The news yesterday reported the disappointment of the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) and Board of Deputies (BoD) of British Jews following a meeting with the leader of the Labour Party – Jeremy Corbyn.  Their disappointment comes apparently from the fact that their recommendations laid out in a letter dated March 28th 2018 were not agreed.  These recommendations included (amongst other things) the request that that a ‘mutually agreed’ independent ombudsman be set-up who would report to the Labour Party and to the JLC and BoD on matters of discipline concerning alleged anti-semitism and that the Labour Party will “engage with the Jewish Community via its main representative groups and not through fringe organisations”.

As far as I can see, both requests are entirely at odds with a group wishing to promote tolerance and understanding:  in particular, the latter request in which the JLC and BoD are effectively asking the Labour Party to speak only to them – and not to political organisations of which they do not approve.

I find it very odd, that a group expressing dismay at racist behaviour would itself display behaviour which is fascist: i.e. failing to tolerate alternative views to your own and seeking to stop political opposition.

Perhaps the JLC needs an ombudsman themself to review how they treat so-called ‘fringe’ groups of the Jewish community?  Maybe the JLC are being anti-semitic in their treatment of other groups representing Jews…