Jeremy Corbyn: 'I wanted Hamas to be part of the debate'

Labour leadership candidate Jeremy Corbyn explains why he described the Islamist militant organisations Hamas and Hezbollah as "friends" and says he does not agree with them.

[@milesweaver7518]

"Can I finish?" "You can't if it's a long answer." The state of modern journalism. Nuance be damned.

[@DimetriKhan]

Miles Weaver They virtually demand a 10 word answer on how to solve the Middle East Crisis. Otherwise "it's too long and complicated." The media are a bunch of condescending twats who could do with realising that the British public is only as dumb as they make it, because of their own shitty journalism.

[@WowBloke]

+Harry Strong well no he didn't ask about solving the middle east crisis, he asked if corbyn viewed hamas as friends

[@WowBloke]

+Harry Strong well no he didn't ask about solving the middle east crisis, he asked if corbyn viewed hamas as friends

[@1158supersiri]

Corbyn supporters are blind herd of sheeps

[@NoName-bt3oy]

Haha "sheeps" too. What a spesh.

[@wonderlust5043]

I've never seen Corbyn so angry.

[@TAP555]

Me neither... Rightfully so. I'd be sick of this trash getting thrown at me as well.

[@shelfridges]

Like an cornered rat...

[@Arcadiabeckons]

Too fucking right

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

​@@TAP555His own words, he must be held to account.

[@DTL9164]

This man will defend to the death his terrorist friends and that's why.

[@renjay3743]

Corbyn was interrupted approx 10s into his reply. Given the nature of the question it would seem that 10s is nowhere near enough time to allow a clarified response. A gesture of good will or calling someone your friend ain't a bad place to start if you're wanting to open up dialogue to hopefully bring peace and stability to the region. Look how far Ireland have come compared to where they once were. That basically took people with very different view points to put differences aside and say "enough is enough". Both sides backed down to the point where they were then able to move toward a fresh dialogue within the realms of rationality thus giving the collective majority a vision of hope for the future. If by chance Jeremy Corbyn is suggesting a similar process should be attempted here then I'm right behind that proposal. If Krishnan and the tabloids want to take cheap swipes then I'd say they're part of the problem, not part of the solution.

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

He was cut short because he was deflecting.

[@Weakeyedominant]

No, one thing Corbyn isn't is a liar. When he calls someone or a group his 'friends' he literally means they are his friends even if he doesn't agree with everything they do.

[@pauloferreira1319]

maybe because he wasn't answering? were you even paying attention?

[@boxoffisa]

So you have no ability to spot a liar? Someone avoiding a question should be corrected or else he shouldn’t answer.

[@grus599]

But he is not. He is right behind of Hamas. He always was antisemitic, remember what was going on in labour in his time?

[@benjaminzephaniah5729]

corbyn is right, this is shit tier journalism

[@dante8674]

John Burns How exactly? He was asked a simple question that for some reason he refused to give a simple to.

[@dante8674]

***** He didn't, he was asked two questions and didn't answer either. Did you actually watch the interview?

[@celloswiss]

***** Nonsense. He doesn't know how to give "simple answers". The man is a relic of his bolshy past. He is incapable of surviving in modern-day politics. Ship this idiot to outer Siberia.

[@alextheodossiadis94]

Dante jesus 'he refused to give a simple answer to'.....you do realise how complex the middle east situation is? how can you sum that up with a 'simple' answer....he explained that he referred to them collectively as friends, because to enable amicable discussions, you have to be polite....that was extremely clear and the interviewer was being an asshole for ratings

[@alextheodossiadis94]

ad hominem is the first sign of someone who has lost an argument, go back to school and read a little

[@geniusofmozart]

There's nothing wrong with using the term in politeness in a meeting in which you're trying to help to bring about peace in the Middle East. Jeremy Corbyn was absolutely right to criticise the disproportionate emphasis on a single word in this interview.

[@dirkbogarde44]

geniusofmozart Naa, came across as on the verge of self-combusting. Blokes a liability. If he get's that worked up on a ch4 interview, imagine the guy in charge of real problems. He just ain't upto it.

[@mickmerrifield6583]

dirkbogarde44 Erm i think this sort of interviewing needs scrapping,out of context, cheap and manipulative ,Krisna is renowned for it ...

[@BlueSwitch107]

dirkbogarde44 It shows passion is my opinion. Most other MP answers with this dull evading answer that leads no where.

[@dante8674]

geniusofmozart Why didn't he just plainly state that he is not friends with Hamas or Hezbollah then? Calling these anti-Semitic groups friends isn't something you'd do out of politeness, maybe ignorance but not just to be nice, you won't see me calling Britain first or the EDL friends.

[@geniusofmozart]

Dante He clearly stated that he does not agree with Hezbollah and Hamas on the vast majority of issues.

[@jonblackers4339]

Did he ever call Israel his "friends"? :)

[@jsXanatos]

who in their right mind would want to do that?

[@jonblackers4339]

@@jsXanatos www.change.org/p/united-nations-security-council-palestine-is-judea-the-roman-name-for-land-of-the-jews/u/23064392

[@jonblackers4339]

@zxnszn what is it according to you?

[@jonblackers4339]

@zxnszn Doing Alyah from Diaspora happened centuries before Zionism.It caused Jerusalem to have a jewish majority already in 1850. Zionism is a different label for the same wish. What dont you like about Jewish people living there? They only have 1 tiny country. Islam is 1400 years old and muslims still have the urge for worldpower, spreading themselves all over the planet.

[@jonblackers4339]

@zxnszn there is no palestinian people, thats an hoax.www.change.org/p/united-nations-security-council-palestine-is-judea-the-roman-name-for-land-of-the-jews/u/23064392

[@clockwise104]

This aged well

[@RMo16]

Should have listened to him

[@likeitout]

@@RMo16 why?

[@nathanaelsmith3553]

Because dialogue led to success in Northern Ireland. Worth a try here.

[@likeitout]

@@nathanaelsmith3553 before dialogue, shouldn’t there be a side that wants to dialogue? I didn’t see representatives of Israel in that meeting. Did Jeremy Corbyn invite them?

[@nathanaelsmith3553]

@@likeitout I don't know. Possibly? You'll have to ask him. Perhaps he likes to take opportunities to meet with both sides independently in order to act as a go between or just to understand their positions? I believe he has met with Jewish groups too. He seems to be being demonized here for simply using a figure of speech and trying to engage with one of the sides. But I'm not his spokes person. You'll have to ask him about that. Just because both sides might not want to talk now doesn't mean they might not in the future. But Corbyn states here that MOSAD are willing to engage.

[@JohnMoseley]

Guru-Murthy's line of questioning can be summed up as: unless you can defend yourself in a simplistic soundbite, I'm not going to accept your explanation. Tabloid journalism indeed.

[@nabilshafec7169]

Or the usual Yes or No question when discussing very nuanced and layered issues. Most tabloid type questioning I’ve seen since Piers attacked fat people

[@mjl9693]

I'm a Conservative supporter but I agree the questioning here was trivial and he really is a poundshop Paxman. When Paxman is rude it's because the interview subject isn't answering the question. Krishnan is just being aggressive for no reason.

[@rjjcms1]

Getting so wound up so easily wasn't a good look for Corbyn,but I agree. I want to hear politicians actually explaining their stances properly like he was trying to do,not be jumped on and talked all over if they won't resort to the vacuous soundbites that the dumbed down end of the media laps up. The interviewer is displaying very poor journalism here.

[@joepbailey]

It's like I'm watching Fox News or something. Does Krishnan want a one word answer or something. Or does he want it explained in full.

[@brandogg974]

Joe Bailey Channel 4 is the left wing Fox News

[@THEREALBUDDHADRAGON]

Exactly. And Jeremy Corbyn answered the question eloquently. Getting All parties around the table to sort the problem out. So Israel aren't terrorists? I do believe they are. Illegal occupation with Tanks, ships, jets & drones.

[@dante8674]

Joe Bailey He wants to know if he believes that Hamas and Hezbollah are his friends. Corbyn gave a typical politicians answer in that he didn't directly answer the question rather he went on a long-winded tangent of irrelevance.

[@Graham6762]

Joe Bailey I hate Corbyn but he is absolutely right, he should have let him answer the questions.

[@joepbailey]

Dante I'll think you'll find he asks right at the start. "Why did you call Hamas and Hezbollah your friends." Which.. I think... is not a yes or no answer.

[@VasSagar]

would Krishnan eviscerate a candidate who said they were friends with Israel?.

[@MichaelBlitzkrieg09]

***** So the US and UK get to decide who are the terrorists huh? Israel is a terrorist state indeed, and an apartheid state. You know Vas Sagar was right.

[@MichaelBlitzkrieg09]

***** Seriously now, who do you think has the Most power in these two organisations that you've mentioned? I want an honest answer.

[@MichaelBlitzkrieg09]

***** I meant, what countries have the most influence in NATO and the UN.

[@MichaelBlitzkrieg09]

***** I'll enlighten you, The US has the Most power. Let me simplify it for you, The UN & NATO are America's bitch. Also as you probably know by now, the US acts like Israel's bitch. So, go figure.

[@YorickReturns]

Vas Sagar No, for the same reason that someone wouldn't be eviscerated for identifying as a friend of South Korea but might for identifying as a friend of North Korea.

[@edwardstudor4983]

“Tomorrow evening it will be my pleasure and my honour to host an event in parliament where our friends from Hezbollah will be speaking. And I’ve also invited friends from Hamas to come and speak as well." Jeremy Corbyn. According to Amnesty International, Hamas is guilty of war crimes, torture, abductions and summarily killing civilians. Amnesty also say Hezbollah are guilty of war crimes and deliberately targeting Israeli civilians in breach of humanitarian law. Guido Fawkes.

[@VHSpal]

Edward Studor Exactly. And these are the kind of people Corbyn considers friends.

[@afaultytoaster]

Edward Studor would the representatives have been more or less likely to attend in good faith if he had called them "war criminal terrorists" instead of "friends"? he was being pragmatic as a politician in being polite.

[@RogueTruber]

Edward Studor "Tomorrow evening it will be my displeasure and my shame to host an event in parliament where our adversaries from Hezbollah will be speaking. And I’ve also begrudgingly invited arseholes from Hamas to come and speak as well." Joe Bloggs, Negotiation Expert.

[@VHSpal]

The deeper point is that Krishnan knows that Corbyn does actually see these people as friends. That's why he pressed. How he did or did not address them at the event is a smokescreen.

[@VHSpal]

Nathan Francis In an ideal world, there would be no war. No one likes war. In reality, war happens all the time, and always has. It always will. So the wise position is to accept that war will happen, and then take a position. Israel is not perfect, but it is the only functioning democracy in the region, and has to protect itself from daily aggression from Hamas. When they do lose patience and fight back they go out of their way to minimise casualty of the innocent. Hamas go out of their way to maximise casualty of the innocent, Israeli and their own, so my position is that whilst Israel isn't perfect (no country is), it is by far the better of the two. That is why Hague referred to them as close friends.

[@venimusvidimus6684]

I can't stand labour, or the left generally, but Jezza was completely in the right here. What juvenile questioning from a pound shop Paxman.

[@mathieuleader8601]

Venimus Vidimus his interviewing method is as sound as the Euro

[@venimusvidimus6684]

Mathieu Leader Shots fired.

[@Bryt25]

Because life is so wonderful under the Tories? You are too stupid the realise what has been stolen from your future by these self-seeking morons.

[@Jack-xy4fy]

Hamas and hezbollah are part of the peace process: Quotes from hamas and hezbollah leaders: Article 7 of the Hamas Covenant provides the following quotation, attributed to Muhammad: The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharkad tree (evidently a certain kind of tree), would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews. On August 10, 2012, Ahmad Bahr, Deputy Speaker of the Hamas Parliament, stated in a sermon that aired on Al-Aqsa TV: If the enemy sets foot on a single square inch of Islamic land, Jihad becomes an individual duty, incumbent on every Muslim, male or female. A woman may set out [on Jihad] without her husband's permission, and a servant without his master's permission. Why? In order to annihilate those Jews. ... O Allah, destroy the Jews and their supporters. O Allah, destroy the Americans and their supporters. O Allah, count them one by one, and kill them all, without leaving a single one. Hezbollah's aim is not to "end the occupation of Palestine," or even to "liberate all of Palestine." Its goal is to kill the world's Jews. Listen to the words of its leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah: "If Jews all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide." (NY Times, May 23, 2004, p. 15, section 2, column 1.)

[@raylder6339]

“You do not make peace with your friends. But you make peace by approaching as a friend.” Is the way I would summarise the answer he tries to give in a more than two sentences.

[@ianpickup2909]

Corbyn is a clown. Talks to Hamas, Hezbollah, never talks to Israelis Talked to the IRA, Sinn Feinn, never talked to Protestants. 40 yrs an MP, millions earned at our expense. Never achieved a fukkin thing!!!

[@captainadams8565]

"You have got to speak to people who you profoundly disagree with." Didn't want to meet with Donald Trump.

[@Daniel58345]

Actually he did want to meet with him on his visit here, but the President declined.

[@skinnybuddhaboy]

@@Daniel58345 You're both simultaneously right and wrong. Corbyn first declined to meet with Trump at a State banquet dinner that he was invited to, and then Trump refused to meet with Corbyn just months later, lol.

[@iggyzeta9755]

He likes Anti-Western Islamist terrorists more than a pro-Western nationalist president.

[@aarontennyson2102]

He was whining about policing "hate speech" on Internet in the parliament. What do you expect?

[@carlitoab]

Why does Corbyn always sound so angry. He clearly has a short temper.

[@rahulkemp8347]

certainly looks like it

[@fasteddyuk]

Krishnan Guru Murphy can be a good journo, but this time he should go back to Newsround. Corbers gives him a good telling off!

[@VHSpal]

Ed O'Meara Why should he not ask the question or demand a simple answer? Corbyn was shocked that he was being given a tough question on what he reasonably expected would be another left wing love in on Channel 4, and tried to evade. To his shock, and mine, Krishnan actually pressed him on it. You may view this interview as positive for Corbyn but that will not be the popular view. Now the general public can see that this man has a short temper and radical views, especially if he thinks Hamas are part of any peace process.

[@GiantIronFace]

VHSpal Some questions do not lend themselves to short, simple answers. It's unfair to ask a question then place restrictions on the answers you're prepared to accept. KGM was angling for a "gotcha" moment and Corbyn wasn't letting him get away with it. He was right, it's a tabloid tactic aimed at generating facile headlines.

[@fasteddyuk]

It wasn't a tough question! It was inane. And how are you speaking for the public? You can already see on the comments page that almost nobody is taking Krishnan's part against Corbyn. The IRA were part of the peace process in Northern Ireland and HAMAS must be in Israel. It's just how diplomacy works. If you're a radical Establishment Neo-Liberal, that's up to you and I won't attack you for that but on issues such as privatisation, Corbyn's views are consistently most popular with the public.

[@VHSpal]

Ed O'Meara It clearly was a tough question, because Corbyn couldn't answer it. Or, it took a while for him to answer it. You are right that the IRA were part of the peace process when it became clear that they wanted to have peace, or that they realised that they couldn't win fighting the British state. Hamas are completely different and have shown no sign of wanting peace, only annihilation of Israel, which will never happen. Instead, they antagonise and kill thousands of innocent people to further their hopeless aim. For the record I don't like Krishnan and again, I'm shocked that a left wing politician is being given a hard time on Channel 4. But it's super. In this interview, Krishnan established that Corbyn has terrorist friends, would be OK with housing migrants in the UK from Calais, and any number of migrants that manage to get here. In populist terms, just based on that, Corbyn is finished. Talk to the truck drivers! Traditional Labour voters. He's electoral suicide for Labour. It may not be fashionable amongst idealists but Labour need to be popular and he is killing the popular vote. On balance, I agree with him on Syria. Arming rebels that are aligned with IS is madness. The only good thing Miliband ever did. Vote Corbyn! The Tories love him.

[@VHSpal]

Firing rockets from schools and hospitals, in the hope that Israel will retaliate and kill innocent people in Gaza doesn't indicate that they want peace. Unfortunately.

[@ryannoble4789]

Tries to come across as a deep thinking political neutral but is just as biased as the people he dislikes.

[@DFandV]

You can say a lot of him. But he doesn't let himself run over by a journalist who interrupt every 2 second

[@imnotgayyy8489]

And be also doesn't win elections!

[@CanadianMonarchist]

He took longer than two seconds to answer the question.

[@grus599]

And he never ever answered the question

[@Jimmyduudah]

He just did the normal thing of politicians to prefer to answer their own question rather than the question they were actually asked.

[@fasteddyuk]

Jimmyduudah But the question is a stupid one. He's not mates with Hamas. It was a figure of speech.

[@VHSpal]

Ed O'Meara The question was not stupid, it was a reasonable and fair one. Corbyn made it headline news with his response.

[@fasteddyuk]

VHSpal Of course it is. "My Honorable Friend" doesn't mean that parliamentarians from opposite sides go on holiday together. And who cares about headline news in the Establishment press? Ed Miliband was headline news for eating a sandwich badly.

[@Jimmyduudah]

Ed O'Meara Are you really making excuses for a politician of his ilk? He's no different. You don't have to call people friends to be diplomatic to them. He made a mistake and should be honest enough to admit so. This whole thing would be a non-story if he did just that. Instead he chooses to do what politicians always do, which is never admit when you're wrong and never answer the question. He's made of the same stuff as the rest. We can do better than this.

[@fasteddyuk]

Jimmyduudah I disagree with that analysis. I think he's one of the few politicians who can and will actually say what they mean. I include Farage - though I'm no fan of his. :)

[@classicmail8239]

Look how angry he got. Damn.

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

He's a deeply unpleasant man, a wickid Clown.

[@Onbjjjgvnnkk]

Now imagine him as your prime minister

[@chibbobber]

@@Onbjjjgvnnkk Yeah you can neglect everyone in your country but if you get angry then that’s where I draw the line…

[@ashleyhallows2566]

​@@OnbjjjgvnnkkCorbyn is weak and feeble.

[@user-gu1un7pb7k]

You mean petulant? We see the same thing with Rishi Sunak. Some people just don't have the temperament to be scrutinised in the way politicians are supposed to

[@Calm_Tranquillity]

Did someone hit a nerve Jeremy?

[@jordank25]

"Tell me who are your friends then i will tell you who are you"

[@Scholes1987]

He has answered this question at least 300 times now. Hopefully journalsim gets more sophisticated but I doubt it.

[@daviedovey]

use it in a collective way - what a pathetic answer

[@LEEDSmix]

Interviewer is out of line questioning him the way he did but you have got to question the reaction of Corbyn as a potential leader of the opposition. He completely lost his cool and just started blowing off steam.

[@edwardstudor4983]

LEEDSmix Corbyn is a loony. Corbyn for Labour leader!!

[@001benly]

I think that when people's lives are at stake there is no such thing as a clear cut objective yes or no answer. I think it is quite easy to comment on war as if it were some tactical game from a stable country like the UK. But I feel the reality is that the people who are experiencing war just want it to end so that they may return to leading peaceful lives. In this sense I think him referring to the mentioned parties as friends is a gesture in the right direction to resolving the conflict. I would think it is quite trivial to persecute him on the basis of a single word, which by the way, has been taken grossly out of context.

[@czhaok]

It is literally a tactical game, though.

[@garsm2290]

The question was why he used the word "friends", not "Can you please give us a history of the Middle East?"

[@susanplatt5331]

You don't start peace talks by calling them your enemies. You start by calling them friends because friends resolve issue's, even when they're wrong.

[@missruzl14]

😂😂😂you’re delusional

[@dulcettonezzz8229]

Lol. Can you imagine Churchill “I welcome our nazi friends to the meeting”

[@whitemailprivilege2830]

@@dulcettonezzz8229lol

[@boxoffisa]

In islam lying to someone to win over them is acceptable. I guess you and Jeremy and muslims have a thing in common.

[@boxoffisa]

@@dulcettonezzz8229😂😂😂 Churchill wouldn’t go that route.

[@RubberJunk1]

He also isn’t willing to say they aren’t friends, he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place.

[@oathkeeper6287]

No he isn’t!

[@tommytimetelevision3316]

He said "he already invited friends from Hezbollah & Hamas" lol

[@TheBrazilianEagle]

Such immature questioning. If I say, "my friend from the Conservative Party", that doesn't make me in favour of child poverty!

[@crystallineentity]

TheBrazilianEagle If I say, "my friend from the Conservative Party", that doesn't make me in favour of child poverty! Well said man

[@sxt20002000]

The question was fair if not particularly interesting or insightful; it was the reaction to it that was immature and that then lead to the further questioning

[@Thematt7890]

***** And yet he's ahead in the opinion polls by a considerable distance.

[@marktaylor6491]

TheBrazilianEagle Or fox-hunting. Some of my best friends are Tories......

[@edwardburroughs1489]

TheBrazilianEagle May I ask, when did you stop beating your wife?

[@downinmylights]

That was embarrassing. On top of that weird interview with Downey Jr. Krishnan has come across borderline sociopathic, so off the pulse. This 'hard hitting journalism' is falling flat on its face.

[@jezzamy]

Dundee Barefoot Corbyn showed his beastly side that's for sure. Mates with Hamas...most definitely.

[@downinmylights]

'Most definitely'? If that is the case then Krishnan really did a poor job producing evidence or a deeper line of enquiry. All he did was attempt to bait him into a one word answer, negating intellectual debate and thereby receiving the 'tabloid' label.

[@gogadgetgo3125]

and just what the fucks wrong with the?? they were elected by their people?!?

[@robynsjp]

are you always extremely aggressive like this, mr corbyn ?

[@jamieguthrie1760]

Its channel 4 news at 7pm on a weeknight, not an extended Newsnight programme! Corbyn came across like a naive raving loony!

[@LibertyFascism]

Jeremy Corbyn refused to call Hamas a terrorist organization. He dodged the question 15 times when Piers Morgan interviewed him.

[@benharis1956]

And does dead Margaret Thatcher still regard Nelson Mandela as a Terrorist? Were the French resistance in Ww2 Terrorist in who'd eyes? "People " perceive themselves differently to each other. Palestinian don't have an army Hamas a "Terrorist " entity are resisting Apartheid on their people. Which they claim is and was occupied by settler in the 20th century. Who is right God will judge.

[@ibrarali84]

Who defines what a terrorist organisation is? Id say the Likud Party of Israel is a terrorist organisation based on what they've said and done...but your not ready for that conversation are you

[@JJ_S-io1hq]

Maybe thats because he knew too well that in the mechanical exercise of condemning Hamas the whole issue was reduced to Israel being a victim and all Gazans were demonized, so he didn’t want to be part of that framing.

[@LibertyFascism]

@@JJ_S-io1hq, he could have said that if it were the case. Pretending the question wasn't being asked made him look like an intellectually dishonest jackass.

[@billycohan6975]

Because it isn’t. It is a liberation movement in the face of Nazionist genocide. Same as it wouldn’t be right to call the heroes of the Warsaw ghetto uprising ‘terrorists’.

[@stephenroberts9913]

I remember this interview and was impressed with Jeremy and consequently joined the Labour Party. I left not long afterwards when he was plotted against by right wingers.

[@sarahjaneross2918]

Me too.

[@Kaneisback2]

I mean.. he supports the voice of people burning babies... To join 8 years ago sure, but now? wow.... you should be on a register if you still think Hamas should have a voice.

[@mattsmith1549]

This clown's inability to answer simple questions is shocking, how anyone could ever think he's capable of running a country is beyond me

[@BigBazz-Clips]

thank god corbyn got defeated and humiliated can't imagine what he's be like if he was pm rn

[@archvaldor]

Yeah the alternative worked out so well.....

[@BigBazz-Clips]

@@archvaldor yeah can you imagine when every other world leader is condemning these terrorist attacks and this anti semite stands up and praises his “good friends” in hamas, I’d rather have idiots in the Conservative party than the racist terrorist supporting corbyn

[@user-pk3zw7mb8w]

​@@BigBazz-ClipsHe'd be working to get western intel into the hands of Hamas right now.

[@christianscheller638]

Corbyn is ridiculously defensive in his ways, so volatile and vulnerable.

[@christianscheller638]

@@elegantCommunist If I was as big a snowflake as this guy I wouldn't try a career in politics ;) But I guess he learnt his lesson the hard way now, hope his fans did too.

[@christianscheller638]

@@elegantCommunist People can make up their own minds, and they have for everyone to see clearly. Now get over it and carry on like the rest ;)

[@christianscheller638]

@@elegantCommunist You and your head-less whataboutism, get a life

[@ukchris64]

@@christianscheller638 Trust me they have not, now moderate labour supporters are tories, sow the seed of hatred, and civil war will ensue.

[@Dex60]

​@@christianscheller638 Yet he has made £millions out of the British tax payer, & will continue to scrounge off the British tax payer until the day he dies with his gold standard tax payer funded pension. Which I might add, he is already claiming along with his state pension & his MP salary & Leader of the Opposition bonus. So he has made an excellent living off the British public for doing nothing his whole life!

[@maggiehenderson8913]

Hamas refuse to debate/ discuss you know that as well as we all do 😡

[@ianharris1812]

Voted labour all my life but never whilst hes in charge .

[@anonymoize]

If there is any justice in this world, this man will be PM in 2020

[@buzzkillington3354]

Agreed

[@jakebossman5906]

Batch No. 1 It would be great if he does become PM, but I'm not sure he wants to. Sure, leader of Labour, but I went to a rally/talk by him in Norwich and he just didn't seem that enthusiastic about it. He is a fantastic speaker and a great politician. I hope he's elected for leader next month.

[@trustmeimanexpertonthis3227]

Jake Syme I wouldn't trust anyone that WANTS to be PM, like it's always been their goal in life, as far as I could throw them. I think Corbyn sees this as his calling. He is quite happy to sit quietly in the shadows doing his thing, as he has been doing for decades, but if called he will step up to the plate.

[@jakebossman5906]

Thinking about it more, I agree. I just hope that when he becomes Labour leader (and he will) he displays an interest in becoming a good PM - I wouldn't want to see him showing no interest until 2020.

[@funkeyfunker]

+Batch No. 1 if theres ant such thing hell be fucking ............voted out or at least educated

[@karlconnolly3994]

If we listened to Corbyn earlier in Ireland we would have reached peace sooner. Now we are all friends,why the queen of England has honoured the fallen IRA and shook hands with its leaders. Have some vision like JC and the world can become more friendly. Peace.

[@boliussa]

+clarke dude, ISIS and Hamas are not the IRA. Jesus was a hippy. If the IRA had mohammed as their example and not the nuisance to them of mr peaceful jesus, then the IRA would have been very different. I saw a program where Sin Fein discussed how he couldn't square the IRA's ideology with Jesus's peaceful teaching!

[@lp1485le]

Exactly the kind of journalism I dislike; self serving to make a headline and gain kudos from their journalistic piers over discussion of an important issue. After hearing an interview I like to come away with a greater sense of complexity. These kind of questions don't allow for that.

[@davidnichol6282]

Dialogue is important to any peace process but honesty and integrity is just as impossible on both sides.

[@GeorgeKiernan]

"my friends in the kkk" "wait what? "just a collective way bro" Exact same thing as calling Hamas and hezbollah his friends. If it's not good enough for one, then it's not for the other

[@richardadams7667]

It is good enough for kkk. If you want to have a discussion with someone, and you want them to listen to you, you cannot call them bigots, racists or dangerous. They won't listen. By being friendly, you can get closer and see what they're on about. Louis Theroux style journalism comes to mind. He isn't able to talk to members of the KKK because he dislikes what they do and calls them names. He's polite and is able to discuss what goes on etc.

[@imnotgayyy8489]

@@richardadams7667 I don't think theroux ever called kkk members in his documarrty his friends! Let alone suicide bombers!!

[@richardadams7667]

@@imnotgayyy8489 I kinda think he may have been 'friend'ly to them. That's all Corbyn was doing with the group he called friends.

[@rudyyoungblood2223]

best comment!

[@we9840]

The same standard isnt held to Israel though. They are worse than the KKK these days.

[@mothermovementa]

He just loves hammas

[@Blank-km4qr]

Did he hit a nerve Jimmy

[@andrewmorris1453]

he supported the IRA in the 70's

[@rightsarentwrong5635]

No, he supported the release of Ulster from British reign and that's why he was there you ignorant British muppet. Many times Corbyn has condemned the violence and has been an advocate of peace in Ireland and Northern Island. Where are you getting your info from? British media for you hahahaha. Next you'll be saying Israel are the good guys.

[@uberdude2555]

@@rightsarentwrong5635 "No, he supported the release of Ulster from British reign and that's why he was there you ignorant British muppet" Yes, he supported a terrorist group that murdered over 3000 people, many were innocent men woman and children struck down going about their daily business.

[@rightsarentwrong5635]

Jackie Thomson haha the Americans invented the missile defend system and even helped install it in Israel you dumbass. Israel does have the highest number of doctors per capita but has actually isn’t the world leaders in medical breakthroughs. You really need a history lesson or three because Palestine wasn’t even recognised until after ww2. Got any more blatant lies for me???

[@rightsarentwrong5635]

uberdude25 what do you mean he supported a terrorist group? Give an example?

[@allanr1515]

This would be akin to Obama saying "his friends at the Ku Klux Klan" should sit down and have a meeting over race.

[@jenkitching43]

Allan Radman, D.C. Obama put Muslim Brotherhood into the administration. Another traitor to the west.

[@TheAlbinoskunk]

A reminder today on the 7th of October 2023 when we see exactly what Jeremy's friends are willing to do to Israelis when they have the chance. This man could have been prime minister right now, do you think he would be sincerely condemning the violence?

[@archvaldor]

He did actually clearly condemn the violence on both sides as he always does.

[@daviedovey]

look how nasty he gets

[@jenkitching43]

David Gilmore I agree that Corbyn got nasty. He was so verbally aggressive, his expressions were furious looking, and wow that finger pointing was the worst.

[@jamesbyrne9312]

Wow passion in politics, can't have that

[@daviedovey]

@@jamesbyrne9312Clement Attlee never acted like this

[@jamesbyrne9312]

@daviedovey gentler times. Not a valid comparison

[@daviedovey]

@@jamesbyrne9312 yes gentler times - 85 million died in World War II including 3 million innocent German civilians due to military activity and crimes against humanity But hey! Let’s not let facts within living memory get in the way of a narrative

[@chrisg7121]

So after his comments today I wonder how many people in this section still think he has a point?!? 🤔

[@MatthewCharmanadventures]

Perhaps Corbyn is right, perhaps he is wrong. I think it's nice to hear a reasoned stance in a world where increasingly, only extreme-right nihilism is seen as acceptable politics.

[@syeda6697]

Disappointed with Krishnan and Corbyn is right about the tabloid journalism e.g. picking a wor, in this case, 'friends' then stirring controversy. Corbyn literally meant it as a figure of speech... there was no literal meaning.

[@amazoniaamazonia7225]

Corbyn is actually right in what he says, Krishnan has a lot to learn if he is to be taken serious.

[@JoseighBlogs]

GO JEZZA GO!! We never knew what an avowed, by all accounts, 'quiet man' could do so insistently, so vociferously, and so loudly. Shout! Shout! and Shout Again! (thanks Hugh Gaitskill) back at those tabloid journalist Channel 4 news presenters that try to trip you up with tabloid trash.

[@harrydance1969]

His immaturity in handling a question he doesn’t like is staggering.

[@gerardhampson9089]

From what i have gathered, when hamas was invited to talks they refused , they do not want a debate over a two state sovereignty.

[@kjm-ch7jc]

Should answer a direct question with a direct answer, Arthur Scargill could do it.

[@madman97064]

"Can I finish " Well you are now 😂😂😂😂😂

[@oldieal7032]

The whole U.K. is now with Johnson

[@kbg12ila]

He is absolutely right! This presenter is nothing but a tabloid journalist! I've seen many other interviews and it's the same thing! He loved this drama and he feeds off it, as do the immature audience!

[@danbh84]

kbg12ila no corbyn just tripped himself up

[@0e0l7i]

when is Corby meeting the klu klu klan leaders or ISIS leaders just for a discussion??

[@MehmetUzman]

what is happening to those TV hosts nowadays? They have no patience. They want quick answers: "Yes or No?"

[@johnwalsh3635]

Do we really want this over aged 1970s student protester in No 10?

[@MrWhitmen1981]

This aged like fine milk. 😂

[@RobertMugabeUK]

Jimmies = rustled

[@ohtebowah]

"The Day of Judgment will not come until Muslims fight the Jews, when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say, 'O Muslim, O servant of God, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.' Only the Gharkad tree would not do that, because it is one of the trees of the Jews." - From the Islamic Hadiths - quoted directly in the Hamas charter. These are the people Corbyn thinks he can bring to the table of discussion as his friends.

[@rampageclover9788]

This aged well.....

[@ukchris64]

Thank god this lunatic never got in.

[@martinkendell3171]

Krishnin needs to learn to listen and let his interview subjects complete their full thought. Idiot journalism at its worst.

[@duncanhewitt6557]

Has corbyn ever been a government minister for foreign affairs?

[@queendaisy4528]

I think Corbyn used the word "friends" in the same sense that MPs refer to each other as "the right honorable member". They may not actually consider each other to be right or honorable, it's simply a polite way to refer to an interlocutor.

[@DarrenJones042]

If you leave out a major player in peace discussions you get exactly what we have now. Corbyn vindicated once again

[@likeitout]

Why did he refuse to attend a state banquet for Donald Trump but attended one for the despotic unelected president Xi?

[@johnmm1991]

Hamas, by their own admissions, were never, at any point, a side in any peace discussions. They've only sought ceasefires to re-arm. They swayed a huge majority of Israelis in Rabin's 90s from dreaming a Palestinian-Israeli Good Friday, an end to oppressing and occupying another nation to abject paranoia among exploding buses. Safety and peace were no longer synonymous after years of suicide bombings. Hamas boosted Netanyahu in the 90s. Years later, he returned the favour.

[@napalmextinguisher]

Legend!

[@Sean-nl5ge]

No he isn’t

[@MrVice101]

Sean he fucking did.

[@BANKO007]

krishnan guru-murthy is a complete prat that has no idea how to get to the heart of the issue.

[@BillyHayes79Music]

Do you think “My right honourable friend” is genuine?

[@oldschoolcockneylover8138]

Cor Corbyn got right defensive on that one! I reckoned he asked the interviewer not to mention his comments on Hamas and hezbollah before hand but he just went right ahead and did it anyway! God Corbyn and labour always bang on about racism but there totally anti semetic!!

[@epicspartan10]

i hate jeremy corbyn but if you have even half a brain, you can tell that the interviewer here, lacks any sort of higher cognitive function.

[@duncanrussell3211]

KRISHNAN JUST FUCKING LISTEN TO THE MAN

[@TheOrangeFondler]

Sorry Krishnan but most people need longer than 13 seconds to finish

[@hugodawson]

Hamas have openly cited their expectation that Corbyn would have supported them had he been elected, following his backing of them

[@EcstasyTiger]

Krishnan is just terrible. I despise the little boy.

[@01eldante]

Comrade Corbyn looked fit to blow (up)

[@Zoolukhan]

Jerry Adam’s is now our friend!

[@k03dz0n3]

Wholeheartedly agree with Jeremy's mature, well-reasoned stance - journalists such as these are despicable.

[@RubberJunk1]

Watching this 3 years on, he never should dodged the question. He is right that we have to be able to be civil with these people so we can talk and show them a better way. “Love the sinner not the sin” and “love thy enemies” comes to mind. He wasn’t strong enough to hold his position. You can’t lead people to do better if you ostracise them or are too afraid to stand up for what you believe.

[@AdeBamforth]

He can't answer the question because they are his friends, just as the IRA leaders and soldiers are well documented to be his close friends, despite 'not liking everything they do'. A simple "no" would have closed the debate down and allowed him to talk about other things. He's given multiple opportunities, here, other interviews and in Parliament. But as with wreathgate he finds disloyalty agonising and tries instead to muddy the waters with multiple meanings, multiple wreaths. He says "friends" can have other meanings but never clarifies that both might be true here. He later says he regrets using the term... but again avoids saying they are not his friends. Google him posing with Hamas - smiling, relaxed, he's never looked so happy. Have a look at how he appears with Conservative Prime Ministers at State Openings. To Jeremy, the world is binary. There are only oppressors (rich, white) and the oppressed (poor, brown).

[@70AD-user45]

This interview has come back to haunt him. Are hamas still his "friends".

[@Weakeyedominant]

He could have called them anything from participant to partner (if that's what they were), when he used the word friends he meant it in the litoral sense.

[@RubberJunk1]

@@Weakeyedominant If you listen to what he says he mirrors just what I was saying. It’s strategy, he wants to build rapport so we can converse with these people. he doesn’t want to say it outright or that defeats the purpose. Everyone is just being overly emotional, irrational Karen’s. If people could put their ego aside and try a different strategy maybe we could make progress but people would rather be outraged. Befriending enemies is nothing new. Britain Payed slave owner’s compensation to relinquish their slaves. Something that wouldn’t fly today. It’s not that Britain felt they deserved to be compensated for losing their property, it’s that it was an effective method to reach their end goals.

[@Muslimyouth2014]

They should be part of the debate. Any member of the society should be given the chance to participate in the dialogue.

[@Radovakos]

Jeremy corbyn was cery right here for trying to bring them to talk

[@stevengavrilovic1058]

This is the reason Magic Corbyn never became PM,

[@70AD-user45]

It wasn't this. The reason is because he had no clue about Brexit.

[@mikeylejan8849]

An anti-semite.

[@robmoss8198]

You sure are. Trash.

[@appletree6741]

Unclear, but he’s clearly a terrorist friend

[@stephenhill1350]

He is absolutely gutted he's been caught out! "CAN I FINISH" haha

[@leninism100]

Wasn't there a very similar interview on the tv just the other week.

[@gemmacoles9676]

he quite obviously was being diplomatic and attempting to open up dialogue with people he disagrees with. This is just a weaselly attempt at smearing corbyn by deliberately taking things out of context and attributing meaning to them that it is obvious does not exist.

[@WcWestoidZ]

Ahhhhh You don't get to bring friends Jeremy

[@LoveeAmyWinehouse]

This is why Britain is on the decline. Because they got rid of the hope at morality we had. Jeremy Corbyn ❤️

[@tangoz811]

For channel that has a well accomplished political commentator in Jon Snow, I do not know why this interview was not conducted by him.

[@philipkingston6960]

So relieved he lost the election and is no longer labour leader....

[@user-bh8ud8yt5y]

Krishnan is so rude. Good on Jeremy - he's a great guy.

[@dingdingdingding2871]

Ignore Hasbara trolls

[@Sean-nl5ge]

He’s a Marxist and is dangerous. What are you talking about?

[@terrycoburn125]

If Corbyn was talking about meeting Conservative, Liberal Democrat or UKIP members, would he refer to them as “friends”?. No he would not!

[@johnmusgrave3179]

Inviting Hamas to be part of the debate is like inviting Adolph Hitler to sit on the jury of his own trial.

[@barttheanorak]

He wants them to feel welcome, that's all. Shame he and KGM had to lock horns but at least they both got their points across in the end.