The British Parliament’s Opposition Leader and chief of the UK Labour Party said he was “concerned” by Israel’s refusal to grant entry to members of organizations promoting the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, and blasted President Donald Trump for his ‘failure’ to back the United Nations and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Last Sunday, the Israeli government released its ‘BDS blacklist’ – a list of the 20 anti-Israel organizations the Jewish state refuses entry to due to their support for efforts to delegitimize Israel.
Among the groups included in the blacklist are far-left American groups like Code Pink and the Jewish Voice for Peace.
On Friday, a spokesperson for Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn, released a statement to the anti-Israel website Electronic Intifada that MP Corbyn “is concerned” about Israel’s barring of BDS activists.
“Jeremy is concerned by reports that activists campaigning for justice for Palestinians, against illegal settlements and the ongoing occupation have been barred from Israel,” Corbyn’s spokesperson said.
On Sunday, Corbyn also slammed President Donald Trump, condemning him for ‘failing to support’ the United Nations, and appearing to dismiss the notion of a “special relationship” between the UK and the US.
Speaking on ITV Sunday, Corbyn responded to a question of whether there was still a “special relationship” between the two countries.
“No. I think there are many important relationships.”
“This US one is obviously culturally and economically significant and important. Also the trading relationships we have around the world with obviously the EU, but also with India and China and the rest of the world are very important.”
"Also our relationship with international institutions such as the United Nations is very important."
Corbyn then went on to lambast President Trump for what he termed the president’s ‘failure to support’ the UN – apparently referring to the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from UNESCO last year over that body’s use by member states as a platform for attacking Israel.
"The biggest disappointment of Donald Trump is - apart from his endless offensive remarks about women, about minorities and about different faiths - is his failure to support international institutions like the United Nations and like UNESCO," said Corbyn.