How can I, as a leftwing Jew, show support for both Palestinians and Israelis? | Jon Lansman
My sympathy is for the people, not the politicians. It should not be so hard to make that clear
- Jon Lansman is a co-founder and former chair of Momentum
To speak out as a leftwing Jew on any aspect of this century-old conflict is to risk isolation and hate from both sides. That much I know, having directed Jeremy Corbyn's leadership campaigns and called out the antisemitism of that period. So, on 8 October, absorbing the emerging details of the Hamas massacre the previous day, I feared the consequence of speaking out again.
It turned out that in such circumstances I could not have been in a more supportive place during the Labour party conference than at a joint-faith meeting organised by a Jewish and Muslim women's group in a Liverpool synagogue. Grief shared in such a setting was great comfort and some relief for all of us together - Muslims and Jews.
Jon Lansman is a co-founder and former chair of Momentum
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