°®Âþµº

Labour Party leader Ìýhas been slammed for aÌýspeechÌýat a Labour Friends of Ìý(LFI) event on Tuesday where he condemned any boycott of Israel.

Starmer took to the stage at an annual lunch organised by the lobby group, which supports strongÌýÌýbetween the UK and , sayingÌý"anti-Zionist antisemitism"Ìýdenies Jewish peopleÌý"a right to self-determination", .

The Labour leader said his party does not support theÌý- whichÌý"works to end international support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians"Ìý- despite a 2021 showingÌý61 percent of Labour members supportÌýthe pro-Palestine boycottÌý.

"TheÌýLabour party does not and will not support BDS...Ìýit would cause huge damage to the relationship between Israel and the United Kingdom," the Labour party leaderÌýsaid.

Starmer also said he opposes "illegal settlements,Ìýannexation and the eviction of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian territories", calling himself "both a friend of Israel and... Palestine".

The speechÌýÌýbutÌýhasÌýsparked fury amongÌýactivists.

"Starmer repeats the notion that links anti-Zionism to anti-semitism... does Starmer realise the difference between a political ideology and a religion/ethnicity?! Failing to distinguish between both... just shows their desire to silence opposing views!" Jordanian Palestinian studentÌýMonjed Al-Tarifi told °®Âþµº by message.

What about the self determination and right of return for the Palestinians? We the people support BDS until Palestine is free. You are supporting apartheid. Disgusting!

— Olly (@ReviloGaza)

Many others condemned Starmer's speech for "supporting apartheid".

BDS exists because cowards like Keir Starmer refuse to hold Israel to account.Ìý

— Bint (@PalBint)

Others said Starmer no longer holds true to the traditionalÌýLabour Party values of international solidarity.

💔 when you're so ashamed this vile racist is " leader" of a once proud party that historically has stood with the Oppressed..
If I type what I really want I'd be banned.🤬🤬🤬🤬Ìý

— Cathy Davies (@Cassiega1959)

"Starmer’s pro-Israeli position is an obstacle to achieving peace... in democracies, boycotting has been a powerful method of protest,"ÌýIsmail Patel, Chair of Friends of Al-Aqsa, told °®Âþµº.

"InÌýSeptember 2021, the Labour Party as an apartheid state... the label of apartheid was noticeably absent from Starmer's address," Patel continued

He said Starmer's speechÌý"severs the links with his own party" and "the people he represents".