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Israel calls for Mayor to apologise
By Joe Murphy Political Editor, Evening Standard Last updated at 00:00am on 23.02.05Ken Livingstone came under renewed pressure to apologise for his "Nazi" jibe today.
The Israeli ambassador in London added his country's voice to the demands for the Mayor to say sorry.
In a statement, the embassy said the Mayor's "flippant" language about the Holocaust showed "gross insensitivity" and had caused "shock and emotion" around the world.
Meanwhile, in the Commons, a Labour MP tabled a parliamentary motion saying Mr Livingstone had no excuse for his "appalling" comments to Evening Standard reporter Oliver Finegold and should apologise without further delay.
The continuing and widespread pressure on Mr Livingstone destroyed his attempts to portray the controversy as merely a row between himself and the Evening Standard.
Mr Livingstone caused outrage when he compared Mr Finegold to a " German war criminal". When the reporter told him he was Jewish and was offended by the remark, Mr Livingstone went on to compare him to a "concentration camp guard".
Despite pressure from Tony Blair, Holocaust survivors, all five parties on the London Assembly and Labour MPs, Mr Livingstone refused to apologise.
Today the anger of Israeli ambassador Zvi Heifetz was felt in a statement from the embassy.
It said: "Jews and non-Jews around the world reacted with shock and emotion to Livingstone's statements and behaviour.
"By using such flippant language, Livingstone not only seriously abused the memories of all those Jews who survived the concentration camps, but also the thousands of British troops who died fighting against the Nazis and their families.
"Coming exactly two weeks after the vivid television images marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and so soon after his own municipality had hosted survivors of the Nazi death machine, his comments demonstrate gross insensitivity to the minorities in London and beyond. Unfortunately, this is not the first time."
There is now deep concern in the Labour Party that Mr Livingstone's behaviour is wrecking the party's standing in the 250,000-strong London Jewish community and could cost seats in the general election.
Andrew Dismore, Labour MP for Hendon, which has one of the capital's biggest Jewish communities, tabled an early day motion in the Commons calling upon Mr Livingstone to apologise.
He said: " I am extremely concerned that Ken has indicated that he does not intend to apologise over the appalling remarks he made to an Evening Standard journalist.
"Whilst he may have a long-running dispute with the Associated Newspapers group, this does not excuse what he said.
"Ken should apologise and take immediate steps to rebuild a relationship with the Jewish community in London. After all, almost 250,000 Jews live in London and Ken is the Mayor for the whole of London."
Ilford Labour MP Linda Perham said Mr Livingstone's lengthy statement of self-justification yesterday had failed to mend fences with outraged Jewish people.
"It is not good enough," she said. "I really do not see why he cannot apologise to the Jewish community which is offended."
