Labour Party leader hopeful Jeremy Corbyn. Photo: Facebook.

Jeremy Corbyn is currently leading in polls to be the next leader of the Labour Party in the U.K. – and it’s something that 80% of the Jewish community there is very concerned about.

Corbyn has said that he would impose an arms embargo on Israel; is a supporter of boycotting the Jewish state; describes himself as an anti-Zionist; and is outspoken on the need for the Palestinian “right of return.” He says Israel is “continuing with the imprisonment of [Palestinian] children, elected parliamentarians, expulsion of African asylum seekers from Israel, and of course the siege of Gaza, refusing to allow any reconstruction.” 

Corbyn also urges discussions with Hamas as part of a “peace process,” and has repeatedly referred to Hamas and Hezbollah as “friends.”

Clearly, a Corbyn-led U.K. would not be friendly to the Jewish state.

One of the very few members of the U.K. Jewish community proudly standing with Corbyn is Rhea Wolfson, who serves as the campaign manager for the Young Labour Party. According to her Linkedin profile, she also serves as Communications and Outreach Manager at New Israel Fund U.K.. Indeed, her photo is prominently featured on NIF’s U.K. website. Wolfson says Corbyn “offers something different,” commenting that his “straight talk” has swayed her.

This is not surprising. Corbyn’s views on a boycott of Israel precisely mirror the position of the NIF. He recently remarked, “Is it right that we should be supplying arms in that situation? Is it right that we should be importing goods made in illegal settlements across the West Bank? Wouldn’t a stronger message be to those Israelis who want to live in peace with the Palestinians – and there are very many people in Israel that do, we recognize that – that the process of some economic measures might be helpful?”

Terror group Hamas has also praised Corbyn. In an article in The Telegraph this weekend, Hamas Deputy Foreign Minister Ghazi Hamad said, “I find that [Corbyn] has very good sympathy and support for the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian struggle and he is frankly against the occupation, against the racist policy of Israel, against settlements.”

In 2010, the Knesset pursued an investigation into the New Israel Fund. At the time, Yisrael Hasson, a Knesset member from the centrist Kadima party and former deputy director of the Shin Bet security services, implied that the NIF could be receiving funds from Israel’s sworn enemies. At the time, he was quoted in the Israeli media saying, “If I were Al-Qaeda, I wouldn’t think twice, I would give to them.”

Birds of a feather flock together.