Deputies to appeal against Board’s ‘chilling reprimand’ over FT Gaza letter

Five members of Board of Deputies sanctioned for signing a letter published by the FT criticising Israel’s war in Gaza are launching an appeal against the decision insisting they have effectively been expelled.

In a statement responding to sanctions –  which saw five Deputies suspended for two years and a further 31 being sent a notice of criticism – they described the Board’s actions as “a chilling reprimand.”

It is understood that some of the remaining Deputies are also planning to launch appeals against they less severe sanctions.

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They confirmed:”Deputies that signed the letter plan to appeal, following KC advice on the  extraordinarily out of order processes and management of the issue, as well as on its substance. ”

In a move likely to infuriate the Board’s leadership, the statement also included renewed criticism of the communal organisation’s position on Israel adding they all “remain deeply concerned about the remaining  hostages, the appalling humanitarian crisis and ongoing war in Gaza and the further deteriorating  situation in the West Bank. ”

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Jewish News understands the five suspended Deputies are arguing their sanction effectively amounts to explusion because having already served one year as Board officials, the two year long suspension will take them to the end of their term in roles on committees.

The five suspended have been named as Harriett Goldenberg, who had been serving as vice chair of the Board’s International Division.

The other four are Philip Goldenberg, a lawyer and longstanding Liberal Democrat councillor, Baron Frankel – chief executive of the Portland Trust, Robert Stone and Rebecca Singerman-Knight.

In three of these cases, the Board said the the Deputies have been given the opportunity to “reduce the suspension to six months by way of an apology to affected parties.”

The trio are understood to the have turned down this offer, stressing they feel they have nothing to apologise for.

Under Board rules they now have 14 days in which to launch an appeal against the sanctions.

Amongst a lengthy list of concerns about the management and process of the investigation into them, the 36 have raised interviews done by President Phil Rosenberg in which he failed to offer them a chance to response, messages from executives seemingly commending some of the 36 for doing media interviews around the FT letter.

Criticism has also been raised over the intervention by Board chief executive Michael Weiger who wrote an article accusing the 36 of “misrepresenting our community”. It is claimed he should not have entered the row in his position in the organisation.

In April, the 36 Deputies signed a letter published by the FT which condemned the Israeli government, claiming that rather than continuing to engage in diplomacy, it had chosen to “break the ceasefire and return to war in Gaza”.

The letter said that “Israel’s soul is being ripped out and we, members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, fear for the future of the Israel we love and have such close ties to.

“Silence is seen as support for policies and actions that run contrary to our Jewish values.”

Renewing their criticism, the 36 now state:”Whilst the Deputies welcome the recent action taken against the Iranian nuclear programme, they remain deeply concerned that the situation in Gaza, as since the letter was  published, the situation in there has become significantly worse, in particular with regard to  the humanitarian situation.

“Conditions in the West Bank have similarly deteriorated with more instances of settler violence, further contractions in mobility and the continued  withholding of funds by Israel that is paralysing the ability of the Palestinian Authority to operate.

“The lives of the hostages are further in the balance now, and the Deputies stand in  solidarity with the 70% of Israelis that consistently say they want an immediate end to the  war in Gaza, which is the perceived price for the return of all the hostages. ”

In a statement this week confirming the sanctions the Board said “the letter, regarding the conflict in the Middle East, was signed by 36 Deputies. It was neither authorised by the Board nor did the signatories share it with the organisation before sending to the Financial Times.

“The letter attracted significant attention. Many media outlets, individuals and other community stakeholders initially understood it to be a statement of the Board. The Board’s team spent considerable time contacting stakeholders and media outlets to correct headlines and coverage.”

The Board statement went on to say that “following its publication, various complaints were received by the Board. These alleged that, through the letter and actions around it, the signatories had broken the Code of Conduct by which all Deputies are bound.

“The Code of Conduct, set out in the Board’s Constitution, is intended to record the standard of conduct expected and behaviour which is not acceptable, and to provide a framework to address any departure from these standards.

“This includes ensuring that Deputies do not misrepresent the position of the Board or any of its members, do not bring the institution into disrepute, and treat one another and the institution with respect.”