| We are Jewish members and supporters of the Labour party and of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, who wish to put our perspective on the “antisemitism” controversy that has been widely debated in the last few weeks (Labour’s antisemitism crisis as Livingstone suspended, 29 April). We do not accept that antisemitism is “rife” in the Labour party. Of the examples that have been repeated in the media, many have been reported inaccurately, some are trivial, and a very few may be genuine examples of antisemitism. The tiny number of cases of real antisemitism need to be dealt with, but we are proud that the Labour party historically has been in the forefront of the fight against all forms of racism. We, personally, have not experienced any antisemitic prejudice in our dealings with Labour party colleagues. We believe these accusations are part of a wider campaign against the Labour leadership, and they have been timed particularly to do damage to the Labour party and its prospects in elections in the coming week. As Jews, we are appalled that a serious issue is being used in this cynical and manipulative way, diverting attention from much more widespread examples of Islamophobia and xenophobia in the Conservative and other parties. We dissociate ourselves from the misleading attacks on Labour from some members of the Jewish community. We urge others, who may be confused or worried by recent publicity, to be sure that the Labour party, under its present progressive leadership, is a place where Jews are welcomed in a spirit of equality and solidarity. Kate Adams Julia Bard Labina Basit Shereen Benjamin Rica Bird Jenny Bloom Alice Bondi Elizabeth Carola Ron Cohen Judith Cravitz Dave Curtis Miriam E David Sue Dellett Ivor Dembina Professor Stephen Deutsch Merave Devere Shlomit Ferguson Mark Findlay Hava Fleming Dr William Fleming Roisin Francis Kenneth Fryde Lynda Gilbert Clare Glasman Alex J Goldhill Adam Goodkin Stuart Goodman Tony Graham Tony Greenstein Michele Hanson Rosamine Hayeem Abe Hayeem Jane Henriques Lorraine Hershon Becka Seglow Hudson Selma James Saul Jamuels Riva Joffe Michael Kalmanovitz David Kaye Richard Kuper Pam Laurance Leah Levane Rachel Lever Sue Lukes Eli Machover Beryl Maizels Miriam Margolyes Stephen Marks Helen Marks Karen Merkel Charles Shaar Murray Professor Mica Nava Diana Neslen Bracha Newman Rabbi Jeffrey Newman Susan Pashkoff Rina Picciotto Caroline Raine Roland Rance Frances Rifkin Dr Brian Robinson Denise Robson Jeff Daniel Rollin David Rosenberg Jonathan Rosenhead Stephen Sands Dr Ian Saville Amanda Sebastyen Glyn Secker Elizabeth Segal Lynne Segal Ray Sirotkin Steve Tiller Ray Sirotkin Inbar Tamari Tirza Waisel Sam Weinstein Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi Benjamin Young Gill Yudkin Professor John Yudkin |