Nigel Farage’s party launching Reform Jewish Alliance and Friends of Israel groups
EXCLUSIVE: Gary Mond understood to be behind RJA, while Jason Pearlman could lead RFI, party sources reveal
Reform UK has announced the launch next month of the Reform Jewish Alliance, (RJA) with both leader Nigel Farage and deputy leader Richard Tice scheduled to speak at the opening event.
While Jewish News also understands that a separate Reform Friends of Israel (RFI) group will soon be announced.
Party sources say Gary Mond, a high-profile figure who defected from the Tories to Reform, is at the centre of the RJA group, aiming to provide members with a programme of regular events featuring guest speakers, including senior Reform politicians and prominent figures from across the Jewish community.
Meanwhile, RFI is being established to work with election candidates and other party officials to promote UK-Israel relations.
It is understood that Jason Pearlman, former advisor to Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, could be appointed as director of the group in what would be seen as a major coup.
RFI will seek to emulate the success of Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel groups moving forwards.
The RJA has announced a launch event next month in central London. Another aim of the group is to create a clear channel for members to share their views and help shape Reform’s approach to issues that matter most to the community.
Reform hopes to boost support within the community ahead of high-profile local elections in May.
Dr Alan Mendoza, who defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK to become Farage’s chief advisor on global affairs, has previously served as a councillor in Westminster for the Tories.
Farage has dismissed allegations of racist and antisemitic bullying during his time at Dulwich College as “completely made-up fantasies,” claiming his accusers are “people with very obvious political motivation.”
More than 30 people have spoken to the Guardian as part of an investigation into multiple accounts of racism, including Peter Ettedgui, 61, an Emmy- and Bafta-winning director, who recalled Farage repeatedly growling “Hitler was right” or “Gas them” at him when they were at school.
Meanwhile, the Conservative Friends of Israel group has announced the appointment of Greg Smith MP as its new Parliamentary Chair in the House of Commons.
This follows the defection of the previous chair, Suella Braverman, to Reform UK.
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