Israel could support us more to fight Jew hate, UK communal bodies say

Representatives of ten groups that fight antisemitism met in London this week to discuss rising cases of Jew hatred and whether Israel is a direct cause of such incidents.

The panel was hosted by Raheli Baratz-Rix from the World Zionist Organisation, who said it was important for Jews everywhere to be united on the definition of antisemitism.

“A firm and unequivocal statement is required that anti-Israelism and anti-Zionism are antisemitic,” she said.

“We cannot change our painful history, but we must do everything we can to create a better future and a safe place for every Jew in the world.”

But the participants agreed that Israel needed to become more involved in diaspora communities in order to better understand their needs.

There was also a need for Israel to encourage other countries and large organisations to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism.

Among those represented at the event were the Board of Deputies, Campaign Against Antisemitism, CST, Jewish Leadership Council, StandWithUs UK, Zionist Central Council Manchester, Office of the Chief Rabbi and the Antisemitism Policy Trust.

One participant said that the diaspora was forced to confront antisemitism “regardless of what Israel does or does not do”, while another added: “Israel has not yet come to terms with being the largest Jewish community in the world, which holds a tremendous responsibility.”

There was also criticism of some Israeli politicians’ attitude towards antisemitic events in the diaspora and their efforts to exploit them for domestic political gain

But the WZO said that all who took part made clear their believe that British Jews have “a clear commitment to the State of Israel and are confident that if they are in trouble, they will always be able to immigrate to Israel.”

It added: “Despite the rise in antisemitism, all present agreed that the UK, which now has over a quarter of a million Jews, is a very good place for Jews to live their lives.”