Norwich South MP Clive Lewis hits again at claims of antisemitism

A Labour MP has responded to claims of antisemitism after he in contrast far-right violence within the UK with Israel’s warfare in opposition to Hamas.

Earlier this month, Clive Lewis, who represents Norwich South, claimed a hyperlink between assaults on Palestinians in Gaza and what he referred to as “rising Islamophobia” within the UK.

In response to Mr Lewis’s remark, which he made in a put up on X, the marketing campaign group Labour In opposition to Antisemitism (LAAS) referred to as for him to be suspended from the get together.

Now Mr Lewis has mentioned makes an attempt to “shut down and silence” politicians is a “harmful path” and “basically flawed”.

In a new put up on X, he mentioned: “Combatting antisemitism and advocating for Palestinian human rights and addressing broader Islamophobia, aren’t mutually unique objectives.

“Now we have a duty as politicians to make sure all minorities really feel secure right here within the UK and to advocate for the upholding of human rights overseas.

“Variations of opinion as how finest to do that ought to, in fact, at all times be inspired. However trying to close down and silence these in search of to focus on these points is a harmful path and one that’s basically, flawed.”

LAAS made an official criticism to UK Labour over Mr Lewis’s authentic put up, claiming it was “extremely irresponsible” and breached the official definition of antisemitism.

Nonetheless, it’s understood no additional motion can be taken by the get together, the Native Democracy Reporting Service mentioned.

A Labour spokesperson beforehand mentioned all complaints had been handled significantly and “completely assessed in step with its guidelines and procedures”.

In his authentic put up, Mr Lewis had written: “The hyperlink between the each day inhumanity being metted [sic] out to Palestinians and rising Islamophobia within the UK, aren’t unconnected.

“The inhumanity being proven to 1 is giving ‘permission’ for the opposite. These actions diminish us all.”

He additionally linked to a Guardian newspaper article about how dozens of individuals had been reported lifeless after an Israeli assault on a college in Gaza.

Mr Lewis’s remark got here after the arrests of tons of of individuals in reference to riots and anti-immigration protests throughout the UK.

Alex Hearn, LAAS co-director, described the feedback as “extraordinarily irresponsible” and a “conspiracy fantasy”.

“I put within the criticism as a result of now we have been seeing a sample from the far proper and throughout parts of the left which were blaming Zionists and Israelis for the unrest that has been occurring throughout the nation,” he mentioned.

“The battle occurring hundreds of miles away has no connection to the home circumstances that now we have.”