Pictures show Jeremy Corbyn holding wreath and 'praying' near graves of Palestinian terrorists linked to Munich Olympics massacre

Jeremy Corbyn has come under fire after the photos emerged
Palestinian Embassy Tunisia
Tom Powell14 August 2018

Pictures have emerged of Jeremy Corbyn with a wreath and holding his hands out in prayer near the graves of Palestinian terrorists linked to the Munich Olympics massacre.

The Labour leader has clashed with the Israeli Prime Minister over the photographs, which were taken at a Palestinian martyrs’ cemetery in Tunisia in 2014.

Mr Corbyn has admitted he was present when a wreath was laid but said it was for “some of those killed in Paris in 1992”. He added: “I don’t think I was actually involved in it.”

The photos show him at the cemetery where members of Black September, the terror group which massacred 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics, are buried.

The Labour leader has been criticised by Israel's Prime Minister 
Palestinian Embassy Tunisia

Labour said he attended the event only to remember victims of a 1985 Israeli air strike on Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) offices in the Tunisian capital.

But Mr Corbyn’s remarks, his first since the Daily Mail published the pictures on Saturday, suggest that another wreath-laying took place related to attacks in Paris in 1992.

Corbyn doesn't 'think' he laid wreath

Israeli secret service Mossad was accused of killing terrorists behind the Olympics attack, including Atef Bseiso, a PLO intelligence chief, who was killed in the French capital.

Israel’s right wing leader Benjamin Netanyahu has said Mr Corbyn deserves “unequivocal condemnation” after the emergence of the pictures.

Writing on Twitter, he said: "The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorist who perpetrated the Munich massacre and his comparison of Israel to the Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone - left, right and everything in between."

Benjamin Netanyahu said Mr Corbyn deserved 'absolute condemnation'
AP

Mr Corbyn was quick to deny the claims, saying: "What deserves unequivocal condemnation is the killing of over 160 Palestinian protesters in Gaza by Israeli forces since March, including dozens of children."

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: "Jeremy did not lay any wreath at the graves of those alleged to have been linked to the Black September organisation or the 1972 Munich killings.

"He of course condemns that terrible attack, as he does the 1985 bombing."

Asked about the incident during a visit to Walsall on Monday, Mr Corbyn said: "A wreath was indeed laid by some of those who attended conference to those that were killed in Paris in 1992.

"I was present when it was laid. I don't think I was actually involved in it (laying it).

"I was there because I wanted to see a fitting memorial to everyone who has died in every terrorist incident everywhere because we have to end it.

"You cannot pursue peace by a cycle of violence. The only way you pursue peace is a cycle of dialogue."