Board appeal panel finds ‘inadvertent error’ in investigation process into sanctioned deputies

An independent appeal panel looking into the procedure that led to 36 members of the Board of Deputies being sanctioned over a letter published by a newspaper that criticised Israel has found there was “an inadvertent error in the initial investigation process.”

The panel had considered an appeal into the process of an investigation  that led to five Deputies being suspended for two years and a further 31 being sent a notice of criticism.

It found that letter signatories had not received the full suite of the materials the panel had gathered to use in its deliberations.

Jewish News understands that those facing possible sanctions were given the opportunity to comment on around 10 complaints made against them, when the Panel actually assessed up to 40 complaints to reach their judgement around sanctions.

Those facing possible sanctions were also not shown the impact statement assessment on their actions ahead of it being submitted to the panel.

Furthermore, it is understood there were no complaints made directly against the five signatories of the letter given the toughest sanctions. It was the panel itself which subsequently took the view that there were more serious breaches of the code by those five deputies.

It is further understood that the panel has also been asked to look into claims that the executive of the Board, who reached the decision over sanctions, was compromised by the fact it had already commented negatively on the actions of the letter writers ahead of reaching its decision on punishments.

Sanctioned deputies have labelled the process a “kangaroo court.”

It has now been decided to redress the issues by providing the appellants with this information and giving them a further 14 days to set out their response.

The new panel will then review this material and decide whether to uphold or amend the decisions of the original independent panel and sanctions imposed by the Board’s executive committee.

While responses are reviewed by the appeals panel over the coming weeks, the various decisions in relation to the signatories remain in place.

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.”

Now, a statement published on the Board’s website has confirmed: “The Appeals Panel has found that there was an inadvertent error in the initial investigation process.

“This related to the letter signatories not receiving the full suite of the materials the Panel had gathered to use in its deliberations.

“The items missed included an impact statement submitted by the Board of Deputies and several of the original complaints.

“The impact statement conveys the Board’s assessment of the damaging impact the letter signatories’ actions had on the Board’s reputation, on the UK Jewish community, and on the Board’s lay leaders and professional team. ”

Responding to the appeal panel decision, a Board spokesperson said: “As a democratic and rules-bound organisation we are committed to upholding our Code of Conduct and ensuring the correct procedures are followed in response to any complaint.

“In this case the Appeal Panel has identified an error in the process which needs to be corrected.

“The Code of Conduct is there to protect the integrity of the Board and all its diverse stakeholders, whilst enshrining the principles of debate, diversity and free speech.

“We are confident that the process set out by the Appeal Panel will enable the Board to swiftly draw this process to a conclusion.”