Labour donor Dale Vince should apologise for social media post after Bondi attack, minister says

Dale Vince, the founder of Ecotricity and a previous Labour donor, has faced criticism for writing that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “wants antisemitism to be a thing”. Credit: PA

A minister has urged Labour donor, Dale Vince, to apologise for a social media post he made after the Bondi Beach terror attack.

Vince, the founder of Ecotricity, has faced criticism for saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “wants antisemitism to be a thing” after two gunmen killed 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday.

He posted later to say his words “were not intended to excuse or legitimise terrorism, or any form of racism”.

Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said Vince should apologise for his post, and suggested the Labour Party could review whether it would accept any future donations from him.

Care Minister Stephen Kinnock told ITV News that Dale Vince should apologise

"It was wrong of him to do a Tweet that in any way could have been interpreted as him saying that somehow the Jewish people should be collectively blamed for the actions of the Israeli government and the Israeli Defence Force in relation to Gaza," he told ITV News.

"I absolutely understand that a lot of people are very angry and hurt and concerned about the fact that tens of thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza have died as a result of the actions of the Netanyahu government, but it is wrong to in any way imply that the Jewish people collectively should be blamed for that, that is just simply wrong, and I think that Mr Vince should apologise for that."

Kinnock added that the Labour Party would review Vince's position as a donor "if and when" he apologises for his comments.

Vince is not a Labour Party member or current donor, it is understood.

In his original post on Sunday, Vince said: “Commenting on the shootings in Australia today Netanyahu said – Antisemitism spreads when leaders stay silent.

“Nothing to do with Israel committing Genocide in Palestine then. Netanyahu wants antisemitism to be a thing, it validates him – he acts to make it so.”

He then posted on Monday: “My words on this subject were not intended to excuse or legitimise terrorism, or any form of racism – what happened at Bondi beach is an atrocity.

“My words are aimed at the intervention of Netanyahu who in my opinion overlooks the impacts of his own terrorism.”

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Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called Vince’s statement “morally repugnant” and urged Sir Keir Starmer to condemn him.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “We are absolutely clear that the antisemitic terrorist attack against Jewish families at a Chanukah event at Bondi beach is sickening.

“There can never and should never be any excuses made for barbaric acts of terrorism.

“The Labour government and the whole Labour movement stands with the Jewish community in Australia, in the UK, and around the world at this awful time.

“Both before and since we entered government, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has made tackling antisemitism a key priority and this crucial work will continue so that Jews living at home and abroad can live safely, without fear of violence or prejudice.”

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