We Believe in Israel and National Jewish Assembly join forces
The merger will see Gary Mond, Chairman of the NJA, step down from his position
UK advocacy network We Believe in Israel has merged with the National Jewish Assembly in a bid to “increase operational effectiveness and advocacy impact”.
The merger, which came into effect from 1 January, combines the two grassroots organisations, with a public statement describing the integration of NJA’s structure, membership platform, and programming into WBII, would create “a single organisational home designed to increase operational effectiveness and advocacy impact. The objective is to build a stronger, more coherent platform for public education, community mobilisation, and media response, benefiting NJA members, WBII supporters, and the wider community served by both organisations.”
The NJA was founded by Gary Mond in May 2022 as a membership body for UK Jews to promote Jewish life, support Israel, and combat antisemitism. It offers regular events, newsletters, media coverage and organised trips to Israel to its 800 paying members. We Believe in Israel is run by former undercover reporter Catherine Perez-Shakdam, who became director in July 2024, succeeding Luke Akehurst, now a Labour MP. Its stated mission is “to impress on all people that Israel has an undeniable and legitimate right to exist and thrive”.
As part of the change, Mond, the chairman of the NJA, will be stepping back. In an email to members, Mond wrote: “After more than three and half years in this role, I feel the time is right for me to step down and allow the NJA to enter its next phase of development”, adding that this required “stronger, broader and deeper resources and reach. This is why I approached We Believe In Israel, today’s leading pro-Israel grassroots advocacy organisation in the UK, and we have agreed that NJA’s new phrase of growth will be more effective if combined with WBII.”
We Believe In Israel extended “warm appreciation to Gary Mond, founder and outgoing chairman of NJA, for his leadership and the platform he helped build.”
NJA’s managing director Steve Winston, and events and project manager Dalia Hajioff are being absorbed into the wider merged team, remaining in their respective roles “as the integration progresses, ensuring continuity, stability, and preservation of NJA’s operational standards within WBII.”
During the transition period, We Believe In Israel director Roger Walters will serve as chairman of NJA, whilst Gary Mond will remain involved “in meaningful ways, supporting continuity and helping carry forward the NJA’s legacy within the expanded WBII ecosystem.”
Simon Tobelem, Chairman of We Believe in Israel, said the organisation was “pleased to welcome the NJA and its members into our organisation. The past year has made clear that the field of battle has moved decisively to the West. The harassment, intimidation, and attacks faced by Jewish communities and supporters of Israel are not isolated incidents; they are part of a broader contest over whether free societies will tolerate organised extremism and the erosion of civic peace.
“The integration of NJA is part of our ongoing strategy: a decision to strengthen our collective response, deepen our resilience, and expand our ability to push back against those who seek to deny our community the right to live openly and safely.”
In January 2022, Mond resigned from the London Jewish Forum and from his role as senior vice-president at the Board of Deputies ahead of an investigation into alleged Islamophobic posts. Last year he successfully overturned a 2023 Charity Commission disqualification order which had prevented him from acting as a charity trustee or senior manager for two and a half years, after a tribunal ruled in favour of his right to free speech.
We Believe In Israel is expected to provide further updates regarding expanded member programming, educational initiatives, and upcoming events enabled by this integration in upcoming weeks.
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