A Jewish leader has said there is 'no action Jeremy Corbyn can take' that will deal with Labour's anti-Semitism crisis after the party leader again refused to adopt the full international definition.

After days of criticism following a leaked recording of his ally Peter Willsman ranting about 'Jewish Trump fanatics' inventing the row, the Labour leader admitted trust between his party and Jews was at a 'low ebb'.

But he ignored calls from Jewish leaders for an 'abject apology' and rejected an unprecedented joint claim from three Jewish newspapers he was an 'existential threat' to the community.

Gideon Falter, the head of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said Mr Corbyn was telling British Jews that 'he knew best' and said the Labour leader had allowed anti-Jewish views to 'run rampant' in his party.

Hundreds of tweets from activists suggested Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (pictured ignoring questions on Wednesday) was being smeared in the latest toxic round of anti-Semitism scandal

In his latest intervention Mr Corbyn made no mention of the row over Mr Willsman, which has produced deep splits on the left wing of the Labour Party for the first time in his leadership.

But he said a Labour-specific version of the internationally accepted definition of anti-Semitism was a 'good faith' attempt at a code of conduct.

Mr Falter said Mr Corbyn was trying to 'divide and conquer' by referring to Jewish leaders' concern as 'overheated rhetoric'.

He also accused Mr Corbyn of 'trying to make this about Israel' in an attempt to distract from the anti-Semitism problem within Labour.

But Mr Falter said: 'This statement from Jeremy Corbyn bears all of the hallmarks of his spin doctors' usual techniques. He has released a vague and meaningless article, just as the Jewish community goes home to begin the sabbath.'

He told MailOnline: 'We thought it was impossible for Jeremy Corbyn to make this worse but he has done.

'He's going to continue to tell British Jews that he knows best what anti-Semitism is.

'All parties have racists in them but Jeremy Corbyn has allowed it to run rampant which has emboldened those who are already in the party.

'There's no action that Jeremy Corbyn can take that will deal with this crisis. We believe that Jeremy Corbyn in government would have the same effect on anti-Semitism nationally that he has had in his party.

'Ever since Stephen Lawrence and the Macpherson report it has been the gold standard that minorities are best placed to define the racism against them.

'But Jeremy Corbyn has said that Jews, uniquely, can't be trusted to define anti-Semitism and that he knows best.'

Gideon Falter, head of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said there was 'no action that Jeremy Corbyn can take that will deal with this crisis'

How timing of piece sparked another row The timing of Corbyn’s article – hours before the start of the Sabbath – angered members of the Jewish community. The Sabbath, or day of rest, has been a central feature of Jewish culture for thousands of years. It began in commemoration of the seventh day of the Creation story, on which God is said to have rested. But unlike the Christian tradition, with Sunday designated as the rest day, Judaism’s day of rest – called Shabbat by Jews – begins just before sunset on Friday, and ends after sunset on Saturday. According to the Board of Deputies of British Jews, ‘Jewish law requires Jews to refrain from various acts of “work” on the Sabbath. Prohibited acts include travelling (other than on foot), cooking, writing, carrying, the switching on and off of electricity, using a telephone and any transaction of a commercial nature, such as shopping.’ Jewish Chronicle editor Stephen Pollard wrote on Twitter: ‘So keen is Corbyn to engage with Jews that he publishes this (awful) piece on a Friday night, for a Saturday paper. So not a single observant Jew can engage with it.’ The Board of Deputies note that for an observant Jew there is ‘no compromise’, apart from when there is a risk to life, or when children or family need emergency medical attention. Advertisement

Mr Falter added: 'He has tried to divide and conquer by dismissing the Jewish community's unprecedented unity as 'overheated rhetoric', when that is exactly what he is guilty of. He has tried to shift attention to the far-right.

'And crucially, he has tried to make this about Israel when this is about antisemitism in his British Labour Party. There is no acknowledgement of his own role in this crisis.

'There is no apology for his antisemitic activity in the past, but he has hypocritically condemned as antisemitic behaviour that he himself has been guilty of.

'He has again preached to Jews that he is right to have rewritten the International Definition of Antisemitism.

'By his action over the years as well as by failing even now to take on board the full concerns of the Jewish community, we remain convinced that Jeremy Corbyn is an antisemite and under his leadership the once anti-racist Labour Party has become institutionally antisemitic and an existential threat to British Jews.'

Mr Corbyn insisted Labour was committed to rooting out anti-Semitism and acknowledged there was a 'real problem' in the party.

Labour has been condemned for creating a 'racists' charter' that gives members a green light to compare the Israeli Government to the Nazis.

Scores of other organisations in Britain, including other political parties, use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance version without amendment.

In a column for the Guardian, Mr Corbyn said: 'I do not for one moment accept that a Labour government would represent any kind of threat, let alone an ''existential threat'' to Jewish life in Britain, as three Jewish newspapers recently claimed.

'That is the kind of overheated rhetoric that can surface during emotional political debates.

'But I do acknowledge there is a real problem that Labour is working to overcome.

'People who dish out antisemitic poison need to understand: you do not do it in my name.'

The Jewish Labour Movement also rejected Mr Corbyn's article.

A spokesman said: 'Today, other than another article bemoaning a situation of the party's own making, nothing has changed. 'There is no trust left. We find ourselves asking once again for action, not words.'

Meanwhile Stephen Pollard, the editor of the Jewish Chronicle, said on Twitter: 'So Corbyn’s great move is a piece in the Guardian saying our worries are overheated rhetoric and all would be well if only we could just talk.

'And not a word of contrition about anything except process. He really is shameless.'

It emerged today Mr Corbyn's attempt to book the Jewish Museum in London for a speech on anti-Semitism has failed. The Jewish Chronicle said Labour talks on using the venue broke down amid a misunderstanding over who would be invited.

Mr Corbyn said if he were Prime Minister he would take 'whatever measures are necessary' to protect Jews.

And he said 'driving anti-Semitism out of the party for good' was a top priority - insisting one case was too many.

Hard-left activists are trending on Twitter with the #WeAreCorbyn hashtag today as they vowed to defy the anti-Semitism row and re-elect Peter Willsman (pictured) to Labour's ruling committee

But he refused to bow to calls to fully endorse the full IHRA definition, adding: 'Our code is a good faith attempt to contextualise those examples and make them legally watertight for use as part of our disciplinary procedures, as well as to draw on additional instances of antisemitism.

'Seven of the IHRA examples were incorporated word-for-word. And I believe the essence of the other four have also been captured.'

Acknowledging the Jewish community does not accept this, he said there would be additional consultation and added: 'I feel confident that this outstanding issue can be resolved through dialogue with community organisations, including the Jewish Labour Movement, during this month's consultation.'

Earlier today, hard-left activists wew trending onTwitter with the #WeAreCorbyn hashtag today as they vowed to defy the anti-Semitism row and re-elect Mr Willsman to Labour's ruling committee.

Thousands of tweets from activists suggested the Labour leader was being smeared in the latest toxic round of anti-Semitism scandal.

Many activists on the #WeAreCorbyn campaign condemned the Momentum campaign group - born out of Mr Corbyn's leadership bid - for pulling support for Mr Willsman.

Labour MP Chris Williamson tweeted support and insisted he is still voting for Mr Willsman in the National Executive Committee elections this month.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell endorsed the hashtag without mentioning Mr Willsman.

The wave of social media will fuel concern about anti-Semitism inside Labour despite years of claims by the party it is being dealt with.

Jewish leaders have demanded Mr Corbyn stop 'hiding' and offer an 'abject apology to Jews following this week's scandal.

Labour has refused to adopt the full international definition of anti-Semitism - prompting claims it is because he would have fallen foul of it in the past.

The latest row has led to old speeches of Mr Corbyn comparing the Israeli blockade of Gaza to the siege of Stalingrad resurfacing.

If Mr Willsman is re-elected on August 30, it will reignite the row as Parliament returns following the summer recess.

Activists using the #WeAreCorbyn hashtag inluded Julian Wells who offered 'solidarity with Peter Willsman' over the anti-Semitism row

Buzz Rodwell was another activist to insist he was working for Willsman despite the storm over his rant at the NEC last month

Melanie Melvin also offered support to Marc Wadsworth and Jackie Walker, former Labour activists embroiled in the anti-Semitism row

Donna Sloane insisted the 'Willsman business' was only about making socialists less powerful on Labour's ruling committee

Mr Corbyn's attempts to build bridges with the Jewish community spectacularly backfired last night.

It emerged Labour had been in talks with the Jewish Museum in north London about Mr Corbyn using the venue to make a speech today addressing the party's anti-Semitism crisis.

Hard-left Momentum's civil war The hard-Left was tearing itself apart last night over Momentum's decision to withdraw its support for an activist who accused Jews of making up anti-Semitism claims. The faction, which supports Jeremy Corbyn, said on Wednesday night it would not back Peter Willsman's election bid to Labour's ruling NEC. But many accused Momentum of caving in to Mr Corbyn's enemies. Some said they were cancelling their membership. Usman Kayani said: 'I am now leaving Momentum and will endeavour to get others to do the same.' Sarah Grant said: 'This is so utterly disappointing. I have voted for Peter Willsman and stand by my vote.' Mr Willsman was caught on tape saying many people in the Jewish community were 'Trump fanatics' inventing anti-Semitism stories. Momentum said he would no longer be one of its 'JC9' slate of Left-wing candidates, saying: 'We must acknowledge the anger and upset.' Advertisement

But amid opposition from Jewish organisations, officials at the museum last night refused the request without further reassurances about what the Labour leader planned to say.

Talks over using the venue were over today after no agreement was reached on who should be invited, the JC said.

Last night Chief executive Abigail Morris said: 'We would want to be part of a healing process, not something that will make things worse.'

However, the editor of the Jewish Chronicle, Stephen Pollard, said he had been bombarded with messages from people saying that if the Jewish Museum did host Mr Corbyn they would 'never set foot in it again'.

The row came after the president of the Board of Deputies, which represents British Jews, demanded the Labour leader come out of 'hiding' and issue a proper apology.

Anti-Semitism campaigners said they would not be satisfied by 'hollow promises delivered under duress'.

Dame Margaret Hodge, a Labour MP who is under investigation by Labour after she confronted Mr Corbyn about anti-Semitism, said: 'This demonstrates the complete breakdown of trust between the leadership and the Jewish community.

'We don't need a speech; we need action – adopting the full definition of anti-Semitism, lift the ridiculous action against us; and meet the commitment to investigate all outstanding claims of anti-Semitism.'

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell endorsed the hashtag without mentioning Mr Willsman

Labour had approached the Jewish Museum to ask if Mr Corbyn could speak there today.

It turned down the request although it is believed it is now seeking reassurances about the nature of the speech.

First the outburst, then the abject 'apology' What Willsman told the Labour National Executive on July 17: 'Some of these people in the Jewish community support Trump, they are Trump fanatics and all the rest of it. So I am not going to be lectured to by Trump fanatics making up information without any evidence at all. 'So I think we should ask the 70 rabbis, 'Where is your evidence of severe and widespread anti-Semitism in this party?' Extracts from 'apology' he issued yesterday: 'I am sorry for my behaviour in the last meeting of Labour's NEC... I am of course aware of appalling instances of anti- Semitism within our party, and am wholly determined to rooting it out... 'I do not believe anti- Semitism is 'widespread' in the party, and that was what my comments were trying to refer to, but we do have a problem which needs stamping out. 'In diminishing the experiences of those who face anti-Semitism, I showed a lack of sensitivity... I will be referring myself [for] equalities training so I can better understand how to approach discussions of such issues in a respectful way.' Advertisement

The BBC said the museum wants to ensure leading Jewish organisations are consulted and invited and also to make sure that Mr Corbyn addresses specific concerns about Labour's code of conduct.

Jewish organisations are angry that Labour is refusing to adopt the full definition of anti-Semitism as agreed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance – IHRA – as part of the code of conduct.

Abigail Morris, the chief executive of the Jewish Museum, said the situation was 'delicate'.

She told The Jewish Chronicle: 'We are still trying to work out what (Mr Corbyn's office) is asking from us, whether it is a discussion, a statement or a speech.'

A statement from the museum said it was 'interested in being a space that would facilitate genuine healing dialogue' with Labour.

News about the search for a speech venue came after Marie van der Zyl, the President of the Board of Deputies, demanded Mr Corbyn come out of 'hiding' to address the anti-Semitism crisis.

She also demanded he has equalities training.

She accused the Labour leader of breaching the IHRA's definition of anti-Semitism by 'comparing Israel's actions to those of the Nazis' – a reference to a 2010 rally where Mr Corbyn compared the sufferings of the Palestinians to the Nazi sieges of Leningrad and Stalingrad.

'He must adopt the IHRA anti-semitism definition and all examples. He should expel Peter Willsman. He should stop ridiculous show trials of Hodge and Austin.'

The Jewish Museum in Camden (pictured) said it did not know what Mr Corbyn was planning

Dame Margaret and Ian Austin face disciplinary action for accusing the party leadership of not doing enough to tackle anti-Semitism.

Labour denied its leader was comparing the actions of Israelis to the Nazis when he referred to Leningrad and Stalingrad. On Wednesday, Mr Corbyn apologised for sharing a platform with people who reportedly compared Israel to the Nazis.

Gideon Falter, of Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, said: 'No matter what action Mr Corbyn promises, his track record demonstrates that he is an … existential threat to British Jews.'

It also emerged yesterday that Mr Corbyn had organised an event in Parliament addressed by a conspiracy theorist who believes the world is controlled by 'Jewish elders'.

James Thring spoke at the meeting in October 2014. Critics call him a 'neo-Nazi' and he has won praise from former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. Labour said Mr Corbyn was not at the event itself.

The party also said he had no prior knowledge that Mr Thring was going to speak.