Rival petitions on appointment of Tzipi Hotovely as envoy get 100s of signatures
More than 650 call on the UK to reject the Israeli settlements minister as next ambassador, while 145 sign a counter-petition welcoming her as Mark Regev's replacement
Rival petitions both protesting and welcoming the appointment of Israel’s Settlements Minister Tzipi Hotovely as the next ambassador to the UK garnered hundreds of Jewish signatories this week.
A petition calling for the British Government to reject her appointment gathered almost 650 names by Wednesday lunch-time, while a counter-petition initiated by Jewish activist Jonathan Hoffman attracted 145.
In the 1980s Margaret Thatcher rejected Israel’s choice of UK ambassador and five years ago Brazil rejected Israel’s appointment of Dani Danon as envoy, leading to him being reassigned as Israeli ambassador to the United Nations.
The anti-Hotovely petition, addressed to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, pointed to this precedent and urged the Government to ask Israel for a less divisive figure, drawing attention to her past comments, including her call to fly the Israeli flag over Temple Mount, a move that would likely lead to bloodshed.
“As British Jews we are clear that Tzipi Hotovely’s values and politics have no place in the UK,” they said. “It is crucial that the UK government sends a message that her views are unacceptable and rejects her nomination as ambassador.”
The anti-Hotovely petition was initiated by British Jewish group Na’amod, which Hoffman described as an “extreme fringe Left organisation”.
Describing Hotovely as “resourceful and helpful,” Hoffman told the FCO that Na’amod “represent no more than a handful of people in the UK Jewish Community… They claim all their signatures are from British Jews. Ask them to submit their list for independent verification”.
In response to the petition signed by British Jews, calling on the UK government to reject the appointment of incoming Israeli Ambassador to the UK Mrs. Tzipi Hotovely, the Chairman of JNF UK, Samuel Hayek said: “The British Jewish community will gladly and respectfully endorse Mrs. Tzipi Hotovely as the new Israeli Ambassador to the UK. She is a leader with many positive attributes and achievements and we wish her the best of luck in her new position”.
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.
