A councillor has been suspended from Enfield Labour Group after sharing an allegedly anti-Semitic post on social media.
Cllr Ayfer Orhan, who represents Ponders End, shared a Twitter post on March 22 that claimed Israel had supported terrorist groups Al Qaeda and Isis in a bid to destabilise Syria and secure control of disputed territory the Golan Heights.
Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, during which groups such as Isis have sought to seize territory from the control of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
The post, by Twitter user Partisangirl, said: “#Israel hoped that destabilising #Syria by supporting ALQaeda & #ISIS would help legitimise their annexation of the #GolanHeights.
“The Golan has a lot of water, but they discovered it also has oil.”
The post goes on to claim a company called Genie Energy was set up to drill for oil in the region and lists several high-profile US figures – including former vice-president Dick Cheney – on the firm’s board.
What is this??? I have been watching the development of political interest for the #GolanHeights with some interest but this is truly shocking if true. https://t.co/tct8u427Dr
— Ayfer orhan (@Ayferorhan2) 22 March 2019
US president Donald Trump last week signed an order officially recognising Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which was captured by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967.
Israeli jurisdiction over the territory was not recognised internationally until President Trump’s intervention on March 25 – a move that was welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but criticised by Syria as a “blatant attack” on its sovereignty.
Labour has faced growing pressure to take a tougher stance on alleged anti-Semitism in its ranks following accusations it had been slow to act on reports of anti-Semitic incidents.
Council leader Cllr Nesil Caliskan said: “Cllr Ayfer Orhan has been suspended from the Labour Group at Enfield Council, pending investigation.
“This swift decision was taken following an anti-Semitic tweet posted by Cllr Orhan, which has caused great offence.
“Labour Party values mean we opposes all forms of xenophobia and racism, that includes anti-Semitism.
“It is important we challenge it and stand up against it whenever and wherever we face it, whichever political party.”
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