JLC urge Cameron to halt Palestinian incitement against Israel

Community leaders have called on David Cameron to urge the Palestinians to halt incitement against Israel and to recognise her as the nation state of the Jewish people.

Their appeal came during an annual meeting with the prime minister at Downing Street during which a range of international and domestic issues were on the agenda. As well as discussing Iran’s nuclear programme, the delegation – organised by the Jewish Leadership Council – expressed its hope that the UK would do everything possible to reinforce US Secretary Kerry’s efforts to forge Israeli-Palestinian peace.

A statement said community figures “asked the Prime Minister to urge the Palestinians to cease anti-Semitic and anti-Israel incitement and to recognise Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people”.

They also hoped that Cameron, who said he was “pleased” that his first trip to Israel as premier was being planned, would use next month’s visit to celebrate and strengthen ties between Israel and the UK in fields such as science, academia and trade.

On the domestic front, the issue of school security funding was high on the agenda, as was the promotion of interfaith initiatives.

The prime minister insisted his Government would resist any threat to religious practices. JLC chair Mick Davis, who led the group with Board of Deputies President Vivian Wineman said: “We were delighted to once again have an extremely productive meeting with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister engaged with us constructively on all our issues, including Iran, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the  delegitimisation of Israel.”

Wineman added: “It was truly a privilege to hear the Prime Minister speak so warmly about his strong support for the British Jewish community and appreciation of our concerns.”

The delegation also took the opportunity to thank the Prime Minister for leading effort to proscribe Hezbollah’s military wing as a terrorist organisation by the European Union and for establishing the Holocaust Commission to explore what more the UK can do to commemorate the Shoah.