Joan Ryan MP, Chair of Labour Friends of Israel said: “We condemn any comparisons between Israel and ISIS. ISIS brutally murders Muslims who do not conform to its twisted ideology, enslaves women and is committing genocide against the Yazidi people. Last month while 200,000 people celebrated Tel Aviv Pride, ISIS Read more…
This article first appeared in the Jewish Chronicle, you can read it here. There is nothing illegitimate or antisemitic about criticising the actions of the Israeli government. Millions of Israelis – and Jews in Britain – do it every day. However, for at least the past 40 years, a discourse Read more…
This article first appeared on the Jewish Chronicle, you can read it here. The inquiry into antisemitism allegations in the Labour Party must make clear where criticism of Israel turns into Jew-hate, its Friends of Israel group has said. In its submission to the Chakrabarti Inquiry, Labour Friends of Israel Read more…
General Secretary of the Israeli Labor Party and Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, MK Hilik Bar, has sent his condolences to the UK Labour Party and to the British people on the brutal murder of Jo Cox MP. Jo’s friends and family have set-up a memorial fund which you can Read more…
LFI vice chair Michael Dugher has said Labour must “root out those people who hold extreme views and expel those who perpetrate anti-Semitism” In a speech to Young UJIA last night, Michael Dugher said: “There is a problem of anti-Semitism in some parts of the Labour Party. “One of the Read more…
Rt Hon Joan Ryan MP, Chair of LFI, said: “We are disappointed at the NEC’s decision not to publish Jan Royall’s report in full, in contradiction of her express wishes. It makes it difficult to judge the report and opens the party to charges of a cover-up. Most importantly, for Read more…
This news item was first published by the Jewish Chronicle on 16th May and the full story can be found here: http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/158247/head-inquiry-labour-antisemitism-shami-chakrabarti-reveals-she-has-joined-party The news that Baroness Royall was joining the inquiry was welcomed by Joan Ryan MP, chair of Labour Friends of Israel. In a statement, she said: “It is now Read more…
Rt Hon Joan Ryan MP, Chair of Labour Friends of Israel, said: “To speak of Zionism – the right of the Jewish people to self-determination – and Hitler in the same sentence is quite breathtaking. I am appalled that Ken Livingstone has chosen to do so. There cannot be one Read more…
The Chair of LFI, Joan Ryan MP, has today written to Jeremy Corbyn following comments by Labour MP Naz Shah: Dear Jeremy, I was extremely disturbed to read this morning the reported comments by Naz Shah. They highlight once again a highly offensive and totally unacceptable discourse which is currently Read more…
Harold Wilson was a great friend of Israel and of LFI. Next Friday marks the centenary of the former Labour Prime Minister’s birth. As our former Director, Lady Valerie Cocks, tells this week’s Jewish Chronicle: “He loved Israel and went on being president of LFI until he couldn’t any more. He backed us in Read more…
Antisemitism cannot go unchallenged – by Joan Ryan MP for ProgressOnline. This article is available here. Free speech and robust debate have long been at the heart of Britain’s universities. Whether it be on campus or in the classroom, nobody should go to university and not expect to hear the beliefs Read more…
OPINION: All eyes are on Labour to see how it tackles anti-Semitism by Michael Dugher & Rachel Reeves, Labour MPs for Barnsley East &?Leeds West, for the Jewish News. This article is available here. We met in the 1990s through Labour Students. Rachel was 18 and off to study at Read more…