Jeremy Corbyn, known for his anti-Israel rhetoric, has come under scrutiny for his ties and support of Islamic extremist groups such as Hezbollah & Hamas, to whom he calls ‘our friends.’

By i24news

Five lawmakers from the Arab Joint List party sent a letter of congratulations to newly-elected UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. They hail Corbyn’s victory as “an extraordinary achievement for all democratic forces and socialists around the world.”

The letter continues: “We see you as a partner in our struggle to end the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and a sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital, alongside Israel.”

The letter, signed by MKs Ayman Odeh, Aida Touma-Sliiman, Dov Khenin, Yousef Jabareen and Abdullah Abu Ma’aruf, concludes with a hope that they can work together with Corbyn and his party.

Past controversies

Corbyn has recently come under scrutiny for his purported ties to people with anti-Israel and anti-Semitic views, including conspiracy theorists who blame the 9/11 attacks on Jews. He has defended a priest who said that Jews and Israel perpetrated the 9/11 terror attacks.

RELATED:

• 25 Things you should know about Jeremy Corbyn
• Do not make an enemy of Jeremy Corbyn
• The skeletons in Corbyn’s cupboard

Speaking at a pro-Palestinian event in Parliament he organized in 2014, Corbyn allowed an anti-Semitic activist who called for the arming of Palestinian militias to speak. Corbyn also wants to involve Hamas and Hezbollah in Middle East peace talks.

In a 2009 speech Corbyn gave during a Palestine Solidarity Campaign, he invited members of the Islamist groups to address Parliament.

“It will be my pleasure and honor to host an event in Parliament where our friends from Hezbollah will be speaking,” Corbyn said at the time. “I’ve also invited our friends from Hamas to come and speak as well… So far as I’m concerned, that is absolutely the right function of using Parliamentary facilities.”

View original i24news publication at:
http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/85848-150915-lawmakers-from-arab-joint-list-party-congratulate-uk-labour-leader-corbyn-on-win