Libdem MP's antisemitic message re Holocaust

I am saddened that the Jews, who suffered unbelievable levels of persecution during the Holocaust, could within a few years of liberation from the death camps be inflicting atrocities on Palestinians in the new State of Israel and continue to do so on a daily basis in the West Bank and Gaza.

This is a disgusting antisemitic comment (the EUMC Definition of Antisemitism says it's antisemitic to "Draw comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis").

http://www.european-forum-on-antisemitism.org/working-definition-of-anti...

I have written to Nick Clegg asking for the Whip to be withdrawn from Ward and asking for a public denunciation of Ward's antisemitic and highly insensitive statement.

UPDATE: The Liberal Democrat party has denounced Ward's statements. They told the Guido Fawkes blog: “This is a matter we take extremely seriously. The Liberal Democrats deeply regret and condemn the statement issued by David Ward and his use of language which is unacceptable.”

UPDATE 2: David Ward has removed the offending statement from his website

UPDATE 3: It's back with a defiant message ... surely he will lose the Whip when he sees the Whips' office on Monday!

http://davidward.org.uk/en/article/2013/654457/bradford-mp-condemns-isra...

EMAIL NICK CLEGG NOW!

https://www.facebook.com/SupportDavidWardForStandingUpForPalestine

Nick Clegg is getting lots of emails of support for Ward. Please email Nick Clegg to reinforce the message: WARD MUST LOSE THE LIBDEM WHIP JUST LIKE JENNY TONGE

https://www.libdems.org.uk/contact.aspx

Contact Nick Clegg here - select 'Nick Clegg' from the dropdown menu

UPDATE 4:

LibDem Chief Whip's letter of apology to Karen Pollock of HET (HT Matthew Harris):

http://www.scribd.com/doc/122300465/ChiefWhipLetter

UPDATE 5:

Superb piece by Melanie Phillips on why Ward is only a symptom of the UK's sickness:

http://www.melaniephillips.com/britains-national-sickness

The full, monstrous obscenity of both Ward’s remarks and the widespread British attitude to which he has given voice is no less than this: accusing the people who were the victims of genocide entirely falsely of committing crimes against humanity -- simply because they are trying to defend themselves from being wiped out again by those for whom the Holocaust is unfinished business. Self-defence against extermination is now considered a crime against humanity.

UPDATE 6:

He has been 'censured' and the offensive comment is still on his website

This is totally inadequate. He must lose the Whip and the comment must be removed.

Nick Clegg - Prove that you have Zero Tolerance for antisemitism in your Party!

UPDATE 7:

Statement from Board of Deputies:

Jonathan Arkush, the Board of Deputies’ Vice President and Chairman of the Defence Division, said: “We note that David Ward MP has been censured by the Liberal Democrats. However, the Board regards this as wholly inadequate. The whip should have been withdrawn and he should have been warned that he risked being expelled from the party. The Board further notes that Mr Ward’s offensive statement remains on his website, which hardly inspires confidence in the sincerity of his apology.”

Quite!