JEREMY Corbyn’s latest bid to tackle anti-Semitism among Labour members has backfired, with a new code of conduct further antagonising Jewish groups.

The Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews issued a joint statement condemning its omission of several key definitions of anti-Semitism.

They said it was “impossible to understand” Labour’s decision and said it would add to doubts about Labour being serious about fighting anti-Semitism in its ranks.

The Labour code adopts some definitions laid down by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), but excludes four referring to Israel and its policies.

Approved by UK Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee, the code was drawn up after allegations from some Labour MPs that the party leadership was failing to tackle anti-Semitism, particularly on the Corbyn-supporting far left.

Jewish groups also protested outside Westminster earlier this year on the issue.

The code states “anti-Semitism is racism” and unacceptable in the party and wider society.

But it insists that criticism of Israel and its policies should not be seen as anti-Semitic per se.

Even “contentious” comments on the subject “will not be treated as anti-Semitic unless accompanied by specific anti-Semitic content” or corroboration.

The document said: “The party will encourage considered and respectful debate on these difficult topics, but will not tolerate name-calling and abuse.”

The code endorses the IHRA’s working definition of anti-Semitism, but tries to cherry pick from the list of behaviours likely to be regarded as anti-Semitic.

IHRA definitions adopted by Labour include calling for the killing of Jews, making allegations about a Jewish conspiracy about controlling the media and economy, Holocaust denial or “blood libel”.

But Labour code omits accusing Jewish people of being more loyal to Israel than their home country;

claiming Israel's existence is a racist endeavour; requiring higher standards of behaviour from Israel than other nations; and comparing modern Israeli policies to those of the Nazis.

The Labour document says it not always obvious if some words or actions are anti-Semitic, with “particular difficulty” when they involve criticism of Israel.

It says denying the Jewish people’s right to self-determination would be anti-Semitism, but Israel’s impact on the Palestinian people is “a legitimate part of modern political discourse”.

It also says it is not anti-Semitic to refer to Zionism or Zionists when debating the Middle East, but warns it is “not permissible” to use Zionist or “zio” as “a code word for Jew”.

Metaphors involving Hitler, Nazis and the Holocaust in relation to Israel and the Palestinians “”carries a strong risk of being regarded as prejudicial or grossly detrimental to the party”.

Jonathan Goldstein, chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, and Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said it was not enough.

They said: “It is for Jews to determine for themselves what anti-Semitism is.

“The UK Jewish community has adopted in full the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, as have the British government, Welsh assembly, Scottish Parliament, 124 local authorities across the country and numerous governments around the world.

“It is impossible to understand why Labour refuses to align itself with this universal definition.

“Its actions only dilute the definition and further erode the existing lack of confidence that British Jews have in their sincerity to tackle anti-Semitism within the Labour movement.”

Labour Against Anti-Semitism called the code a "racists' charter" and a “toothless document that will only encourage Jew-hate in the Labour Party to flourish further, unchallenged and unpunished.”

Labour said the guidelines were "the most detailed and comprehensive guidelines on anti-Semitism adopted by any political party in this country".

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