Tony Blair has claimed that the left has formed an 'unholy alliance' with Islamists, describing it as a new form of antisemitism. The former prime minister made the allegations in an article for the Free Press, a publication founded by journalist Bari Weiss. Critics argue that Blair is attempting to silence opposition to Israel's actions in Gaza, which a recent poll found only 12% of Britons support.
Blair's comments come amid growing public support for an arms embargo on Israel and sanctions against its leaders. He has been accused of failing to provide evidence for his claims, unlike his justification for the Iraq war. The left, including the Green Party of England and Wales, has strongly opposed Israel's military campaign, which many international scholars and Jewish Americans have labelled a genocide.
Blair has also faced criticism for joining Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace' for Gaza, a plan described as a neocolonial fantasy. He praised Trump's 'bold and intelligent plan' despite widespread condemnation. Critics note that Blair's own record includes alliances with Saudi Arabia, a major exporter of religious extremism, and support for arms sales to the regime.
The Green Party, now the main force of the English left, is led by a Jewish gay man and champions progressive causes such as LGBTQ+ rights and women's equality. Blair's accusations have been dismissed as a desperate attempt to deflect from the widespread anger over the situation in Gaza.
