Israeli leaders in both the government and the opposition joined the British Jewish community in congratulating Prime Minister Boris Johnson on his decisive election victory, beating anti-Semitic Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
By Terri Nir, United with Israel
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party has won a clear majority of seats in Thursday’s election, causing British Jews to breathe a sign of relief. As of Friday morning, the results showed 363 seats for the Conservatives versus 203 for Labour.
A recent study in the UK found that more than two-thirds of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s strong supporters are anti-Semitic.
Among other incidents of support for anti-Israel Islamic terror groups, Corbyn attended a conference in Qatar in 2012 with Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Mashaal and terrorist leaders behind the 2001 Intifada. Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip and London’s Hamas institutions had reportedly joined forces to support Corbyn and his Labour party ahead of the elections.
British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon, among others, have declared that Corbyn is an anti-Semite.
In a recent opinion piece published by British daily The Times, ahead of the election, Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said that “the overwhelming majority of British Jews are gripped by anxiety” at the prospect of a Labour victory due to the party’s links to anti-Semites and its inability to eliminate Jew-hatred from it ranks.
“A new poison — sanctioned from the very top — has taken root” on Corbyn’s watch, warned Mirvis.
“No one has done more to mainstream anti-Semitism into the political and social life of a democracy than the Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour Party,” said the Simon Wiesenthal Center ahead of the election.
Visiting the UK parliament in October 2018, Danon said Corbyn is “an anti-Semite who wants to return Britain to darker periods in its history.”
“We can tell an anti-Semite when we see one,” senior politician Yair Lapid stated this week, referring to Corbyn. A recent study in the UK found that more than two-thirds of Corbyn’s strong supporters are anti-Semitic.
In an election campaign ad, Labour chose to specifically include Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs, while explicitly excluding Jews.
Upon news of the election results on Friday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “Congratulations to my friend Boris Johnson!”
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin issued a press release, saying, “On behalf of the Israeli people, and personally, I wish you great success as you continue to serve as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. I am confident that under your leadership the important relationship between the two countries will continue to strengthen and that together we will be able to face the challenges of our times on every front.”
Johnson a ‘True Friend of Israel’
Opposition leader Benny Gantz, head of the Blue and White party, said on Twitter, “I congratulate British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a true friend of Israel, for his decisive victory and look forward to strengthening further the economic, cultural and security ties between Britain and Israel.
“The poor showing for Jeremy Corbyn in the British general election is good news for Israel, for British Jewry, and above all for Britain’s democracy,” he added.
Yair Lapid, number two on the Blue and White list, tweeted, “I congratulate my friend @BorisJohnson on his election victory. His victory is a defeat for antisemitism. I’m sure that under his leadership we can strengthen and deepen the relations between Israel and Great Britain. Congratulations Boris and good luck!”
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely tweeted in Hebrew, “I congratulate Boris Johnson on his huge election victory. Johnson is a great friend of the State of Israel. Our close ties and our economic and security cooperation will continue to deepen.”
“Congratulations to PM @Boris Johnson & my colleague Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab on their electoral victory. Looking forward to working together to strengthening even further the Israel/UK partnership,” tweeted Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
Following his disastrous loss, Corbyn has stepped down as Labour leader.
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