LFI chair @joanryanEnfield begins her speech to our Annual Lunch 2018 by thanking today’s attendees, including our Guest of Honour @Isaac_Herzog, Chairman of the Jewish Agency and former Israeli Leader of the Opposition. #LFILunch 
“It has been a difficult, shameful year for the Labour party.” - @JoanryanEnfield
Joan highlights LFI’s achievements: making the case for a 2 state solution, obtaining greater funding for coexistence, securing UK backing for the International Fund, calling on Hezbollah to be proscribed & winning a review into incitement in the PA’s school curriculum #LFILunch
Quoting Chaim Herzog’s condemnation of the notorious UN ‘Zionism as racism’ resolution: “Zionism is the name of the national movement of the Jewish people and is the modern expression of the ancient Jewish heritage.” #LFILunch
“Israel’s democracy is imperfect. So is our own. But let us be in no doubt. The hatred of Israel – and the denial of the Jewish people’s right to self-determination – which Chaim Herzog spoke out against in 1975, is once again alive and well.” - @joanryanEnfield #LFILunch
“It doesn’t stem from a justifiable concern for the rights of the Palestinian people. It has nothing to do with the tragic plight of Gaza, settlement building, or the nation state law. It is born instead of hatred and ignorance… the oldest hatred of them all.” #LFILunch
Israel: “a state established in the land of Israel in the wake of the Holocaust; a state which, uniquely in the region, embraces the values of democracy, free speech and respect for minorities; and a state which provides the ultimate safe haven for Jews the world over” #LFILunch
“We oppose those who claim they know better than Jews how to define antisemitism; We challenge those who insult the memory of the six million by equating the actions of Israel with those of Nazi Germany…” #LFILunch
“…and we reject the vicious smear that charges of antisemitism are all about silencing legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies.” - @joanryanEnfield #LFILunch
“Let me be clear, Mr Corbyn: It is neither morally right nor at all acceptable to lay a wreath at the grave of those who order the torture and murder of people simply because they are Israelis…” #LFILunch
“It is neither principled nor brave to campaign for the right of people to call Israel a “racist endeavour” … And, no, it does not advance the cause of peace to snub our party’s comrades in Israel while calling Hamas terrorists friends and brothers.” - @joanryanEnfield #LFILunch
“It is now time to choose sides. When it comes to the battle against antisemitism, there’s no room for accommodation. There’s no space for compromise. There’s no time for equivocation. We will challenge antisemitism wherever we find it.” - @joanryanEnfield #LFILunch
“We will confront antisemitism however powerful those who excuse it or propagate it are. Neither I, LFI, or my parliamentary colleagues in this room will stand to one side. We will not be intimidated, and we will not be silenced. We will speak up and we will speak out.” #LFILunch
“And so let me give you this final solemn pledge: In this fight against antisemitism, I will never cower in the face of hatred and abuse. However long it takes. Whatever the personal cost. I am with you, on your side.” - @joanryanEnfield #LFILunch
