Herzog blasts British Labor leader

Herzog briefed the foreign press on his plan for separating from the Palestinians.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Updated: FEBRUARY 11, 2016 00:07
MK Herzog (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
MK Herzog
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Labor Party leader Isaac Herzog issued surprising condemnation Wednesday for his counterpart in the British Labor Party, Jeremy Corbyn, at a Jerusalem Press Club event in the capital.
During his briefing of the foreign press on his plan for separating from the Palestinians, he criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not stopping the current wave of violence; Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas for being unwilling to make concessions to help his people; and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid for lacking long-term vision. He also criticized Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom for her repeated statements that have offended Israelis.
But his most surprising criticism was directed at Corbyn.
When a British reporter called Corbyn Herzog’s fellow Labor leader in his question, Herzog took offense to the characterization and said he did not see Corbyn as his fellow, stating that it bothered him that Corbyn has backed economic boycotts of Israel and its universities, especially at a time that Islamic State is on the rise.
“Corbyn has a naive approach that proves he does not understand the reality in the region,” Herzog said.
Herzog declined to answer a question from a Swedish journalist about Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, who won the Democratic New Hampshire primary Tuesday.
“I will not comment on any candidate in the American political competition,” he said.