Yesterday Jeremy had a meeting with some “friends”.
These included Malia “Zionist outpost” Bouattia, Ken “never intended to deny the Holocaust” Loach, John “Inminds” McDonnell and co-editor of Red Pepper Michael Calderbank.
Calderbank (centre in the below pic), who describes himself as a ‘socialist’ and is a ‘Parliamentary Researcher for trade unions’, was chairing the manifesto discussion and launch of the book; For The Many: Preparing Labour for Power
It turns out that Calderbank has some pretty strident views on what Jews are allowed to call antisemitism and whether Jews living in the West Bank should expect to be killed. Here is a selection of his own words;
if that happens it’s utterly wrong – but also the product of dispossession and oppression
— Michael Calderbank (@Calderbank) September 23, 2016
Apparently if you work for the Israeli embassy you can’t talk about antisemitism or work for a Jewish organisation without being a part of the Israel/Zionist/Jewish conspiracy;
it exposes how close JLM is to the political interests to the Israeli state, not supported by many Jews — Michael Calderbank (@Calderbank) September 23, 2016
But hey it’s OK because Calderbank actually speaks for Jewish people so there’s no need to let their actual views get in the way;
@DPJHodges @sunny_hundal @GuidoFawkes She said the *state* of Israel couldn’t continue in its present form. Many Jewish people would agree
— Michael Calderbank (@Calderbank) March 3, 2012
David Ward’s comments on the Holocaust were apparently clumsy yet absolutely on point so far as he’s concerned;
David Ward’s comments v clumsy. But point about Israeli state use of holocaust memory to justify human rights abuses in palastine is true — Michael Calderbank (@Calderbank) January 26, 2013
The obligatory Nazi – Zionism comparison that all Corbyn’s mates seem to make;
@SolHughesWriter no, but it’s true that far right strains of zionism echo the ethnically-exlusivist nationalism of Hitler
— Michael Calderbank (@Calderbank) April 28, 2016
He just can’t help but attack the Jewish Labour Movement;
Jewish Labour Movement doesn’t represent all Jewish Labour members – now has revolving door to Israeli embassy? https://t.co/dwUSWEDXFi — Michael Calderbank (@Calderbank) September 22, 2016
What antisemitism? Not me mate some of my best friends are self hating Jews;
what? I have many good friends and comrades who are Jewish. The JLM speaks for very few if any of them.
— Michael Calderbank (@Calderbank) September 22, 2016
But his fiance, who also happens to be on Labour’s powerful ‘conference arrangement committee’, can’t possibly share his views…
@TwiitterJo Oh is it? That makes sense as I live close to the ‘Tottenham Jewish Quarter’ — Seema Chandwani ™ (@SeemaChandwani) December 1, 2013
Update:
The one you cited makes an argument advanced by a number of Jewish scholars and is in no way antisemitic. It’s critical of the Israeli state. BIG difference. Doesn’t diminish very real need to mourn and remember the Shoah.
— Michael Calderbank (@Calderbank) February 7, 2018
So you are judge, jury and executioner? Twitter is not an ideal medium to discuss the complexities of the instrumentalisation of memory vs the very genuine need to mourn terrible suffering. For any unintended offence I may have caused I apologise. — Michael Calderbank (@Calderbank) February 7, 2018
