Sir Ben Helfgott, Anthony Julius and Luciana Berger back anti-annexation letter
More than 40 faith leaders and public figures warn that Israel’s plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank would be a 'shot in the arm' for the 'delegitimisation of Israel'
Sir Ben Helfgott, Anthony Julius and the former MP Luciana Berger are among the high-profile backers of an anti-annexation letter.
The letter, published in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Thursday, warns that Israel’s plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank would be a “shot in the arm” for both the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and “the delegitimisation of Israel.”
The historians Sir Simon Schama and Simon Sebag Montefiore, the philanthropist and businessman Sir Lloyd Dorfman and the author Howard Jacobson were among the 42 public figures and faith leaders to throw their weight behind the letter, addressed to Israel’s UK ambassador Mark Regev.
“A policy of annexation would call that into question, polarising Jewish communities and increasing the divisive toxicity of debate within them, but also alienating large numbers of Diaspora Jews from engaging with Israel at all,” the letter says.
Its signatories warn that “the commitment to Israel that has been such a vital glue in sustaining and uniting Jewish communities, as well an asset for Israel, will decline.”
Other backers include the Labour peer Lord Jeremy Beecham, cross-bench peer Baroness Julia Neuberger, journalist Lord Daniel Finkelstein and Senior Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner.
Fellow letter signatory Sir Mick Davis penned an op-ed in the Jewish News in April warning that Israel’s leaders risk eroding “vast swathes” of support from the diaspora.
The Board of Deputies reiterated its position of not commenting on annexation. Previously, President Marie van der Zyl has said “we do not in good faith support one view over another. Rather we are here to facilitate this debate from all sides.”
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.
