Feeling the pressure, Corbyn suggested that he had already apologized for his party’s anti-Semitism.
By United with Israel Staff
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been facing universal criticism after refusing to apologize for the anti-Semitic behavior within its ranks in an interview on Tuesday.
Feeling the pressure, Corbyn suggested that he had already apologized for the party in the past.
“I have made very clear anti-Semitism is completely wrong in our society, and our party did make it clear when I was elected leader and after that, that anti-Semitism is unacceptable in any form in our party or our society, and did indeed offer its sympathies and apologies to those who had suffered,” Corbyn told a news conference on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
In a grilling BBC interview by veteran journalist Andrew Neil on Tuesday, Corbyn was confronted about the accusation made by U.K. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis that the Labour leader was not doing enough to root out anti-Semitism within his party.
In response, Corbyn said, “No, he’s not right. Because he would have to produce the evidence to say that’s mendacious,” adding, “I am looking forward to having a discussion with him because I want to hear why he would say such a thing.”
Neil asked Corbyn four times throughout the interview if he wanted to publicly apologize to the Jewish communities in Britain for his party’s anti-Semitic behavior.
Corbyn refused to apologize, instead choosing to repeat his promise of securing a society that is safe for all faiths.
“Racism is a total poison,” he said. “I don’t want anyone to be feeling insecure in our society, and our government will protect every community against the abuse they receive on the streets, on the trains, or in any other form of life.”
“I want to work with every community, to make sure it’s eliminated. That is what my whole life has been about,” he added.