Board president to be quizzed over Jerusalem embassy move remarks at meeting
Marie van der Zyl has been inundated with questions from Deputies ahead of a meeting of the communal organisation on her comments in support of a UK embassy move to Jerusalem, made in front of PM Liz Truss
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
The Board of Deputies president has come under pressure from elected representatives of the communal organisation to explain her comments supporting the government’s proposal to “review” a move of the UK embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Ahead of a Board meeting taking place on Wednesday evening, a succession of Deputies raised concerns about her remarks, made in front of Prime Minister Liz Truss, at the Tory party conference on October 2nd.
Sources confirm that questions put to van der Zyl include questions about on what authority she had been given for saying she “welcomed” the government’s proposal, after giving a speech at a Conservative Friends of Israel event.
In a further question, the Board’s president has been asked how she would respond if “violence” greeted any Uk embassy move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Another Deputy pressed the president on whether, as part of their commitment to a two-state solution, the Board would support calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
There are also concerns raised about the lack of consultation with Deputies, before the controversial speech was made.
Some deputies offer support to the president, including a communal leader who “commends” the speech she made in front of the PM.
Jewish News understands that Van Der Zyl will attempt to reassure Deputies that her CFI speech was made “in consultation” with other Deputies who were also at the event.
She will refer to the Board’s previous statement, made by former president Jonathan Arkush, in support of the US embassy’s move to Jerusalem.
Van der Zyl is also expected to tell Deputies that she does not believe moving the UK embassy to Jerusalem jeopardises a two-state solution.
It is understood she will reject claims that the embassy move might be responsible for sparking violence, and that any violence that did occur was the responsibility of those involved.
The Board’s president will also argue that if fear of violence was the main consideration the state of Israel would never have been created in the first place.
Van der Zyl is expected to confirm that she continues to back the UK government’s proposal to review a move of the embassy.
Wednesday’s meeting takes place over Zoom.
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