Clive Lewis Faces Backlash for Linking Far-Right Riots to Israel’s Actions in Gaza

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Clive Lewis, the Labour MP for Norwich South, has come under intense scrutiny after remarks suggesting a connection between Israel’s actions in Gaza and the recent far-right riots in the UK. His comments, which appeared to link the "inhumanity" toward Palestinians with rising Islamophobia in Britain, have sparked calls for his suspension from the Labour Party, particularly from anti-Semitism campaigners.

 

 

The controversy erupted after Mr. Lewis posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating: "The link between the daily inhumanity being meted out to Palestinians and rising Islamophobia in the UK are not unconnected. The inhumanity being shown to one is giving 'permission' for the other. These actions diminish us all." This statement was perceived by many as blaming Israel for the unrest in Britain, leading to accusations that the MP was irresponsibly fueling anti-Semitic sentiments.

 

Alex Hearn, co-director of the Labour Against Antisemitism campaign group, criticized Lewis’s comments as "highly irresponsible" and urged Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to strip him of the whip. Hearn expressed concern that people across the political spectrum, including those who identify as "anti-racists," have been attributing unrest in Britain to "Zionists" and Israel. He cited a recent report by the Community Security Trust, which documented a 105 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the UK over the last six months, with 1,978 incidents often justified by the situation in Palestine. Among these, synagogues were targeted 76 times, and there were 121 assaults reported.

 

 

Hearn emphasized the gravity of Lewis’s statements, particularly in light of the rise in sectarian violence and record attacks against British Jews. He argued that blaming a conflict thousands of miles away for domestic racism and far-right riots in Britain was deeply irresponsible, and he called for Lewis’s immediate suspension and investigation. The Labour Against Antisemitism group believes that Lewis’s comments warrant expulsion from the party due to their potential to exacerbate sectarian tensions.

 

In response to the growing calls for action, a Labour spokesperson stated that all complaints are treated seriously and thoroughly assessed according to party rules and procedures. However, it is understood that the party has so far rejected demands to suspend Mr. Lewis.

 

The Prime Minister also weighed in, rejecting any suggestion that Jewish people were to blame for the UK riots, distancing the government from any such implications.

 

Meanwhile, John McDonnell, a veteran Labour MP who was temporarily stripped of the whip for defying the government over the two-child benefit cap, defended Clive Lewis. He argued that it was "bizarre" and "warped logic" to accuse Lewis of anti-Semitism for commenting on how the visible inhumanity toward Muslims in Gaza, as seen daily on television, could contribute to inhumanity toward Muslims in the UK.

 

The situation has sparked a broader debate within the Labour Party and among the public about the impact of international conflicts on domestic issues and the responsibilities of public figures in addressing them. As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Labour Party will handle the complaints and what the longer-term implications will be for Clive Lewis and the party’s stance on such sensitive issues.

 

Credit: Daily Telegraph  2024-08-14

 

 

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