Herzog invites Labour leadership to 'learn truth' at Yad Vashem
Following recent anti-Semitic outbursts from high ranking members of the British Labour Party, MK Herzog invites leadership to Israel as Labour Party holds internal investigation to root out anti-Semitism
British Labor Party Chairman Jeremy Corbin and party leadership were invited to tour Yad Vashem to "learn the truth" about anti-Semitism in a letter written by Israeli MK Isaac Herzog.
The Israeli Labor Party Chairman invted them in a letter written in light of British Labour member Ken Livingstone's assertion that Hitler was a Zionist, and former MP Naz Shah's assertion that Israel should be moved to the United States.
Labour suspended Livingstone on Thursday after he said Hitler was "supporting Zionism" when he proposed in 1932 that Jews be moved to Israel. Livingstone served as mayor from 2000 to 2008.
Herzog responded by saying "the last time anyone transported Jews en masse it was on trains to concentration camps."
The letter continued, saying "I call on you to get rid of the anti-Semitic minority (in your party) and come visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum to remind you of the harsh truths which you all have may have forgotten, but which we live with every day."
Livingstone denied his remarks were anti-Semitic, and said supporters of the Israeli government frequently used the charge to silence criticism of its policies.
Meanwhile Britain's opposition Labour party has launched an inquiry into how to tackle anti-semitism after suspending former London mayor Ken Livingstone days before it contests elections in London, Scotland and Wales.
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn - a close ally of party veteran Livingstone - said in a statement late on Friday that he would propose a new code of conduct explicitly banning anti-Semitism and other forms of racism.
"There is no place for anti-Semitism or any form of racism in the Labour party, or anywhere in society," he said.
Israeli MK Amir Peretz (Zionist Union) praised the internal investigation, saying "it's good that the Labour leadership suspended the people who said these statements and it's even better that they're carrying out a self investigation."
Labour has been struggling to pull together after Corbyn, from the party's hard-left, swept into the leadership in September on a wave of enthusiasm among younger members for change and an end to 'establishment politics'.
Polls suggest its current candidate for London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, is on course to defeat his Conservative opponent Zac Goldsmith on
May 5, but that Labour risks losing ground in a series of elections elsewhere in Britain.
British media reported again on Saturday that Corbyn could face a leadership challenge if the results are especially bad.
Goldsmith, in a BBC radio interview on Saturday, said Khan was "part of the same movement in the Labour party" as Livingstone and had not been clear enough in his condemnation of anti-Semitism until recent weeks.
"You need to be very clear on these issues not to ride two horses. Until the mayoral campaign began, Sadiq Khan has not been anything like as clear on this issue as he has been in recent weeks," Goldsmith said.
Khan called Livingstone's remarks about Hitler appalling and pressed for him to be suspended.
Labour's inquiry into anti-semitism will be led by Shami Chakrabarti, the former head of civil rights charity Liberty. She will consult Jewish and other minority groups on what counts as anti-Semitism and racism, and how to deal with allegations.
