So, faced with criticism from both political friends and enemies, the Corbyn clique members just can't bring themselves to adopt the international definition of antisemitism. Why not just take it on board, clear out the more deranged activists and sink the matter once and for all. What's the problem?
There are a number of strands to their opposition to IHRC which generally derive from the extreme left movement within the Labour leadership and the entrists since Corbyn's election. Those who have been aware of Corbyn's relationships over the years know that he is closer to the trotskyists than to the old Labour Left of Michael Foot or Harold Wilson, ironically considered dangerous in their day. He was criticised for working within the Labour party by the revolutionary left but he adopted many of their ideas.
Bear in mind that the far left theoreticians genuinely believe they are not antisemitic. To them, antisemites are the fascists, the neo nazis, and the various oddballs that think all Jews are responsible for the death of Jesus. This is why they go to great lengths to stress that they are criticising the Israeli government. And the reason they despise Israel so much is because it is a very successful enterprise orientated nation. It is everything they hate about capitalism and the West in general. It has to be criticised and vehemently so. Nothing Israel does or achieves can be praised. Israel's links with the West just aggravate the Left more and more. Any criticism of Israel's islamic enemies has to be avoided to the point where jihadist groups are even redefined as potential 'progressive' working class movements. To put it bluntly, Israel is a serious counterexample to Marxist theory that the Left cannot allow to exist. In post 60s Britain, these and related ideas were outlined by Tony Cliff, the founder of the International Socialists/Socialist Workers Party and have permeated throughout the far left ever since.
And so, those parts of the IHRC which impinge on these founding principles cannot be accepted. Not just for the reasons mentioned but because to do so, and then act accordingly, would probably require the expulsion of thousands of Labour Party members.
