Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon has expressed regret over a 2014 video in which he said “Zionism is the enemy of peace”, prompting criticism from Jewish groups who called for an apology.
The senior Labour MP made the comment in a video published by freelance journalist Iggy Ostanin. The Board of Deputies of British Jews branded the remark “shameful”. Burgon had previously denied using the phrase when challenged on the BBC in 2018.
In the footage, Burgon said: “The enemy of the Palestinian people is not the Jewish people, the enemy of the Palestinian people are Zionists and Zionism is the enemy of peace and the enemy of the Palestinian people. We need to be loud, we need to be proud in support of a free Palestine.”
Mike Katz, chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, said the vast majority of Jewish people identify as Zionists, calling Burgon’s behaviour “shameful”. Jonathan Goldstein, chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, urged Burgon to issue a “full apology and a clarification”.
In a statement, Burgon said he did not recall making the comment and had asked for evidence when first challenged in 2016, but received no reply. He added: “It is now clear that I did and I regret doing so… I recognise that such a phrase fails to distinguish between those seeking a peaceful solution… and those, such as the current Israeli government, which is undermining efforts towards peace.”
