Hundreds sign letter calling on Board to denounce no Palestinian state stance
Simon Schama among those backing open letter calling for British Jewry's support for a two-state solution to be expressed
An open letter to the Board of Deputies urging the communal organisation to be more vociferous in calling for a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians has been signed by hundreds of British Jews, including rabbis and historians.
The campaign was launched in the aftermath of a vote in Israel’s Knesset last week in which a motion put forward by a right-wing political coalition firmly opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state passed by a significant majority.
In a debate leading up to the vote, far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich was among those to tell Israeli MKs “there is no such thing as a Palestinian state” while minister of communications Shlomo Karhi referenced a biblical story in which “God told Moses to destroy Sihon and his entire nation.”
But the open letter, launched by the pro-peace advocacy group Yaachad, points out that polls taken in Israel suggest the public believe the state should enter into dialogue with the wider Arab world in which a creation of a Palestinian state would be on the table.
The letter, signed by over 600 members of the UK community including Sir Simon Schama, Jewish Women’s Aid’s honorary president Judith Usiskin MBE, Anthony Metzer KC, and Rabbi David Mason, now calls on the Board to “make it clear as the representative voice of the British Jewish community that the overwhelming majority of Jews in the UK stand in opposition to the Knesset vote.”
It calls for the Board to state its “clear rejection of the vote” and commit to a “political resolution to the conflict.”
A Yachad spokesperson said: “Like many in Israel and the diaspora, we were appalled by the vote in the Knesset opposing Palestinian statehood, which is tantamount to opposing a two state solution.
“Our community has a broad range of opinions but we know that the vast majority of British Jews support a two-state solution. We want our communal representatives to stand firmly and bravely behind the community’s stance, and ensure it’s loud and clear to Israeli government representatives that the diaspora does not stand with them.”
The Board’s policy remains support of a two state solution with a secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state.
But the communal organisation has been hesitant to explicitly criticise a Netanyahu government that has little commitment to two-states.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
