EJP | News | UK | Report: London mayor in fresh political row

	Friday, August 29, 2008 28 Av, 5768

News

France

Germany

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

EU-Israel affairs

Year 2006 in Review

US 2008 ELECTION

Iran - Holocaust

Voices

Culture

In Depth

Mideast Crisis

World Cup

On Anglo Jewry

Week at a glance

France Election

EU and Annapolis Summit

News from outside of Europe

Holocaust Remembrance Day

July 2008 at a glance

The Calendar

Links

Report: London mayor in fresh political row

Updated: 22/Mar/2006 17:25

"Perhaps if they're not happy they can always go back (to their own country) and see if they can do better under the ayatollahs"

Photo: The City of London

Page tools

	Email to friend
	Print this page
	Bookmark this page
	Add your view

London mayor Ken Livingstone has again been accused of making anti-Semitic remarks after he suggested that two Jewish businessmen should “go back to their own country and see if they can do better under the ayatollahs”.

The comments were made Tuesday during a press conference at London’s City Hall in reference to the 2012 four-billion-pound (5,7 billion euros) “Olympic City” building project in London’s East End, prompting outrage from Jewish community leaders and members of the London Assembly.

The 60-year-old Livingstone attacked property developers David and Simon Reuben, who were born in Bombay to Iraqi Jewish parents and have been British residents for 40 years, for their role in an ongoing dispute about the Stratford City development in east London.

He claimed the brothers have created a “poisonous state of relations” within the syndicate building the project.

The London Evening Standard, whose reporter Oliver Finegold was targeted by Livingstone in the February 2005 "Nazi" jibe, said the mayor alleged there was a "poisonous state of relations" in the consortium, of which the brothers own half.

He also allegedly criticised them for the collapse of other projects in
London.

"Perhaps if they’re not happy they can always go back (to their own
country) and see if they can do better under the ayatollahs," he told his weekly news conference.

The mayor is understood to think that the consortium behind the project, of which the Reuben brothers hold a 50% stake, is not progressing quickly enough and could be in danger.

“Totally inaccurate”

The brothers released a statement saying the mayor’s comments were “totally inaccurate”.

A spokesman said: “We remain completely committed to the project in its entirety, as well as the Olympic opportunity.”

“We are working extremely hard to deliver the development for the long-term benefit of London and Londoners and that is what they shall continue to do.”

London Assembly member Brian Coleman said: “This is the latest anti-Semitic remark by Livingstone, he clearly has a major problem with the Jewish business community.”

“The mayor’s remarks add fuel to the fire and may land him before the Civil Service panel again,” he added.

The Reubens were not Iranian but born in India of Iraqi Jewish parents, he said.

"To suggest that these men should go to Iran is shocking, outrageous and grossly offensive to the entire Jewish community," he added.

Jewish official reaction

Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, commented : “To say to first and second-generation immigrants to Britain that they should go back to where they came from is the kind of language one would expect from one end of the political spectrum.”

“Picking on the race or religion or ethnic origin of someone in a dispute is not acceptable civic discourse,” he added.

Benjamin hoped that the mayor would reflect on the wisdom of his comments.

Livingstone is currently preparing his appeal against a four-week
suspension for his comments to Finegold, which an independent disciplinary body ruled were "unnecessarily insensitive and offensive".

The suspension for bringing his office into disrepute had been due to start on March 1 but has been delayed pending the appeal.

The mayor’s office said Wednesday hat they have nothing further to comment on this issue.