Former Shadow Home Secretary, Diane Abbott, has deleted a tweet where she referred to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) as the ‘Jewish Defence Forces’.
‘Jewish defence force’
The gaffe-prone Labour veteran made accused the so-called “Jewish Defence Forces” of murdering Palestinian children.
Abbott also shared a post that said Israeli soldiers “entice children like mice into a trap and murder them for sport.”
Calls for Abbott to be suspended
Calls are growing for the Hackney MP after campaign groups, such as the Campaign Against Anti-semitism, weighed in against Abbott accusing her of antisemitism.
Abbott was suspended previously
Abbott was previously suspended in 2023 after making similarly antisemitic remarks claiming Jewish people did not experience the same degree of racism compared to other groups.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews branded the MP’s comments as the “latest in her long line of anti-Jewish offences and provocations.”
With recent comments by punk rap band Bob Vylan – “death, death to the IDF” – being widely condemned across the political spectrum, antisemitism is in the spotlight.
Starmer yet to comment
PM Keir Starmer has yet to comment on the incident and no remarks have been made by the government as to whether Abbott will lose the whip over the incident.
The Labour Party has said: “All complaints are taken seriously and assessed in line with the Labour Party’s rules and procedures”.
Abbott is yet to comment on the incident.
