No one should get a free pass on antisemitism so why does the right?

"At the crucial rally against antisemitism in London on Sunday, Zack Polanski, the Jewish leader of the Green party of England and Wales, was not invited to speak, on the grounds that he had not done enough to root out antisemitism from the party. But Nigel Farage was invited, on the grounds that his party, Reform UK, has expressed very broad support for the fight against antisemitism. More than two thousand Jews saw things differently and signed a petition arguing that the invitation to Farage fundamentally undermines the message of solidarity in defence of Jewish safety and dignity."

"Antisemitism must be stamped out everywhere. Never again means zero tolerance for this age-old hate, wherever it occurs and whoever voices it. It is indeed a problem on the left, and I've often found myself in dispute with those who downplay or minimise it. Two Green candidates for the council elections have been arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred on social media. The Labour party's researchers dug up disgraceful remarks by 25 Green candidates for the recent council elections. Never mind that it's 25 out of 4,500: it's 25 too many."

"Polanski's response when asked about the numerous arson attacks on synagogues and on Hatzola ambulances — there's a conversation to be had about whether it's a perception of unsafety or whether it's actual unsafety, but neither are acceptable — seemed dismissive of a horrifying escalation of antisemitic attacks. So where is the equally urgent concern about antisemitism on the right? It should begin with the media."

"In the approach to last week's elections, leading rightwing British newspapers published cartoons of Polanski that many felt could have come from the pages of Der Sturmer, the hate-filled propaganda rag published in Germany from 1923 to 1945. In the Times and the Telegraph, Polanski was seen as portrayed with a hooked nose (which he does not possess). The Times's carto"

A rally against antisemitism in London excluded Zack Polanski, a Jewish Green Party leader, because he had not done enough to root out antisemitism within the party. Nigel Farage was invited because Reform UK has expressed broad support for fighting antisemitism. More than two thousand Jews signed a petition arguing that inviting Farage undermines solidarity for Jewish safety and dignity. Antisemitism is described as a problem on the left, with Green candidates facing allegations including arrests for stirring up racial hatred and researchers finding antisemitic remarks among candidates. Polanski’s response to escalating antisemitic attacks is criticized as dismissive. The piece calls for urgent concern about antisemitism on the right, including media practices such as publishing cartoons portraying Polanski with a hooked nose.

Read at www.theguardian.com