Labour donor Dale Vince criticised for post following Bondi beach attack | Bondi beach terror attack
Green entrepreneur and Labor donor Dale Vince has faced condemnation for saying the Israeli government was partly responsible for a rise in antisemitism around the world after 15 people were killed at a Chanukah event in Sydney.
Vince, who has given over £5m to Labor, mostly through his Ecotricity green energy company, as well as smaller sums to the Greens and Liberal Democrats, said his comments about X were “not intended to excuse or legitimize terrorism or any form of racism”.
But he was criticized by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who called on Keir Starmer to condemn Vince.
A spokesman for the Labor Party said: “There can and should never be an excuse for barbaric acts of terrorism.” It is understood Vince is not a member of the Labor Party and has not donated to the party since May 2024.
In a post sent on Sunday afternoon, the same day as the Bondi beach shooting, Quoted from Vince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “When leaders remain silent, anti-Semitism spreads.”
Vince continued: “So it has nothing to do with Israel committing the Holocaust in Palestine. Netanyahu wants anti-Semitism to be a thing, this confirms it – he’s taking action to do it.”
Inside a post Vince said in a statement on Monday that he intended to clarify what he meant, writing: “My words on this matter were not intended to excuse or legitimize terrorism or any form of racism. What happened at Bondi Beach is an atrocity. My words are directed at the intervention of Netanyahu, who I believe ignores the effects of his own terrorism.”
“If antisemitism is increasing in the world today, then the biggest reason for this, according to any rational analysis, will of course be the genocide in Palestine. I condemn all acts of violence and all forms of racism.”
Quote from Vince’s original post: Badenoch wrote to x: “Hours after the biggest massacre of Jews since October 7, Labour’s biggest donor tweeted ‘Netanyahu wants antisemitism to be a thing’. A morally repugnant statement. Will Keir Starmer condemn his major financial backer? Staying silent means he sees nothing wrong.”
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake wrote: “This is disgraceful. Any language that excuses or justifies terrorism gives cover to extremists and undermines our values. Labor must return all donations received from Mr Vince, reject future donations and make clear that terrorism has no moral ambiguity.”
A Labor Party spokesman said: “We are absolutely clear that the anti-Semitic terrorist attack on Jewish families at the Hanukkah event on Bondi beach is sickening. There can and should never be an excuse for barbaric acts of terrorism.”
“The Labor government and the entire labor movement stand with the Jewish community in Australia, the UK and around the world at this terrible time. Keir Starmer’s Labor Party has made tackling antisemitism a key priority before and since we entered government, and this important work will continue to ensure that Jews at home and abroad can live safely without fear of violence or prejudice.”
All donations to Labor are considered on a case-by-case basis; The party’s “values” are one factor taken into account.
Vince later said in a statement: “To be clear, Netanyahu blamed the Australian government’s policy for the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. I find that outrageous. Australians certainly will too.”
“I pointed out what I believe is clear and logical: it is much more likely that this is due to Israeli policy, not Australian policy. Since one of the attackers is in custody, we may find out in due time.”
“I very much doubt that he will point to Australia’s recognition of Palestine as the reason for his attack on the Jewish people. Netanyahu is trying to enlighten us all and use this atrocity to support his own arguments. I find this both morally repugnant and unreasonable. If I haven’t been clear enough yet, I condemn all acts of terrorism and all forms of racism.”
It is not the first time that major donors to UK political parties have sparked controversy. Before the last election, the Conservatives faced pressure to return money from their biggest donor, businessman Frank Hester, over comments he made to colleagues.
Hester, who by then had given £10 million a year to the Conservative Party, said looking at Diane Abbott “makes me want to hate all black women” and that the MP “should be shot”.
The Conservatives resisted calls for their donations to be repaid after Hester apologized, said that was enough to end the matter, and then accepted a further £5 million from the businessman.
