By Micah Halpern
I've Been Thinking:
Sadiq Khan assumed his new job as mayor of London Saturday. Khan is a Muslim, his parents and grandparents came to England from Pakistan just before he was born. Khan's election was filled with tension.
On Sunday his first full day in office in his first official act, Khan, went to the National Holocaust commemoration in London.
This was a very important gesture for unity and it dispelled any feeling that people might have that Khan holds the same feeling towards Jews as does Ken Livingston, a former Labour party London mayor who was removed from the Labour party for making statements comparing Israel and Hitler. (Actually, on Sunday, Livingston said that it would have been better had Israel not been created.)
In a previous position, Khan headed Ed Miliband's successful election team and that thrust him into politics. It should e noted that Miliband and his twin brother, both important British political Labour leaders, come from and continue to be active and proud Jews.
While Khan is undeniably Muslim, it is clear that he does not toe the Muslim line. There was even a fatwa (a religious edict) pronounced against him because of his support of same sex marriage.
Britain's Labour pary has its fair share of anti-Semites. And they are getting more and more obnoxious. But I do not see Khan as one of them. Actually, I would guess that a trip to Israel is the works -- even by the end of this summer.
Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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