Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) is no more. But the many enemies who have tried to destroy or discredit it for showing that many Jews do not support Israel and its genocide should not celebrate just yet.

Jewish Voice For Labour

Say hello to Jewish Voice for Liberation. As a statement from the group explains:

Why Liberation? JVL is liberating itself from the dead weight of Labour.

• We work for liberation from inequality, poverty and authoritarian government as our aspiration for Britain – and as internationalists, for the world. • We work in support of the liberation of Palestinian people from occupation and apartheid as urgent and morally essential and part of the global struggle for freedom from political and economic colonisation and from environmental catastrophe… • We see liberation of Jews from the dead weight of Zionism as essential to our ability to live in peace with ourselves and others.

JVL was formed in 2017 to join the movement to support Jeremy Corbyn’s attempt to transform the Labour Party. Keir Starmer pledged to continue the main – and popular – elements of the Corbyn project to get himself elected leader. Once in post he rapidly reneged on this promise.

While JVL was always sceptical about his plans for the Labour Party, like many others we did not suspect just how far he would go in abandoning progressive policies and even the semblance of democracy. We are as critical of this Labour government as we were of the Tory one that preceded it. Having Labour in our name discredited us with many potential supporters and members who remain supportive of the work but are increasingly embarrassed by our name.

We are now proud to have decided to be Jewish Voice for Liberation a name that represents our ambition for everyone to be able to lead full and satisfying lives free of fear, war, poverty and oppression. Our members have taken the decision but there are legal processes to be followed; we will complete the transition to our new name very soon

Jenny Manson, JVL chair said, “Changing our name makes clear that while our values have not changed those of the Labour Party have been trashed by complicity in Israel’s genocide, intolerance of immigrants and tolerance of poverty and increasing authoritarianism in Britain.“

LAAS and other friends of genocide still can’t credibly claim that all Jews support the perpetrator – which they certainly don’t – and the new JVL will play a key role in shredding the Zionist narrative.

Featured image via the Canary

By Skwawkbox

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