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| New Tory leader’s warning on anti-Semitism
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Newly appointed leader of the British Conservative party, David Cameron, has spoken of his admiration for Israel and his belief in the importance of fighting anti-Semitism.
Cameron won the leadership of the UK’s opposition party after defeating rival David Davis in a national ballot of some 200,00 members.
The 39-year-old former Eton pupil, replaced Jewish Tory leader Michael Howard who stood down after his unsuccessful attempt to win this year’s general election.
He has told the Jewish community that he understands the modern problem of anti-Semitism cloaked in the veil of anti-Zionism, and believes there should be an audit of the Palestinian Authority to make sure aid funds are not being donated to terrorism.
Privilege and responsibility
Accepting his appointment, Cameron said: “It is a huge privilege and an honour and a great responsibility to take on this job and I will do it with everything I have to do it with the best of my ability to my party and to my country.
 Anti-Semitism is the oldest hatred and, as the Chief Rabbi has pointed out, it has now mutated to take new forms
David Cameron | He thanked Michael Howard for giving the party “a sense of tradition and a sense of purpose”.
Cameron, who has promised to change the image of the Conservative party, has told of the need to battle anti-Semitism both on university campuses.
Answering questions from the lobby group Conservative Friends of Israel, the new opposition leader outlined his concerns about anti-Jewish hatred in the UK, which he recognized has taken on “new forms” since the start of the intifada in Israel five years ago.
“The Government needs to send a clear signal that it will not tolerate extremism or prejudice of any kind. Anti-Semitism is the oldest hatred and, as the Chief Rabbi has pointed out, it has now mutated to take new forms,” Cameron said.
“We need to be vigilant about campus anti-Semitism and challenge those critics of Israel who allow their attacks to descend into denunciations dangerously close to anti-Jewish rhetoric. We also need a much closer watch kept on those extremists, whether self-styled preachers or political activists, who spread anti-Semitism as part of their campaign of hate.
Respect for Israel
Although he admitted that he has never been to Israel he said he “looks forward to visiting” the Jewish state and praised Israelis and their achievements.
“Conservatives appreciate in their hearts what makes Israel strong – the durability of the Israeli people’s values, the freedoms the nation has defended under considerable pressure as well as the vigor and creativity of modern Israeli society,” Cameron said.
“I am a strong admirer of what Israelis have achieved in the fields of science, the arts, business and philanthropy, and of the immeasurable contribution of Jewish culture to our own society.”
By demanding a clear audit trail for every pound, euro or dollar spent and denying funding to those individuals or organizations who cannot account for how aid money is spent or who have clearly diverted it for the wrong purposes
David Cameron | Speaking of his hopes for the peace process Cameron added: “I welcome the recognition of the current Israeli government that steps need to be taken to help create a functioning Palestinian state, and I welcome Israel’s bold decision to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. This creates new opportunities, and new responsibilities for the Palestinian people.
But Cameron had strong words for the Palestinian leadership, who he recognized has not lived up to its responsibilities by not arresting those perpetrating terror.
“I am also clear that the Palestinian leadership now needs to live up to its responsibility to end the corruption, violence, prejudice and terrorism which has blighted their people’s prospects, and hope that under the leadership of President Abbas the Palestinian Authority will now do that,” he said.
Answering a question about the mismanagement of international donations to the PA, Cameron urged an audit of the Palestinian funds in order to ensure that international development aid, either from Britain or the EU, goes directly to genuinely help the Palestinian people.
“By demanding a clear audit trail for every pound, euro or dollar spent and denying funding to those individuals or organizations who cannot account for how aid money is spent or who have clearly diverted it for the wrong purposes.”
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