JLC chair Black reiterates support for government’s ‘vital’ BDS bill ahead of vote
We Believe In Israel campaign group director Luke Akehurst writes to all MPs warning 'BDS demonises and delegitimises Israel'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Jewish Leadership Council chair Keith Black has reiterated his support for a “vital”government bill which he says will “put an end to the long running abuse of our public bodies by the pernicious boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.”
In a letter sent to secretary of state Michael Gove ahead of Monday’s second reading of the Economic Activity and Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, Black said that for BDS activists “there is only one state so uniquely evil in this world that it must be singled out for such special treatment and ostracised in every arena possible. The one Jewish state. Israel.”
The JLC chief added that BDS does “serious damage to community cohesion” and “undermines pre-existing relationships with local Jewish communities.”
He claimed the bill would, during times of conflict in the middle east, help focus efforts “to improve community cohesion.”
In his role as director of the grassroots We Believe In Israel campaign group, Luke Akehurst also wrote to all MPs in advance of Monday’s debate urging them to support the bill.
“We are against BDS more widely, because it deepens the divisions in the Middle East conflict rather than encouraging dialogue and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians,” wrote Akehurst.
“BDS demonises and delegitimises Israel by reusing a tactic made famous in the superb global campaign to rid South Africa of its racist apartheid regime to imply, completely falsely, that Israel is morally comparable to apartheid.”
He added:”We are specifically concerned about councils engaging in BDS because it cuts straight across their duty to promote community cohesion.
“Taking sides in a divisive foreign policy issue risks importing that conflict into our town halls and potentially onto our streets, to the detriment of good relationships between communities in the UK.
“Local Jewish communities, most of the members of which will feel deep connections to Israel, will view their council boycotting or divesting from companies associated with Israel as an attack on their values as a community.
“It puts people who care about Israel in an invidious position if the council they rely on for education, social services, parks and waste management is taking a very public stance against a country they love.”
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.
