Drama in the UK: Fierce critic of Israel elected Labour party leader
Veteran far-left lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn has been elected leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, a victory that threatens to further divide the party as it struggles to recover from a heavy defeat in elections earlier this year.
The 66-year-old, who strongly opposes the government's austerity policies and Britain's membership of NATO, was considered an outsider but in recent months became the runaway favorite over three more mainstream rivals to win Saturday.
Corbyn has met with Hezbollah and Hamas leaders in the past, referring to them as friends.
Critics both within and outside the party -- including former Labour prime minister Tony Blair -- have argued that Corbyn's socialist ideas will alienate moderate voters and make Labour unelectable.
