Israel should be moved to the US with the message: 'Problem solved'

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[h=1]Labour in fresh anti-Semitic storm: Muslim MP quits as aide to John McDonnell after sharing toxic Facebook post which suggested Israel should be moved to US[/h]

• Naz Shah today apologised for 'offence caused' by her Facebook post
• The Bradford West MP shared the claim and added supportive comments
• The post was made in 2014 before Ms Shah became an MP in the Commons
• Labour has been rocked by a series of anti-Semitism rows in recent weeks
• Jeremy Corbyn repeatedly urged to speak out clearly against abuse

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By TIM SCULTHORPE, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 13:29, 26 April 2016 | UPDATED: 14:34, 26 April 2016

 

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A Labour MP today has resigned as an aide to John McDonnell after sharing a graphic on social media that appeared to say Israel should be 'relocated' to America.

Bradford West MP Naz Shah shared an image that showed an outline of Israel superimposed on to a map of the USA.

The headline on the image said: 'Solution for Israel-Palestine Conflict - Relocate Israel into United States.'

Ms Shah then wrote with the post: 'problem solved.'

The Muslim MP today apologised for 'offence caused' before quitting as the shadow chancellor's PPS.

The resignation will reignite a bitter row within Labour about whether Jeremy Corbyn has done enough to combat anti-Semitism among some new members who have joined the party under his leadership.

Tory MPs today led calls for Ms Shah to be suspended from the Labour Party over the incident.

The Facebook post, shared by Ms Shah in 2014 before she became an MP, suggested the US has 'plenty of land' to accommodate Israel as a 51st state, allowing Palestinians to 'get their life and their land back'.

It added that Israeli people would be welcome and safe in the US while the 'transportation cost' would be less than three years' worth of Washington's support for Israeli defence spending.

Ms Shah added a note suggesting the plan might 'save them some pocket money'.

After the posting was highlighted by the Guido Fawkes website, Ms Shah released a statement in which she said: 'This post from two years ago was made before I was an MP, does not reflect my views and I apologise for any offence it has caused.'

 

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Labour MP Naz Shah today apologised and quit as an aide to John McDonnell over the row

 

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In a second statement, she added later: 'I deeply regret the hurt I have caused by comments made on social media before I was elected as an MP.


'I made these posts at the height of the Gaza conflict in 2014, when emotions were running high around the Middle East conflict. But that is no excuse for the offence I have given, for which I unreservedly apologise.
'In recognition of that offence, I have stepped down from my role as PPS to the shadow chancellor John McDonnell.



'I will be seeking to expand my existing engagement and dialogue with Jewish community organisations and will be stepping up my efforts to combat all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism.'


A Labour spokesman said the party was making no comment on the issue.


Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told the website: 'If Jeremy Corbyn was serious about tackling anti-Semitism, he would put his money where his mouth is and remove the whip her from Naz Shah immediately.'


Ms Shah is a member of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, which is conducting an inquiry into the rise of anti-Semitism.

 

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Ms Shah shared the graphic, pictured left, in August 2014 on Facebook. She added comments underneath, pictured right, suggesting she would lobby Barack Obama and David Cameron over the idea

 

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Jonathan Sacerdoti, director of communications at the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said it would be 'hard' for his organisation to take the parliamentary committee's inquiry seriously if Ms Shah remained part of it.
Speaking before Ms Shah's resignation, he said: 'One cannot simply apologise for ''any offence caused'' and expect a evidence of gross and brazen anti-Semitism to disappear.
'Once again the Labour Party has been revealed to have within its ranks people who express extreme prejudice towards Jewish people in their public statements. Once again the party has failed to find these statements itself, and reject those who freely and willingly express them.
'How can we believe Labour when it says it takes the problem of Jew-hatred seriously when it repeatedly defends anti-Semitic MPs? It seems that Jeremy Corbyn's anti-racism policy only operates when convenient.'
He added: 'We have offered to assist the Select Committee in its work investigating anti-Semitism. However, if Naz Shah remains on the committee it will be hard for those of us giving evidence to take the inquiry seriously.'


k

 

[DrunkenHorseplayer]

This is actually a pretty good idea but you can't get around the attachment that Jews have to the region.

 

[busterhyman]

deal- if we can remove the illegal mexicans and the muslims.