Corbyn: EU supports Israel because of the Holocaust

'The state of Israel was set up in order to provide a safe haven for Jewish people.'

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Updated: OCTOBER 14, 2018 06:45
Britain's opposition Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn (photo credit: PETER NICHOLLS/REUTERS)
Britain's opposition Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn
(photo credit: PETER NICHOLLS/REUTERS)
A 2012 Interview with Russia Today surfaced on Saturday through the British newspaper The Sun outraged Labour members when Jeremy Corbyn told his interviewer that the European Union's unconditional support for Israel is just a reaction to the holocaust.
When asked what is stopping governments from showing support for a recognized Palestinian state despite a poll showing a majority of British voters being in favor, Corbyn said: "What's stopping them is a traditional recognition and support of Israel ever since the founding of the state of Israel in 1948 on the basis that the Jewish people were disgustingly and disgracefully and appallingly treated by the Nazi regime, by the holocaust."
Corbyn added : "It's a sort of sense of saying that the state of Israel was set up in order to provide a safe haven for  Jewish people and that is still quite an important narrative in European politics."
The Sun reported fellow Labour members blasted Corbyn for the comments and demanded an explanation.
Richard Angell, the director of the group Progress said: "these latest deeply offensive comments by Corbyn show once again his disregard for the Jewish community."