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Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) is an organisation for Jewish members of the Labour Party.

Premise and organisation

Jewish Voice for Labour's founding statement advocated "making the Labour Party an open, democratic and inclusive party, encouraging all ethnic groups and cultures to join and participate freely", to support a commitment "to strengthen the party in its opposition to all forms of racism, including antisemitism", and "does not make promoting the centrality of Israel to Jewish life a condition of membership".

The organisation admits full membership only to Labour Party members who identify as Jewish. All other members are associate members, without voting rights as the constitution specifies that the organisation is led by Jewish people, in that only Jews can vote on its policies. By contrast the Jewish Labour Movement accepts full membership to both non-Jewish and non-Labour Party members. In 2017, Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, an executive board member of JVL, said the organisation's "longer term aim" could be to affiliate to Labour.

Jenny Manson, an activist in Jews for Justice for Palestinians and a former Labour councillor, was elected chair in July 2017. While Manson has said the organisation is "not anti-Zionist" but states that it was designed as a platform for Jews who do not support what she called the Jewish Labour Movement's "profoundly Zionist orientation", JVL's information officer, Jonathan Rosenhead shares the latter opinion. Wimborne-Idrissi has said, "We do not believe it has the right to speak as the Jewish Labour Movement on behalf of all Jews in the Labour party."

Manson stated that the organisation's two purposes are to "tackle allegations of antisemitism in the Labour Party" and to uphold "the right of supporters of justice for Palestinians to engage in solidarity activities."

JVL was reported by The Times of Israel in December 2017 to be closely linked to Free Speech on Israel (FSOI) which was founded in 2016, is non-Zionist and opposes the notion that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism. However, Wimborne-Idrissi rejected this claim saying they are "two separate organizations with different aims and objectives."

History

In July 2017, JVL inaugurated and on 24 September the organisation was officially launched during the second day of the Labour Party Conference at the Brighton Centre in Brighton, with over 300 people in attendance.

The organisation has objected to "unjustified allegations of antisemitism" which are "used to undermine Jeremy Corbyn's leadership". It opposed the definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance being formally accepted by the Labour Party at the 2017 Conference. This it sees as "attempts to widen the definition of antisemitism beyond its meaning of hostility towards, or discrimination against, Jews as Jews". Rosenhead sees this definition as being intentionally "vague" allowing for "the protection of Israel" via "a side door" and thus "encouraging the presumption that criticism of Israel is likely to be antisemitic". The change to the Labour Party Rule Book, which was supported by Corbyn, they see as an "anti-democratic restriction on political debate". In May 2018, the organisation with members of Free Speech on Israel produced a definition of antisemitism as "Antisemitism is a form of racism: hatred, hostility, discrimination or prejudice against Jews because they are Jews. It may be manifested in violence; denial of rights; direct, indirect or institutional discrimination; prejudice-based behaviour; or verbal or written statements. Such manifestations draw on stereotypes – characteristics which all Jews are presumed to share."

The organisation has defended individuals such as former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone who was suspended from party membership for bringing the party into disrepute. "These actions by Ken were not offensive, nor anti-semitic in any way", according to Manson, supported Jackie Walker, deemed accusations of antisemitism against Moshé Machover as "ill founded", and opposed and condemned the expulsion of Marc Wadsworth as being "punished in advance" of the investigation and hearing of the case.

In March 2018, the JVL organised a smaller counter-demonstration, attended by around 30 people, according to The Independent, at a protest against antisemitism in the Labour Party, held in Parliament Square, London. In a statement, JVL said it was "appalled" by the Board of Deputies of British Jews' letter and that "They do not represent us or the great majority of Jews in the party who share Jeremy Corbyn's vision for social justice and fairness. Jeremy's consistent commitment to anti-racism is all the more needed now." Manson defended Corbyn on BBC's Daily Politics, saying he had taken "enormously strong action" to deal with the issue in his party. Corbyn has said of JVL, they are "committed to fighting anti-Semitism and making sure there is a Jewish voice in the party. We already have the Jewish Labour Movement. JVL was established last year and I think it is good that we have organisations within the party that are giving that voice to people."

In April, Ian Saville, Labour Party member and JVL committee member, wrote in Labour List: "A myth seems to have grown that we do not recognise that there is antisemitism in the Labour Party. Of course we recognise that there have been, and are, antisemites in our party. We challenge the 'Rothschild' libellers and the conspiracy theorists wherever we see them. All antisemitism is incompatible with the principles of socialism on which the Labour Party rests. If it has gone unchallenged in the past, then that was an egregious mistake, and we will hold the party to its clear commitment to root out such ideas in the future.." In the same month, Jenny Manson on BBC Radio 4's Today programme referring to a survey conducted by Campaign Against Antisemitism said: "Evidence including very recent evidence commissioned by a Jewish body suggests the very worst antisemitism is still on the right, on the far right and always has been."

In the same month, JVL issued a statement saying they "strongly condemn the Israeli army's violent response to the Land Day demonstration in Gaza, killing 15 Palestinian civilians and wounding hundreds more" and called "for an unconditional end to Israel's inhuman siege of Gaza and its brutal occupation of the West Bank which has destroyed the lives of generations of Palestinians."

In July, Labour's National Executive Committee adopted a new code of conduct that defines antisemitism for the purposes of disciplinary cases brought before the National Constitutional Committee. JVL said in a statement that the code of conduct "offers a constructive framework for moving forward in this difficult area" and it encouraged "free speech on issues to do with Israel and its treatment of the Palestinians, and with Zionism" but "much will depend on how this code of conduct is applied in practice, particularly in disciplinary cases. We are cautiously optimistic."

See also

• Socialist society (Labour Party)
• Jewish Socialists' Group

Reference

1. ^ Manson, Jenny; Levy, Raphael (28 September 2017). "Jewish Voice for Labour is not an anti-Zionist group". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
2. ^ "New organisation founded for Jewish Labour Party members". Jewish Voice for Labour. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
3. ^ Rosenhead, Jonathan (11 October 2017). "A new Jewish voice for Labour". openDemocracy. Retrieved 1 February 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
4. ^ Sugarman, Daniel (25 August 2017). "New Jewish group launched in Labour". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 26 March 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
5. ^ Saville, Ian (25 April 2018). "There are a lot of myths about Jewish Voice for Labour. Here's the truth". Labour List. Retrieved 25 April 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
6. ^ Philpot, Robert (15 December 2017). "UK's new Jewish Voice for Labour seeks to throw off the 'shackles' of Israel". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2 April 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
7. Sugarman, Daniel (25 August 2017). "New Jewish group launched in Labour". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 1 July 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
8. Doherty, Rosa (19 June 2018). "Meet Jeremy Corbyn's devoted Jewish defender: Jenny Manson". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 1 July 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
9. ^ Welch, Bem (3 April 2018). "What is JVL?". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 30 April 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
10. Manson, Jenny (6 October 2017). "Head of new Jewish Labour party: We should be focusing on Islamophobia, not punishing Ken Livingstone". Talkradio. Retrieved 1 July 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
11. Daisley, Stephen (16 October 2017). "The British Labour Party's 'Kosher Stamp' for Anti-Semitism". The Tablet. Retrieved 26 March 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
12. "Jewish Voice for Labour offer new anti-Semitism definition". The Times of Israel. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
13. Harpin, Lee (9 October 2017). "Israeli-born anti-Zionist expelled from Labour Party". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
14. Harpin, Lee (31 October 2017). "Expelled anti-Zionist Moshe Machover readmitted to Labour Party". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2 April 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
15. Rogers, Sienna (27 April 2018). "Marc Wadsworth expelled from the Labour Party". Labour List. Retrieved 1 June 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
16. "Labour Party chiefs spark backlash over Wadsworth expulsion". The Voice. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
17. Sagir, Ceren (28 April 2018). "Anti-racist campaigner's expulsion is 'a new low' for the party, Jewish activists say". Morning Star. Retrieved 1 June 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
18. Neilan, Catherine (26 March 2018). "Corbyn supporters organise an anti-anti-Semitism rally". City A.M. Retrieved 27 April 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
19. Cowburn, Ashley (26 March 2018). "Hundreds of people protest outside Parliament against antisemitism in the Labour Party". The Independent. Retrieved 30 March 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
20. "Corbyn apologises for 'hurt' caused by anti-Semitism in Labour". BBC News. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
21. "Daily Politics guests debate whether Jeremy Corbyn has tackled anti-Semitism". BBC News. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
22. "Corbyn calls Jewish Voice for Labour "good people"". The Jewish Chronicle. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
23. Harpin, Lee (24 April 2018). "Antisemitism is worse on the right says chair of Jewish Voice for Labour group". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 1 June 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
24. "Call for an end to the siege of Gaza". The Guardian. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
25. Lansman, Jon (12 July 2018). "Labour's antisemitism code is the gold standard for political parties". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 August 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
26. Winstanley, Asa (7 July 2018). "Calling Israel racist isn't anti-Semitic, rules UK Labour". The Electronic Intifada. Retrieved 1 August 2018. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

External links

• Official website

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