Labour has suspended a Walthamstow activist amid a new anti-Semitism controversy for the party.
David Watson, a fundraising co-ordinator for the Walthamstow Labour Party, referred to Zionism as a “racist ideology” on Facebook.
Reports in the national press claimed Mr Watson shared articles claiming ISIS used weapons made in Israel, comparing Mossad to the Nazis and accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians.
It is also claimed Mr Watson had written in a Facebook status: “If I were a Palestinian, like most people. I’d probably want to be a guerrilla fighter and liberate my people from a brutal and oppressive occupation.”
Mr Watson was suspended on Friday (May 6) while an investigation into the Facebook posts is carried out.
In a statement, the Walthamstow Labour Party said: “An individual member of Walthamstow Labour Party has been suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation by the national party.
“We condemn anti-Semitism and racism of all kinds but cannot comment further until the Party investigation has concluded.”
However, Mr Watson has vehemently denied any claims of anti-Semitism, stating his suspension was “without justification”.
He said: “These charges are spurious and I am totally innocent. I have opposed racism and anti-Semitism all my life, both personally and professionally.
“As an activist, I have participated on demonstrations against racism and fought vigorously to combat racism in schools. My support for the Anne Frank project is something I am particularly proud of.
“The allegations leading to my suspension are without justification and I will fight them vigorously, in court if necessary.”
Labour MP for Walthamstow, Stella Creasy, said: “Bigotry has no place in a party campaigning for social justice.”
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