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THREAD: In 2017 Qatari state TV channel Al Jazeera released "The Lobby". A combination of lies, insinuations and distortions, the documentary attempted to construct a vast conspiracy involving hidden power, money and improper influence - typical antisemitic tropes (1/)
"The Lobby" has now been weaponised by antisemites to attack, defame and undermine the brave young Jews and whistleblowers who appeared in #Panorama last week. In the light of this, it's time for some facts (2/)
Firstly, the infamous "£1m" is totally untrue and utterly ridiculous. The conversation was about a visit for young people openly arranged, advertised and paid for by the Israeli Embassy, not an LFI parliamentarians' delegation (3/)
The Israeli Embassy was in the process of organising a visit for young activists, businesspeople and artists. They asked a number of organisations, including LFI, for suggestions of individuals they could invite. The "names" discussed in the programme refer to this (4/)
To confirm, so there can be absolutely no room for doubt, no payment of £1m, or indeed any other amount, for LFI, or our delegations, was offered, given or received. (5/)
The undercover reporter who entrapped young Jews was a German national who claimed to feel "guilt" over the Holocaust to feign concern for antisemitism in the Labour party and support for Israel. That is how he wheedled his way in and earned people's trust (6/)
That so many in Labour are willing to believe Qatari state TV over the BBC is damning. This is a broadcaster that published a video suggesting Jews had exploited their supposed control of media, financial and academic institutions to exaggerate the extent of the Holocaust (7/)
Al Jazeera is owned by the Qatari government and its chair is a member of Qatar's ruling family. Qatar is a dictatorship with serial human rights violations. Migrant workers are treated as slave labourers and homosexuality is a criminal offence (8/)
Last year, two Nepali journalists attending an event in Doha on freedom of the press were arrested and deported. The idea that Qatar is some bastion of freedom of speech, independent journalism and human rights is laughable yet seemingly widespread amongst Corbynites (9/)
Even the name of the programme is in itself an antisemitic trope that falsely alleges the existence of a nefarious Jewish lobby. As we sadly know, such myths have been spun throughout history, sometimes with tragic and murderous results (10/)
That such a series of falsehoods is now used to dismiss antisemitism in the Labour party, to attack Jewish victims of racism & to libel those who speak out against hatred is truly shameful. Conspiracy theories have dangerous consequences, this one can no longer be ignored (11/11)
