Board of Deputies: Rathbone’s comments “inexcusable”; Labour Party should be “ashamed”

Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl has responded to comments made by Labour Welsh Assembly Member Jenny Rathbone.

Marie said: “These comments are inexcusable. She says it is ‘uncomfortable’ for outsiders to see the local synagogue be protected like a ‘fortress’ and that these necessary security measures are somehow part of the Jewish community’s collective paranoia. In light of the Pittsburgh massacre, and the ongoing terrorist threat to Jews around the world, she should immediately disown these remarks.

“The Labour Party should be ashamed that yet another example has emerged of its elected representatives blaming Jews for the tragedies that befall them. But we are long past being surprised.”