Labour Friends of Israel chair Joan Ryan has written to Jeremy Corbyn and suggested it is “difficult to understand” how a strategy officer who once likened Israel to Isis could have been recruited to work in the Labour leader’s office.
Mark Dearn had worked as senior campaigns officer for the War On Want group for the past three years – during which time the organisation has called for sanctions on Israel and repeatedly run events attacking the country.
Mr Dearn has also previously expressed support for the BDS movement.
In her letter to Mr Corbyn, Ms Ryan, the Labour MP for Enfield North, wrote: “I am disturbed to hear that the Labour Party has hired a member of staff to the Leader of the Opposition’s office who has made comparisons between Israel and Isis.
