A former Foreign Office minister has compared the butchering of four Jewish worshippers to non violent protests outside the Al-Aqsa mosque.Baroness Warsi, who was also a Minister for Faith and Communities, took to twitter to say “Israeli extremists storm Al Aqsa & intimidate worshipers. Palestinian extremists storm synagogue & kill 4 worshippers.”
Israeli extremists storm Al Aqsa & intimidate worshippersPalestinian extremists storm synagogue & kill 4 worshippers #Tragic #peacenotwar
— Sayeeda Warsi (@SayeedaWarsi) November 18, 2014
]She added: “Both @David_Cameron & @Ed_Miliband say a Palestinian life is equal to an Israeli life so let’s ALL condemn the killing on BOTH sides.”Her comparison of the events at the mosque, which is located on the Temple Mount, the holiest location in Judaism, has been condemned by Jeremy Newmark, the former chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council.He tweeted:Shocked to see Baroness Warsi’s warped tweet attempting to justify Jerusalem terror attacks…
Shocked to see Baroness Warsi’s warped tweet attempting to justify Jerusalem terror attacks…
— Jeremy Newmark (@Jeremy_Newmark) November 18, 2014
]And the Zionist Federation, a Jewish advocacy group, asked if David Cameron would take action over the former Chairman of the Conservative Party.
Last night @David_Cameron spoke strongly about his support for Israel. Will he now take action over @SayeedaWarsi? pic.twitter.com/4ebkKzJmLk
— Zionist Federation (@ZionistFed) November 18, 2014
In a direct tweet to the ZF, Warsi tried to substantiate her claims, saying “both Palestinian & Israeli lives have been lost in recent weeks at the hands of extremists, Condemn both #Peace not #Hypocrisy.”to which the group responded to Baroness Warsi, saying‘No Palestinians died when Jewish worshippers attempted to visit their holiest site. Which is the actual comparison you made.’In a tweet to Mr Newmark, she wrote: “@Jeremy_Newmark r u suggesting there is NO link (nt justification) between murders in the synagogue & the weeks of intimidation & attacks.”
An FCO spokesperson said:“We are aware of the death of a dual British-Israeli national in Israel on 18 November 2014.”
Conservative Party chairman Grant Schapps distanced himself from the comments of Baroness Warsi, tweeting:
‘To be clear @SayeedaWarsi speaks for herself, not the party. Our prayers are w/ families of those murdered. No justification for terrorism.’
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