Corbyn: A Labour government would quickly recognise Palestine as a state
Labour leader makes remarks while touring Syrian and Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan,
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said in a tweet that a Labour-led government would recognise Palestine as a state.
Corbyn, on a tour of camps in Jordan for Syrian and Palestinian refugees as part of his first international trip outside of Europe since becoming Labour Party leader in 2015, said in a tweet on Saturday: “Today I’ll visit the Al-Baqa’a refugee camp which was first created in 1968, where 100,000 Palestinians live. The next Labour government will recognise Palestine as a state as one step towards a genuine two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.”
On Friday during a tour of Zaatari, Jordan’s largest camp for Syrian refugees, Corbyn criticised the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump for recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and called moving the U.S. Embassy there a “catastrophic mistake.”
This weekend I visited Za'atari Syrian refugee camp in Jordan.
To live in a world of peace we have to do everything we can to remove the causes of war. pic.twitter.com/LDAF4WkdMq
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) June 24, 2018
He also said: “I think there has to be a recognition of the rights of the Palestinian people to their own state which we as a Labour Party said we would recognise in government as a full state as part of the United Nations.”
A Palestinian state would be recognised “very early on” under a Labour government, he said.
Jewish groups have accused Corbyn, of tolerating and at times encouraging expressions of anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Zionism or anti-capitalism by thousands of supporters who joined the party under him.
The party has kicked out some members caught engaging in anti-Semitic rhetoric, while other members including Marc Wadworth, were expelled for bringing the party into disrepute. Former Momentum vice-chair, Jackie Walker, was suspended by the party for allegations of anti-Semitism, while former Mayor of London , Ken Livingstone, who said Hitler had once ‘supported Zionism’, announced he would not renew his membership, and face a further disciplinary panel, which would have likely seen his expulsion.
Under Corbyn — who in 2009 called Hamas and Hezbollah his “friends” whom he said he was “honoured” to host in parliament — Labour has also readmitted or refrained from punishing others who made statements perceived as anti-Semitic.
Today I met children living in one of the largest Palestinian refugee camps.
But the UN body that supports refugees is in crisis after Donald Trump’s decision to withhold funding.
We must lead in ensuring these children have hope, and work to end the refugee crisis. pic.twitter.com/Eo8tEniUZa
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) June 23, 2018
Today I'll visit the Al-Baqa'a refugee camp which was first created in 1968, where 100,000 Palestinians live.
The next Labour government will recognise Palestine as a state as one step towards a genuine two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.https://t.co/eyKgvGCAGo
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) June 23, 2018
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
