Conservative ministers have called on Labour donor Dale Vince to apologise after he suggested the Israeli government bears some responsibility for rising antisemitism, following a deadly attack at a Hanukah event in Sydney. Vince, who has donated over £5 million to Labour, posted on X that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “wants antisemitism to be a thing” and that his actions contribute to it.
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, described Vince’s remarks as “morally repugnant” and urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to condemn them. Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative Party chair, demanded Labour return all donations from Vince and refuse future ones, stating that any language excusing terrorism undermines British values.
A Labour spokesperson responded by calling the Bondi Beach attack “sickening” and emphasised that “there can never and should never be any excuses made for barbaric acts of terrorism.” The spokesperson noted that Vince is not a Labour member and has not donated to the party since May 2024. Labour said it considers donations on a case-by-case basis, with the party’s values as a factor.
Vince later clarified his comments, saying they were not intended to excuse terrorism or racism. He argued that Netanyahu’s attempt to blame Australian policy for the attack was “outrageous” and that it was “far more likely that Israeli policy not Australian policy is the cause.” He reiterated his condemnation of all acts of terror and all forms of racism.
