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Jewish and Arab Israelis send message of support to Corbyn for Labour conference

HUNDREDS of Israeli citizens have put their names to a letter of support for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Signed by both Jewish and Arab citizens “committed to civil equality within Israel,” the letter rejects accusations directed at Mr Corbyn, noting that he has been “subjected to sustained attacks for his supposed friendliness to anti-semitism” since becoming party leader.

The letter reads: "Some of Corbyn’s accusers, such as Israeli PM Binjamin Netanyahu, are themselves notorious racists and allies of known anti-semites, like [Hungarian Premier] Viktor Orban and the Polish nationalists.

“Even as many Corbyn critics claim to respect the right to criticise Israel, their attacks seem designed to shut down debate on Israel-Palestine and prevent a future Labour government from applying any real pressure on Israel to change its policies.”

Recognising the reality of anti-semitism, the letter’s authors applaud the party’s “sustained efforts to fight within its ranks.”

They add: “These efforts are free from the hypocrisy of the right, which decries anti-semitism, real and imagined, while openly encouraging racism of other kinds.

“In a global climate of rising fascism, this hypocrisy is extremely dangerous. It is absolutely necessary to repudiate anti-semitism while also standing up for Palestinian rights and for socialism.”

The letter will be sent to Labour's annual conference, which opens on Sunday in Liverpool.

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