The Labour Party passed a motion at its party conference on Tuesday criticizing the Israeli Defense Force’s (IDF) use of force against protesters, and called for Britain to end arms exports to the country until further notice.
This week’s Labour Party conference took place in the city of Liverpool and saw delegates wave Palestine’s national flag in a display of solidarity, ahead of the vote.
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Brits reacted with mixed feelings to posts showing the Palestinian flags and anti-Israel placards on display at the conference.
Wow wow wow! Amazing support for the Palestinian people at #lab18!
— Jonny Paylor 🌹 #GTTO (@LabourPaylor) September 25, 2018
The room was filled with Palestinian flags and chants to “free free Palestine!”
A historic event in Labour Party history, so proud to be a part of it. #Labour4Palestine #Palestine #FreePalestine 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/fn6NjXzmce
A Hamas supporting, anti-Israel UK PM is a direct threat to any chance for a lasting peace in the Middle East. #Antisemitism will be the conclusion some will draw from this & Corbyn will lose further support from the Labour supporting moderates. Shame.
— s.k.s (@JuggaloGooner) September 26, 2018
That would explain the calls of anti semitism
— Shuban (@TheRealShuban) September 25, 2018
No fan of labour but that is a beautiful sight👍🇮🇪🇯🇴❤️
— DerryDee (@dee_deebhoy1988) September 25, 2018
Despite opposition politicians and Jewish rights groups accusing the Labour Party of becoming anti-Semitic under Corbyn’s leadership, the party has repeatedly insisted it does not possess an anti-Jewish agenda, stressing it has a zero-tolerance policy on anti-Semitism.
Speaking at the conference, Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry reaffirmed Labour’s commitment to stamping out anti-Semitism, saying they must kick out "sickening individuals who use our legitimate support for Palestine as a cloak and a cover for their despicable hatred of Jewish people."
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“We must start with rooting it out within our own party,” she added.
In addition to the display of support for the Palestinian Authority, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn pledged to recognize it as an independent state "as soon as we take office", saying they want a "secure and viable Palestine" to exist alongside Israel.
With Brexit negotiations faltering and the ruling Tory Party looking unstable, a snap general election is on the cards, and although some polls have pegged Labour as the favorites to win, the party could be held back by the ongoing anti-Semitism scandal.
