Board praises ‘engagement and knowledge’ of Nicola Sturgeon during meeting

Jewish representatives have praised the “level of engagement and knowledge” of Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after a meeting last week.

Scottish nationalist Sturgeon said she was “proud” to have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-Semitism and – in a not-so-subtle dig at the Labour leadership – said: “We would call on all others who have not yet done so to do so.”

At the meeting were the Board of Deputies’ new President Marie van der Zyl and Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg, plus representatives from the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) and the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council (GJRC).

Items discussed were the Scottish Jewish community, Israel and anti-Semitism, some of which grew out of anti-Israel sentiment, and Sturgeon said: “My Government will not tolerate anti-Semitism in Scotland and will work with the Jewish community and all others to defeat it.”

She re-emphasised the Scottish Government’s commitment to a two-state solution, adding: “I look forward to continuing these valuable conversations. The Jewish community is a vital part of our national life in Scotland.”

In a joint statement between Van der Zyl, SCoJeC chair Micheline Brannan and GJRC co-president Evy Yedd, they delegation thanked Stuegeon “for taking the time to see us and giving us the opportunity to raise matters of importance to the Jewish community in Scotland”.

The added: “We were pleased at her level of engagement and knowledge on the issues and look forward to continuing this important dialogue on behalf of Scottish Jewry”.