The Green Party's Conference starts today in Cardiff. No doubt one of the topics of conversation in the corridors and bars will be the resignation of Toby Green after 10 years of membership.
Bob from Brockley has Toby's full statement. Lucy lips has the story too with some extra details but I couldn't possibly comment on the accuracy.
One interesting feature is the intervention of Darren Johnson in the comment stream after Bob's post. Reproduced in full at Greens Engage. Darren is a senior figure in the party, a local councillor in Lewisham and a London Assembly Member. But, it seems he is a voice in the wilderness which gives even more credence to Toby's analysis.
The situation is quite simple: anyone who raises the issue of anti-Semitism within the party is immediately labeled a "Zio" or an "apologist for Israel" and accused of trying to stifle criticism of Israel. The fact that these people are also critics of Israel and empathise with the Palestinian cause does not register on their barometer. They are blind to any evidence that contradicts their obsession. Debate, or rational discourse, has become a pointless and futile exercise.
If the Green Party cannot see, understand or deal with it's own problems what chance have they of resolving anybody else's?
This phenomenon is a function of the take-over of the Green Party by the far left, who are as nasty as bunch as you could hope to meet. They like nothing better than to harass and vilify anyone they disagree with because they are incapable of seeing divergence from their party line as anything other than Evil Incarnate.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that from the far left point of view being Jewish or Israeli is no longer fashionable, as it was back in the days when the left fawned over Zionism (just as they now do over Muslims) and flocked to kibbutzim. Sorry, but as far as they are concerned, especially since 9/11, being Muslim or Palestinian is now the in thing, and so, in their narrow little mindset anyone disagreeing with that is, necessarily, Evil.
"the far left, who are as nasty as bunch as you could hope to meet"
ReplyDeleteOh, you know them all?
"fashionable."
It's unusual to hate things for being unfashionable though. You'd think people would simply move on if that were the case.
"Evil"
No, that's too strong. Angry, prejudiced, and wilfully blind is more like it.
If I haven't outed myself before, I'll out myself now, I am far left, and seriously concerned by the toleration both of anti-Semitism and Deborah Fink.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'll out myself again... I'm a baptised Catholic, confirmed Protestant, atheist.
Arguing that EUMC guidelines would stifle criticism of Israel is like saying we can't criticise Mugabe without using the N-word.
between-the-line's take on it is balls, though, speaking as someone who knows the ins and outs and was on the Working Group.
I have done an update, you might like it or not.
ReplyDeleteSo I see!
ReplyDelete