Condemnation of MP for criticising Israel's treatment of Palestinians

[Insaanah]

25 January 2013 Last updated at 15:05

Lib Dems condemn MP's criticism of Israel ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day

The Liberal Democrats have "condemned" their MP David Ward for his "use of language" in a statement about Israel's treatment of Palestinians, issued ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day

He accused "the Jews" in Israel of "inflicting atrocities on Palestinians... on a daily basis".

Mr Ward has been summoned to a meeting with party whips next week.

But the MP told the BBC he had chosen his words carefully and did not regret the timing of the statement.

The MP said it was "regrettable" he had been reprimanded by Liberal Democrat officials.

'Sickening'

This Sunday - Holocaust Memorial Day - marks the 68th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp, where more than one million people - mostly Jews - died.

Mr Ward, who has represented Bradford East since 2010, described Auschwitz as "the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history" on his website.

The web page indicated that the MP supported efforts "to combat prejudice and racism today" by the Holocaust Educational Trust and had honoured "those who were persecuted and killed during the Holocaust" by signing a "Book of Commitment".

But it also included a statement from Mr Ward: "Having visited Auschwitz twice - once with my family and once with local schools - I am saddened that the Jews, who suffered unbelievable levels of persecution during the Holocaust, could within a few years of liberation from the death camps be inflicting atrocities on Palestinians in the new State of Israel and continue to do so on a daily basis in the West Bank and Gaza."

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said she was "deeply saddened" that the MP had "deliberately abused the memory of the Holocaust".

She added: "These comments are sickening and unacceptable and have no place in British politics."

'Positive response'

A Lib Dem spokesman said: "This is a matter we take extremely seriously. The Liberal Democrats deeply regret and condemn the statement issued by David Ward and his use of language which is unacceptable."

Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: "We are outraged and shocked at these offensive comments about Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the suggestion that Jews should have learned a lesson from the experience.

"For an MP to have made such comments on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day is even more distasteful, and we welcome the fact that the Liberal Democrats have sought to disassociate the party from David Ward's comments."

But Mr Ward told the BBC: "I've spoken to the chief whip, and he's got his views. I don't feel bad about it in any way. They consider my comments regrettable; I consider their reprimand regrettable."

The Lib Dem MP said any further disciplinary would be "a sad reflection on the values we all hold so dearly, particularly on free speech".

He also said his comments had received an "overwhelmingly positive" response from the public, with 80 unsolicited supportive emails, and just two from detractors.

While it was essential to remember the Holocaust as "one of the most horrific examples of man's inhumanity to man", he said, "should we not also remember when there are examples of atrocities being committed in the present?"

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21194991

[Qurratul Ayn]

He accused "the Jews" in Israel of "inflicting atrocities on Palestinians... on a daily basis".

While it was essential to remember the Holocaust as "one of the most horrific examples of man's inhumanity to man", he said, "should we not also remember when there are examples of atrocities being committed in the present?"

Such true words spoken by a politician. Hats off to him.

The Lib Dem MP said any further disciplinary would be "a sad reflection on the values we all hold so dearly, particularly on free speech".

How true. Maybe, even free speech will cease to exist...

we welcome the fact that the Liberal Democrats have sought to disassociate the party from David Ward's comments."

Not associate themselves with the truth??? Oh the gall...

:jz: for posting this article Sister Insaanah.

These people will only hear what they want to hear. Plus, they'll probably blow this out of context. Oh dear

[GuestFellow]

This must have been a difficult move on his part. It's not easy to criticise Israel.

[Pygoscelis]

Good on him! I agree with him 100%

I wonder if Muslims willl see this and champion free speech a little more. It isn't just cartoon drawings.

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[joedawun]

Nothing he said is inaccurate or objectionable. It does defy logic that the Jewish people, having suffered as they did during the Holocaust, would ultimately end up persecuting another group of people to "secure" their own future.

['Abd-al Latif]

I wonder if Muslims willl see this and champion free speech a little more.

I genuinely appreciate the gesture of good-will but with regards to Muslims championing free speech, I advise you with the words of Atticus (from To Kill a Mockingbird), "You never really knew a man until you stood in his shoes and walked around in them".

If free speech means allowing people to criticise another people for their beliefs, values and all what they hold dear but not letting them defend themselves on the same platforms and channels in which they were criticised in, then Muslims will not be the only exclusive group who will refuse to champion free speech.

[Qurratul Ayn]

David Ward MP 'sorry' over Israel criticism

A Liberal Democrat MP who accused "the Jews" in Israel of "inflicting atrocities on Palestinians... on a daily basis" has apologised for the "unintended offence".

Bradford East MP David Ward said in a blog post he had been "trying to make clear that everybody needs to learn the lessons of the Holocaust".
He had made his initial comments ahead of Sunday's Holocaust Memorial Day.
On Friday, his party "condemned" his "use of language".

He was also summoned to a meeting with party whips next week.

Last week he said he was "saddened that the Jews, who suffered unbelievable levels of persecution during the Holocaust, could within a few years of liberation from the death camps be inflicting atrocities on Palestinians in the new State of Israel and continue to do so on a daily basis in the West Bank and Gaza".
But in a blog posting on Saturday he apologised, saying: "I never for a moment intended to criticise or offend the Jewish people as a whole, either as a race or as a people of faith, and apologise sincerely for the unintended offence which my words caused.

"I recognise, of course, the deep sensitivities of these issues at all times, and particularly on occasions of commemoration such as this weekend."
He said his criticisms "of actions since 1948 in the Palestinian territories in the name of the state of Israel remain as strong as ever".

He added: "I will continue to make criticisms of actions in Palestine in the strongest possible terms for as long as Israel continues to oppress the Palestinian people."

In the article published on his website on Friday, Mr Ward had looked ahead to Holocaust Memorial Day, which marks the 68th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp.

More than one million people - mostly Jews - died at the camp.
'Reprimand regrettable'The article said he supported efforts "to combat prejudice and racism today" by the Holocaust Educational Trust and had honoured "those who were persecuted and killed during the Holocaust" by signing "a book of commitment".
His initial comments drew criticism from his own party, as well as the Holocaust Educational Trust and the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

The Israeli embassy said Mr Ward's comments demonstrated a "shocking insensitivity to the feelings of both Holocaust survivors and Israeli victims of terrorism".
Embassy spokesman Amir Ofek said: "David Ward's comments show a troubling ignorance of the brutal campaign of terrorist attacks waged against Israeli children, women and men by Palestinian terrorist groups, and of the extraordinary efforts made by Israel to protect its citizens in an effective and humane manner."

Earlier in the week, Mr Ward's party said: "This is a matter we take extremely seriously. The Liberal Democrats deeply regret and condemn the statement issued by David Ward and his use of language which is unacceptable."

On Saturday, a party spokesman said this position had not changed and he was still set to meet party whips.

Mr Ward had, at first, reacted by telling BBC News he had chosen his words carefully and did not regret the timing of the statement.
"I've spoken to the chief whip and he's got his views. I don't feel bad about it in any way. They consider my comments regrettable - I consider their reprimand regrettable," he added.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21216801

[GuestFellow]

^ Don't blame him. It's really difficult to criticise Israel.

Good on him! I agree with him 100%

I wonder if Muslims willl see this and champion free speech a little more. It isn't just cartoon drawings.

Some Muslims do not even use free speech to its full potential. Instead of forcing people to change their opinion through bans, they should use free speech to change people's opinions. The latter matter is more effective.