I read Stephen Sedley’s comments about his support for Labour not adopting in full the International Holocaust Alliance’s definition of antisemitism (21 May). Unfortunately, what he says is precisely why that definition should be adopted.

While I would agree that Israel is not entitled to expand its territory by stealth or force, and that is legitimate criticism, the comment that ‘Nobody, evidently, has a monopoly of genocidal abuse’ highlights the problem. This comment is designed to associate Israel with what happened to the Jews in the Holocaust – the inference being that Israeli policy and treatment of the Arab population is comparable to the Nazis’ treatment of the Jews. The comparison is not only patently wrong (the inference being that Israel is committing genocide) but to many Jews is in itself anti-Semitic.

Steven Porter, partner, JPC Law, London NW6

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