LONDON—London bus stops have been defaced with anti-Israel posters mocking the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, The Jewish Chronicle reported.
It occurred after the British Labour party’s National Executive Committee announced this week it would adopt the definition it, albeit with a significant caveat. In an additional statement, the party said that ‘’this does not in any way undermine the freedom of expression on Israel and the Palestinians.” It is feared that this wording signals that extremist and offensive language could still be permitted.
At least four different sites – Elephant and Castle, Waterloo Bridge, Bloomsbury and Westminster, across the road from Parliament itself, have seen advertising hoardings on bus stops fly posted with posters saying “Israel is a racist endeavour”.
This refers to one of the examples of contemporary antisemitism given in the IHRA definition, which says calling “a state of Israel… a racist endeavour” could amount to Jew-hate.
Social media suggested that a group called London Palestine Action was behind the stunt, with the group tweeting photos of the defaced bus-stops along with messages such as “70 years of UK govt-approved dispossession, destruction and displacement. Israel is a #racistendeavour.”
A Transport for London spokesperson said: “These adverts are absolutely not authorised by TfL or our advertising partner JCDecaux. It is fly posting and therefore an act of vandalism which we take extremely seriously. We have instructed our contractors to remove any of these posters found on our network immediately.”
JC Decaux, the advertising firm which owns a number of the defaced hoardings, confirmed that this was “vandalism – not advertising”, and that it had reported the bus stops in question and they would be “reposted soon.”
Labour was criticised by Jewish groups for including the ‘’free speech” clause that said adopting the definition would not minimise debate on Israel.
It later emerged that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tried and failed to issue a lengthy statement that appeared to condone calling Israel a racist endeavour. A leaked extract said: “Nor should it be regarded as antisemitic to describe Israel, its policies, or the circumstances around its foundation as racist because of their discriminatory impact, or to support another settlement of the Israel-Palestine conflict.”
The Jewish Leadership Council accused the Labour Party of “acting shamefully to undermine the entire IHRA definition” and said the free speech caveat “drives a coach and horses through the IHRA definition”.
Former UK Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks has said that the majority of Jews are questioning whether Britain is a safe place to bring up their children.
According to a Jewish Chronicle poll, nearly 40 per cent of British Jews would “seriously consider emigrating” if Jeremy Corbyn became Prime Minister.
British Jews between 35-54 are most concerned about the prospect of a Labour government under Corbyn with over half saying emigration is a serious consideration.