Jeremy Corbyn: I regret calling Hamas and Hezbollah 'friends'

Jeremy Corbyn has finally said he regrets calling members of Hamas and Hezbollah “friends” after months of defending the comments during a grilling on anti-Semitism before MPs. The Labour leader defended his attempt to create dialogue in the Middle East peace process but said “with hindsight” he wished he had not used the word to describe the militant groups.

Mr Corbyn also insisted that anti-Semitism had not risen in Labour since he took office last summer despite a string of high-profile suspensions and mounting concern among the Jewish community. He distanced himself from his “friend” Ken Livingstone, calling the former London mayor's claim that Adolf Hitler backed the creation of a Jewish state “wholly unacceptable and wrong”. 
Mr Livingstone also insisted he would not repeat decision to invite people with controversial views on the state of Israel to the House of Commons as he had done while a backbencher.

However the Labour leader was defiant about alleged links between Momentum, the pro-Corbyn activist group, and anti-Semitism made by a leading Labour MP on the moderate wing. Chuka Umunna picked out a series of examples where Momentum activists had appeared to make anti-Semitic comments during a grilling of his party leader.  Mr Corbyn criticised specific examples but said the group’s founder, Jon Lansman, had been clear that racism was unacceptable and said Momentum was engaging people disillusioned with politics.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/04/jeremy-corbyn-grilled-by-mps-on-labours-anti-semitism-problem/


At least in the Uk they are starting to sit up and do something that has been going on for years with blatant antisemitism coming from a substancial number on the left. How they have the audacity to claim they are against racism, when they promote racism themselves, is an absolute outrage

He won't be inviting them for tea on the terrace after all then?

Apparantly not it seems. I am not sure he can place his back any further against the wall if possible, this idiot has opened the door to such hate and antisemistism

Didge wrote:Apparantly not it seems. I am not sure he can place his back any further against the wall if possible, this idiot has opened the door to such hate and antisemistism

Was it you who posted the spoof video of Hamas?

I love the bit at the end about being invited for tea on the terrace. I love that guy's accent too.

Yes that was me that posted that.

The funniest part is how scarely true most of the points made are. lol