn appears to express irritation at a claim made by co-leader Zara Sultana that he “capitulated” under pressure to adopt an Israel lobby-backed definition of antisemitism during his time as Labour Party leader.
In a recent interview with the New Left Review, Sultana, the independent MP for Coventry South, praised Corbyn’s mass appeal, but admitted he “capitulated” to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s IHRA definition of antisemitism, saying it “equates it with anti-Zionism.”
Sultana added the movement was “frightened and far too conciliatory” when it was attacked and should have recognised that the state and the media “are our class enemies” because, she said, “you cannot give these people an inch.”
Corbyn has hit back at her comments in an interview with Middle East Eye published on 21 August.
When asked about what he made of Sultana’s comments about Zionism and Corbyn’s handling of the antisemitism row, Corbyn appeared to express irritation and dissatisfaction at his co-leaders views.
“Well, I think it wasn’t really necessary for her to bring all that up in the interview but that’s what she decided to do. The Labour Party did adopt the IHRA definition. Personally, I was more in favour of the Jerusalem Declaration which simply says that antisemitism is wrong. It is wrong to be antisemitic and it is perfectly possible to discuss the politics and behaviour of the State of Israel without being antisemitic.”
Corbyn did not go into detail about Sultana’s anti-Zionist comments but did admit that he adopted the IHRA under pressure despite having major concerns over antisemitism examples.
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“I was under a great deal of pressure to adopt the IHRA. That, um, happened. A huge majority of the National Executive, including people very close to me, wanted it adopted and that was duly done.
“Then later the examples were also adopted which I personally had the greatest concerns about because I think a definition that requires examples to give it life and legs shows to me that there is something badly wrong with the definition in the first place.”
Backlash from the left
Following Corbyn’s response, a number of left-wing figures have expressed dismay given how many on the political-left agree with Sultana’s view that Corbyn had been soft on pro-Israel forces in Labour’s ranks and failed to protect pro-Palestine voices from what has been described as an “antisemitism witch hunt” under his leadership.
Former Labour member Ammar Kazmi, who was a prominent young activist supporting Corbyn during his time in Labour, described Corbyn’s comments as “just pathetic” on X.
“Corbyn is irredeemably weak. This after two years of genocide is just pathetic. And is this not blatant lying? The battle over the IHRA took place in 2018. The ‘Jerusalem Declaration’ (also a Zionist definition) was proposed in 2021. Don’t take us for fools, Jeremy. Also, ‘people close to me wanted [the IHRA] adopted, and that was duly done’?! Come on! Why were those people close to you? Why do they remain close to you?”
In another X post, journalist for the Electronic Intifada, Asa Winstanley, who reported extensively on Labour’s antisemitism witch hunt, disputed Corbyn’s timeline of events.
“This is wrong by Jeremy Corbyn. 1) It’s vital to talk about the smears: they will be used AGAIN, against the new party this time. 2) Why does he still refuse to say he’s anti-Zionist, now he’s free of Labour pressure? 3) The “Jerusalem Definition” (which has its own problems) didn’t exist till 2021 –– well after Corbyn was kicked out of Labour.”
Barrister Franck Magennis, who is part of the UK legal team acting pro bono for Hamas as it applies to home secretary Yvonne Cooper for “deproscription” in the UK, offered Corbyn some free advice on how to better respond to such a question.
“Hey Corbyn, you badly messed up this answer. In the depths of a genocide animated by Zionism, how about: ‘Adopting IHRA was a mistake, because it’s racist against Palestinians. I agree with Zarah Sultana: as anti-racists, and as anti-fascists, we should all choose anti-Zionism.'”
Elsewhere, Corbyn ally and fellow MP Dianna Abbott has spoken out amid rumours she has been offered to join Corbyn and Sultana’s new socialist party.
Abbott claims she advised her longtime friend Corbyn not to launch a new political party because she believed it would struggle to make inroads under the first-past-the-post system.
“There were people around Jeremy encouraging him to set up a new party and I told him not to,” she said.
“It’s very difficult under the first-past-the-post system for a new party to absolutely win. If it wasn’t first past the post then you can see how a new party could come through, but I understand why he did it.”
Abbott described Sultana, the independent MP launching the new party with Corbyn, as a “lovely person who is full of energy”. She said the party could get votes and support from people who were “not necessarily left-wing” but were “disappointed about the way (Labour has) gone in the past year.”
The IHRA controversy
The IHRA defines antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.” It includes 11 examples, with 6 specifically addressing criticism of Israel.
These examples include: Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel than their own nations, denying Jewish people their right to self-determination, applying double standards to Israel and comparing contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
Supporters of the IHRA argue the definition is crucial for identifying and combating antisemitism, particularly in the context of anti-Zionist rhetoric.
However, many pro-Palestine experts and activists have condemned the definition as too broad and vague, gagging free speech and academic freedom by conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Some also argue that the definition is being wielded as a political tool to shield Israel from legitimate criticism and to destroy the Palestinian solidarity movement via lawfare and bogus antisemitism allegations.
For many on the left, now including Sultana herself, Corbyn is seen as the highest profile example of a pro-Palestine voice who was brought down by the IHRA and the relentless antisemitism row which plagued his leadership.
In October 2020, Labour suspended Corbyn from the party after an investigation into antisemitism by the Equality and Human Rights Commission which found Labour was responsible for “unlawful” harassment and discrimination during Mr Corbyn’s four-and-a-half year term.
Corbyn rejected the overall findings of the EHRC’s report stating the problem was “dramatically overstated for political reasons by opponents and the media.”
Other high profile victims of the so-called Labour Party witch hunt which occurred under Corbyn’s term including Jackie Walker, Marc Wadsworth, Asa Winstanley, former London mayor Ken Livingstone and former MP Chris Williamson.
Corbyn has been criticised by many of those hounded out or expelled by Labour for his failure to protect pro-Palestine voices within the party during the highly-politicised row.
