A suspended Labour MP is suing the Conservative MP Chris Clarkson, who accused him of “seeking to justify the murderous actions of Hamas” in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Andy McDonald, who represents the Middlesbrough constituency, said much of what he has said over the last few days about recent events in Israel and Palestine had been “deliberately distorted and misinterpreted”.
The 65-year-old MP was placed on “precautionary suspension” on Monday, as a Labour party spokesman said the comments he made that included the words “between the river and the sea” at a pro-Palestine rally were “deeply offensive”.
Some pro-Palestinian protesters have chanted “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” during recent demonstrations in London.
McDonald said: “In my speech to a mass rally on 28 October 2023, I called for peace in the Israel-Gaza war and in particular for an immediate comprehensively-binding ceasefire.
“I said: ‘We will not rest until we have justice. Until all people, Israelis and Palestinians, between the river and the sea, can live in peaceful liberty.’
“Mr Clarkson’s statement is highly defamatory and caused serious harm to my reputation.
“I am not prepared to stand by, while an MP or others peddle the lie that I have sought to justify the actions of Hamas on 7 October 2023, including the awful murder of 1,400 people in Israel.”
The Guardian understands Clarkson is aware of the action, and was unable to comment because the process has started.
McDonald added: “Much of what I have said in the last few days about the recent events in Israel and Palestine has been deliberately distorted and misinterpreted.
“I will not stand by and have my reputation traduced by those who think it is acceptable to put out false statements. I am more than prepared to sue anyone who thinks that it is acceptable to publish lies about me.”
After the rally, on 29 October, Clarkson said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “‘Between the River and the Sea’ is a deeply sinister antisemitic trope – seeing a Labour MP use it whilst seeking to justify the murderous actions of Hamas should be shocking. Sadly, it’s barely surprising.”
McDonald has said his solicitors are set to begin legal proceedings against Clarkson, sending him a letter of claim for libel.
The MP added: “The Times newspaper misquoted me in an article published online and in print on 30 October 2023. I took up the matter with them immediately and the Times corrected the error in their online version and printed an apology in the print paper on 31 October 2023.”
Labour peer Lord Mandelson criticised MPs who have used language that “would be interpreted as calling into question the existence of Israel and the right of Israelis to continue to live in their country”.
Speaking on ITV’s politics show Peston, Mandelson added: “I’m afraid that necessitates that person being put outside the tent, and that’s what Keir Starmer has done.”
The MP has since responded, claiming Mandelson “wilfully misinterprets my words in order to further claims that I wish my words to be misinterpreted. It’s a Kafkaesque argument!”
The home secretary, Suella Braverman, has branded the phrase, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” antisemitic and claimed that it is “widely understood” to call for the destruction of Israel, but pro-Palestinian protesters have contested this definition.
