Members of the Labour Party hit a moral rock bottom the other day. In County Durham, Steve Cooke, the secretary of a local chapter of the Party, presented a resolution condemning the murder of 11 Jews at a Pittsburgh synagogue. He couldn’t imagine that anyone would object.
A local chapter of the British Labour Party voted against a resolution condemning last week’s massacre at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, with leaders reportedly saying that there was too much focus on “anti-Semitism this, anti-Semitism that.”
Steve Cooke, the secretary of the Norton West party group in England’s County Durham, wrote on Facebook that he he was “aghast to report that an emergency motion on the Pittsburgh synagogue attack which I took to my Labour Party branch meeting last night was voted down, with the leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and the cabinet member for community safety among its most vociferous opponents,” the Independent reported.
Cooke said that his proposed motion condemned the murders and anti-Semitism in general, but people told him that the resolution should remove references to anti-Semitism and instead merely condemn all forms of racism. According to Cooke, past motions against Islamophobia and anti-migrant rhetoric were not forced to be watered down in such a manner.
Cooke also wrote that members told him there was too much focus on “anti-Semitism this, anti-Semitism that” and that a local councillor claimed the long-running controversy over anti-Semitism in the Labour Party was “just a game being played.”
In the end, the resolution was voted down after only two people voted to support it.
Only two people voted for the resolution. One was its author, Steve Cooke himself, and one other person. All the others voted against a resolution condemning the murder of 11 Jews by an antisemite.
They thought there was too much focus on “antisemitism.” Just because the people killed happened to be Jews doesn’t mean we shouldn’t condemn “racism” and “islamophobia” at the same time. That would be fairer. Why should we single Jews out for special sympathy? How about just saying “we deplore all forms of racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism” and leave it at that? No need to mention Pittsburgh, because that would be showing favoritism to Jewish victims. And that’s exactly what we are trying to avoid — favoritism.
The Labour Party and its leader, the leftist Jeremy Corbin, have for years been condemned by British Jews for what they see as widespread acceptance of antisemitism within the party ranks and leadership. But Cooke said on Facebook that it was the more left-wing members of the party that supported his motion, while the “Corbyn-skeptic” members opposed it.”
Good God. So the antisemitism in the Labour Party is not limited to Corbyn and his loyalists, but can also be found among the “Corbyn-skeptic” members who opposed the resolution. Apparently there’s so much of it to go around that everyone who wants it can have a share.
Elsewhere in Britain, according to the Independent, a local Labour Party branch in Southend West only voted to condemn the Pittsburgh attack after removing a line in the resolution vowing to “recognize that anti-Semitism exists in society and affirm our belief that all forms of anti-Semitism must be eradicated.”
Got that? The Southend West chapter would condemn the murders in Pittsburgh only if the line vowing to “recognize that antisemitism exists in society” and to “affirm our belief that all forms of antisemitism must be eradicated” were taken out.
Try to see it from their point of view. Here’s what the Labourites in Southend West, and Norton West, must be thinking:
“We’re not going to condemn only antisemitism. That would be showing favoritism to Jews. We’ll denounce “racism” and “islamophobia,” because these are real problems real people face today, but “antisemitism” is different. It’s mostly a thing of the past. We mustn’t single out antisemitism when Jews — let’s face it — have never had it so good. That would just be playing into the hands of the Zionists, who love mentioning antisemitism to justify their own crimes. And we’re certainly not going to do that. If Jews want antisemitism to be “eradicated,” then why don’t they change their behavior, that rubs so many people the wrong way? And for god’s sake, they should stop feeling so sorry for themselves. As usual, they think they’re the only ones suffering. Well, what about the Palestinians? What about their suffering? Eleven people were killed in Pittsburgh, and the world goes crazy. But nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. Doesn’t anyone care about them?
mortimer says
If Steve Cooke has any integrity, he will give his NOTICE of RESIGNATION from the Labour Party and submit a letter to the editor of the Times.
Phil Copson says
“….If Steve Cooke has any integrity, he will give his NOTICE of RESIGNATION from the Labour Party and submit a letter to the editor of the Times….”
——————————————————————————————
Disagree – if all the people who oppose anti-semitism were to leave Corbyn’s New Nazi…sorry, New Labour Party…. then the party would be composed entirely of anti-semites; how would that help ?
Tom says
Phil Copson
It would identify, isolate and ostracize the nazi’s of the Labour Party. In doing so they would become less relevant, just as the KKK have become a very tiny minority who are irrelevant in politicas in the USA, and allow people to ignore them as a political force.
Mark says
The very fact that Corbyn leads that party speaks volumes. Whether or not Cooke resigns really makes no difference as far as the party is concerned. Morally and intellectually, the political left in the UK has
been radicalized beyond rehabilitation..
If I was a Jew in the UK, I’d be thinking about living somewhere else.
gravenimage says
Given the fact that the appalling antisemite Jeremy Corbyn is the head of the Labour Party, I doubt very much we are going to see *any* integrity from this quarter.
mortimer says
IS THE FOLLOWING QUOTE THE ACTUAL TRUTH ???
Quote: “a local councillor claimed the long-running controversy over anti-Semitism in the Labour Party was “just a game being played.”
If Labour is merely PRETENDING TO BE ANTI-SEMITIC in order to attract the Muslim vote, what a VERY WICKED and EVIL GAME they are playing.
People could get killed as JIHADISTS think they will get away with attacking Jews in UK WITH IMPUNITY.
Labour has abandoned ethics.
Terry Gain says
Given Islam’s hatred for the Jewish people, anyone who is islamophilic is anti-Jewish. It is surprising however to see this open Jewphobia from the vile Labour Party.
Ray Jarman says
in answer to the last question, “what about the Palestinians? What about their suffering? Eleven people were killed in Pittsburgh, and the world goes crazy. But nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. Doesn’t anyone care about them?” My answer is a resounding no!!!! It is not nor has it been the Jews within the State of Israel that have cause the misery in the Arab lands surrounding that great state. In 1948 all were offered the opportunity to join in a great adventure of peace and prosperity within a state that would provide equality and the “American” concept that is enclosed within the first ten amendments to the Constitution advocated and written primarily by Benjamin Franklin and members known as Plubius. The Arabs for the most part declined the generous offer to the very same sub-humans who attempted to murder their Jewish, and former confederates, people while they slept the very same night that the last British soldier boarded the ship back to the United Kingdom. For the most part only the Druze, a few Christians and a hand full of Arabs accepted. Those who accepted have been incorporated into the Jewish State with full citizenship rights as accorded the Jewish people themselves. They have become officers and enlisted members of the IDF as well as members of the Knesset whereas Arabs who declined live in fear and have suffered at the hands of their own leaders, using the term very loosely, and the Christians summarily have been driven out of the Arab controlled lands. In 1991 when I accompanied Secretary of State Baker, Bethlehem was predominately Christian and now less than ten percent are left.
I do wish that the Communist in both America and Britain would take time out to study history before making erroneous statements about the State of Israel and I defy them to name one state in the Middle East where the citizens possess the freedoms as those in the beautiful Jewish State of Israel.
Clive Stephen Delmonte says
May I say that agree entirely with Mr Jarman ?
Indiana Tom says
I view Judaism as a religion instead of a genetic semitic race. Sort of like anti Christian is anti Anglo Saxon.
But yeah, the guy that shot up the Synagogue was a nut job.
So he blames the ordinary people at the Synagogue for letting all sorts of Muslims in the country. Yeah. Whatever. Like they really were making policy on immigration..
FYI says
What corbyn,islamic fascists, nazis and antisemitic bigots don’t get is this:
They will someday be judged …..by a Jew.
Ezra Adamson says
Amen. What a sobering truth.
Shalom says
I and my husband have just got our DNA results back from Ancestry UK and our results say 100% Jewish European. What does that tell you?
somehistory says
Because to condemn antisemitism is “islamophobic.”
moslims are antisemitic and they make sure everyone knows it. it’s “islamophobic” not to know it; just don’t talk about it in a way that criticizes those who hate all Jews, because that too is “islamophobic”.
If antisemitism is condemned, that makes moslims angry and hurts their widdle, evil, feelings, and that is just so “islamophobic”.
And it is way beyond annoying that one cannot condemn anything except “islamophobia,” because islam is not worthy of respect or a defense. It is rotten and evil to the core.
John says
This guy should stay out of office !
william carr says
There is no such thing as ‘islamofauxbia’ (sic) it is a neologism created precisely to shut people up. Nearly all so called cases of islamophobia have proved to be fake or exaggerated, whereas the antisemitic attacks everywhere are quite real and often quite violent. Jews do not need to make up attacks on them they are frequent and real
Gwendolyn E Mugliston, PHD, DVM MSN says
This killing of Jews in Pittsburgh is indefensible on every level. It is an atrocity. I wept. I have never met a Jew I didn’t like even though I may not have approved their business practices. I have never known a Muslim I liked and I grew to despise my Muslim graduate students for their incessant cheating. I suppose there are Jews who cheat on every level of our society…fortunately I have never known them.
Apparently logic, deductive reasoning based on facts, has totally flown the coop in Britain and in Europe. What has saved us here in the USA is our blessed Constitution and the Bill of Rights and a strong conservative portion of the population who do not think globalism, Islam, FCM, and the Koran are worthwhile because of diminishment of man and women and “god”, no matter what our concept is of that.
Using logic, it is clear patriarchy as exemplified by most religions is not acceptable as it reduces women to slaves and total ascendency to men only.. Only our republican form of government has saved us women from being indentured. The Muslims would have all women indentured. Yes, I have read the Koran and I think it is one of the most dangerous books I have ever read, elevating an insane man to godhood and believing his pronouncements and edicts of his very sick mind as the “gospel truth” or facts. IThe Koran does indeed work to fantasize the role of men and supports it by its rules.
I think one reason American women and women are so drawn is Islam. is because they did not learn to think logically as youngsters–now it seems emotion is The Way for many adults with nothing based on Fact. It was very difficult to teach some of my graduate students the difference between alleging a “fact” v proving a fact. As an example I would ask them the date of their birth. They would verbally provide a date. I would then ask for documentation to prove what they alleged. Many of them “got that” but many never did understand what I say without documentation is worthless unless I was talking about poetry..
Noel says
Gwendolyn (that’s a nice Welsh name) – I agree with you. I have never met a Jew I disliked and never met a Muslim I trusted.
There is more education flying around, but less intelligence. I find people sometimes arguing a point I didn’t make. In my lifetime I’ve noticed an increase in ’emotional logic’, and I view that as an oxymoron.
What saved the USA is Trump. Clinton would have had you in a similar position to Europe. Here in the UK we have a dilemma. Which ineffectual candidate shall we elect? We vote Conservative to keep the Marxists out, but the Cons under May are hopeless.
Brother Charles says
Its the same has your Muslims CORBYN , islamophobic this and islamophobic that , In they they are worse , Every thing that goes on is ISLAMOPHOBIA , SO GET OVER IT CORBYN .
Tom says
In submitting to the Corbyn agenda of Islam capitulation these leftist have sold their very souls to the devil and are culpable for any gains made by Islamists in British politics.
jewdog says
The watering down of the specific condemnation of anti-Semitism to a generalization of all forms of prejudice was typical of the Soviet Union. The Communists refused to acknowledge the Holocaust as a specifically Jewish tragedy and also opposed Israel as a Jewish state for similar reasons. In Socialism, we are all the same, right? Interesting how a universalist ideology can be used as a lethal weapon, just as dangerous as extreme nationalism in its own way. There’s the red-brown alliance for you – Hitler and Stalin. I’m not surprised given the extremism in the Labour Party. I wonder if Britain will become another Venezuela.
Walter Sieruk says
To focus on the very first paragraph of the main article of this specific jihadwatch news posting.
For it mentioned that vicious and malicious shooting in that synagogue in the city pf Pittsburgh Pennsylvania in which eleven Jews were murdered
.
Therefore, it’s very fitting to reiterate the following message.
That vicious despicable murderous shooter, Robert Bowers, in the synagogue in Pittsburgh Pa. is a very strong reminder of the wisdom found in the speech given by a former US President, William Howard Taft, For in that speech President Taft declared “Anti-Semitism is a noxious weed that should be cut out. It has no place in America.”
Likewise, every sane person knows and understands that the murders, Bowers, committed is a heinously evil things to do and evil and that by his behavior Bowers had himself to be evil. Furthermore, that hideous fiend of a man had also proven himself to be totally and completely un-American. As Theodore Roosevelt had in one of his speeches made it known that “There can be no fifty-fifty Americanism in this country. There is room here for only one hundred percent Americanism, only for those who are American and nothing else.”
Furthermore, that vicious shooter, Robert Bowers, who committed those mass murders should be executed by the State government of Pennsylvania . The Bible instructs in Exodus 21:12. “He that smiteth a man, so that the dies, shall be surly put to death.” {K.J.V.]
Dawne says
What is most concerning to me is that it says: “with the leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and the cabinet member for community safety among its most vociferous opponents,”
Looking at the Stockton on Tees website these two people are clearly white British middle aged /elderly men (there are names and photos). So this smacks of old fashioned anti-semitism, rather than the more recent version we see in Britain – Islamic inspired anti-semitism which is what I assumed the Labour party is suffering from. I had thought that the old fashioned type of anti-semitism had long died out, but clearly not. Maybe it’s been hiding and now coming to the fore, emboldened by the Islamic anti-semitism we see.
I’m British, not Jewish (Christian) and I have no idea why we seem to have this old fashioned version of anti-semitism still in our society. I know it used to exist (my mother-in-law tells a story of when she met my father-in-law in the early 50s and was taken home to meet his mother and father. They asked him “why have you brought that Jew home?” In fact she wasn’t Jewish at all – as Protestant English as they come – they’d clearly made assumptions based on her appearance.) They were very ordinary people and it does show me that anti-semitism existed at this level then. I have never come across it since and just put it down to them being elderly and prejudiced, but clearly many people have been hiding their anti-semitic feelings.
James says
That last paragraph seems, on the whole, to be about right. The Jews can think they are special if they wish to – no-else has to agree with them, or indulge them. Unjust behaviour towards them is deplorable – not because they are Jewish, but because unjust behaviour of any kind, to anyone, is deplorable.
The article comes dangerously close to endorsing a kind of identity politics, as though the Jews were entitled to special consideration on the ground merely of being Jews. They are not entitled to anything of the kind: not to special opposition for being Jewish, nor to special favour for being Jewish. The trouble with Jewish or Judaeophile identity politics (apart from its being a mirror-image of an element in Hitlerite ideology) is that it is closely akin to the intellectual nihilism of SJW ideology.
Identity politics is the enemy of good morals, because moral judgements cease to be based on the moral character of acts and intentions, and shift instead to the question of who the agent is. Massacre ceases to be an intrinsically evil undertaking, and becomes evil only if the agent holds the wrong ideology. Jews should on no account be wronged, in any way – but neither should anyone else; because to wrong people, in any way, regardless of who they may be, is wrong. That, surely, is basic human morality.
gravenimage says
Wait–not threatening or killing someone is “special consideration”?