A FORMER Tory minister has been accused of “textbook antisemitism” for claiming Robert Jenrick’s Jewish “family connections” lie behind his pro-Israeli stance.
Sir Alan Duncan said the Conservative leadership contender was an “extremist” who “takes his script” from Israel.
Simon JonesRobert Jenrick and his wife Michal, who is Jewish[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationSir Alan Duncan said Mr Jenrick was an “extremist”[/caption]
His comments today sparked anger from Mr Jenrick – whose wife Michal is Jewish – and demands for him to be expelled from the party.
Sir Alan was investigated by the Tories earlier this year for claiming the Conservative Friends of Israel group was “doing the bidding” of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The ex-foreign office minister – who left Parliament in 2019 – was cleared but now faces another row over his comments on the Palestine Deep Dive YouTube channel.
He said: “Now this man is an extremist. He does not believe in any kind of two state solution, although he says he does. He knows nothing about it.
“He takes his script entirely from the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis. So he would be a disaster if he were leader of the Conservative Party.”
Asked why he believed Mr Jenrick was a fervent defender of Israel, Sir Alan went on: “It is disgusting extremism born of ignorance. But there’s also family connections which have a Jewish link.
“But just because someone’s Jewish doesn’t mean that they have to agree with Netanyahu.”
Mr Jenrick – who is battling Kemi Badenoch for the Tory crown – lashed back at Sir Alan today.
The former immigration minister said: “There’s a word for those that accuse politicians of being controlled by the Israelis because of Jewish family members.
“Sir Alan has already been investigated for anti-Semitism once. These views have no place in our party.”
Tory MP Jack Rankin piled in: “There can be no place for this textbook antisemitism in our party, and this is not the first incident from Sir Alan – he should be kicked out immediately.”
Sir Alan today denied his comments amounted to antisemitism.
He told The Sun: “This is textbook ‘abusemitism’ where they make unjustified accusations of antisemitism in order to bully or silence. I will not be silenced.
“I defend international law. He does not. Will he say unequivocally that all settlements in the West Bank are illegal? If he does not, then he is not fit to be leader of the Conservative Party.”
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “The Conservative Party has an established Code of Conduct and formal processes.
“If a complaint is made it is reviewed thoroughly and may result in an investigation or the matter being dismissed. This process is rightly confidential.”