Henry Maitles

Antisemitism used to be easy to understand — hatred towards Jewish people. Recently, however, antisemitism has been generally redefined and much muddied by its new definition which in practice includes criticisms of Israel as antisemitic.

Eighty years ago in April-May 1943 one of the most inspiring moments in world and Jewish history was unfolding. The Warsaw Ghetto uprising had virtually no chance of success but had at its core a moral and ethical mission.

Observing the furore in the Labour Party around Naz Shah, Ken Livingstone and the likelihood of further suspensions from membership and an inquiry into the extent of antisemitism within the Labour Party, I want to discuss whether it is feasible to be anti-Israel, anti-Zionist and anti-racist.