Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis at AIPAC: Claims Corbyn government would have been bad for Israel.
Transcript from AIPAC.
Ladies and gentlemen, ever since that time, Prime Ministers of Israel and Jewish leaders have been welcomed, but during the last year, we were filled with deep anxiety. What would happen if the next incumbent would be Jeremy Corben? What would the consequences be for Jews and Judaism at the state of Israel? As we recognized that the weight of historic responsibility was on our shoulders. Because... a call to victory would be sent around the world. An encouraging message to Jewish communities and our many friends around the world. On the 12th of December, 2019, not only was labor defeated, it was an emphatic landslide victory.
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When I published my Op-Ed in the times when I declared that Jeremy Corben was unfit to hold office, a piece well-received by the British public, I did so, not in a unilateral manner, but... rather, in concert with key Jewish figures and Jewish organizations because... on the matter of anti-semitism, we have always acted as one. That is why our voice has been heard and our views have been respected. Today, I issue a call to the Jews of America, please take the leaf out of our book and please speak with one voice.
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The issue is urgent. It's critical, it is of huge importance to our future. We cannot afford to be divided. What this means is, where there's anti-semitism, which is prevalent to our left, those who are politically active on the left must see it for what it is and must counter it. Where there is anti-semitism, prevalent on the right, and they must confront it. There is only one path for us, that is the bi-partisan route.
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The second lesson... [speaking foreign language]... know before whom and what you stand. You need to define the problem. If there isn't a clear definition of anti-semitism, you won't be able to identify who the perpetrators are. Sitting in this hall here today is Lord Eric Bickle [phonetic] responsible for the fact that the British government was the first in the world to adopt the IHRA definition of anti-semitism.
We have clarity on the matter, particularly on the census of an important issue, surrounding Israel and Zionism as a result.
If somebody criticized a particular policy of the government of Israel -- it doesn't mean that person is necessarily anti-Semitic. If somebody denies the right of the Jewish people to deny their state, that's a different matter. Often we see attempts to demonize Israel are none other than attempts to demonize the Jewish people. We need to see it for what it is. We must confront it and we must defeat it.
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Next week, we'll be celebrating the Festival of Puran. Who knows, it is probably for this very moment, this time of urgency that you were given your power and influence. That's my message to all of you today. You are in positions of leadership. You have influence. Please use it with all you've got at this time. For the sake of Jews and Judaism and please use your influence fearlessly and with courage. That's what the Jews of the United Kingdom have done together with our many friends and the results are there to be seen. So... consequently, let us act with one voice. Let us do so with a clear vision. And let us use our courage and if that is the case... not only can we prevail, we will prevail. God bless you all.
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