From David Hirsh at Engage,
Labour leaders usually address both Labour Friends of Palestine and Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) fringe meetings at Conference. Corbyn had a particular job to do at LFI: he needed to reassure the Jewish community and antiracists that he understands what it is about his record that is so concerning:
He has presented a show on Press TV, Iran’s propaganda channel. Iran wants Israel wiped off the map and has a public policy of Holocaust Denial.
Corbyn is a Patron of the “Palestine Solidarity Campaign” whose main business is to fight for a boycott of Israel. Corbyn has reaffirmed his support for the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel as recently as August 2015.
Corbyn has referred to Hamas and Hezbollah as “friends” and he said that they are dedicated to the good of the Palestinian people and to social and political justice in the Middle East.
Corbyn has jumped to the defence of antisemites, Raed Salah who indulged in medieval blood libel and Stephen Sizerwho said that Israel was behind 9/11. He continued to support “Deir Yassin Remembered” even when it was well known that it was run by a Holocaust Denier. He has said that those who have raised these issues are making personal smears, not political criticism.
Corbyn sometimes says that he is for a two state solution but he also says, in a coded disavowal of such a solution, that the Palestinian right to return was “the key” to a solution.
So what did he say at the LFI meeting?
He refused to utter the word “Israel”. He refused to say that he was for the right of Israel to exist, even within the ’67 borders. [emphasis added]
It is difficult to say that Israel has a right to exist and not also grant it some other options to defend itself. I really have to wonder if Jeremy Corbyn is so anti-Israel that he thinks it has no right to exist. I suspect he is and does.