Israel's Arab MKs back Corbyn as 'a principled leftist'

The letter commends Corbyn for “his unflinching support for the Palestinian people”.

By HADAS LABRISCH
Updated: SEPTEMBER 3, 2018 09:37
Israeli Arab lawmakers from the Joint Arab List (from L to R) Osama Saadi, Ahmed Tibi, Ayman Odeh, Masud Ganaim and Haneen Zoabi stand in front of the Dome of the Rock during a visit to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City July 28, 2015. (photo credit: REUTERS)
Israeli Arab lawmakers from the Joint Arab List (from L to R) Osama Saadi, Ahmed Tibi, Ayman Odeh, Masud Ganaim and Haneen Zoabi stand in front of the Dome of the Rock during a visit to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City July 28, 2015.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Arab-Israeli Joint List party wrote a letter in strong support of UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, controversial politician and author of several recent infamous statements, reports The Guardian on Sunday.
The letter, which was sent to The Guardian, reads, "We stand in solidarity with Jeremy Corbyn and we recognise him as a principled leftist leader who aspires for peace and justice and is opposed to all forms of racism, whether directed at Jews, Palestinians, or any other group.”
In this move the Arab Israeli Knesset members yet again striking against Netanyahu's coalition.
Earlier this month, the party announced that it intends to appeal to the UN to censure Israel following the Nation-State Law.
The letter commends Corbyn for “his long-standing solidarity with all oppressed peoples around the world, including his unflinching support for the Palestinian people”.
“As long as efforts to curb anti-Jewish sentiment in the UK are focused on combating the disparagement of Jews merely for their membership in a minority group, they have our full support." wrote the members of the Joint List.
This letter comes as a precursor to the party's expected visit to Brussels this week to seek EU support in condemnation of the Jewish Nation-State Law.
Corbyn on wreath laying for Munich terrorists, August 13, 2018 (Reuters)
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“We are traveling to Brussels to ask the Europeans to be loyal to their values of protecting human rights, especially minorities,” said MK Jamal Zahalka. “The Nation-State Law was a declaration of war against us. We have a right to defend ourselves, including by enlisting the support of the international community.”
Corbyn and the UK Labour Party have been caught up in a maelstrom of antisemitism accusations, following its refusal to adopt in full the internationally accepted definition of antisemitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, along with several revelations of comments and actions made by Corbyn himself.
Most recently, a video surfaced of the Labour leader saying about British Zionists that “having lived in this country for a very long time, probably all their lives, they don’t understand English irony.”
Several people spoke out against Corbyn, including Prime Minister Netanyahu and Former UK chief rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Corbyn is also being widely criticized on social media, alongside a strong lobby in his favor adorned with tags such as "JeremyCorbyn4PM".
Jeremy Sharon contributed to this report.


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