There is a letter in the Financial Times this morning from thirty-six members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Given that this is described as an open letter, I think it is fair to share it in full. That is, very clearly, their goal:
We write as representatives of the British Jewish community, out of love for Israel and deep concern for its future.
The inclination to avert our eyes is strong, as what is happening is unbearable, but our Jewish values compel us to stand up and to speak out.
This is what we see: the last 18 months of heartbreaking war have shown us that the most successful way of bringing the hostages home and creating a lasting peace is through diplomacy. By the end of the first phase of the second ceasefire and hostage release deal, 135 hostages had been released through negotiation, just eight by military action, with at least three tragically killed by the Israel Defense Forces.
America, Qatar and Egypt again stood as guarantors of the release of all remaining hostages in the second phase of this deal, in return for Israel withdrawing from the Gaza Strip. A strong plan for the reconstruction of Gaza was approved and supported by the international community, to be managed by a Palestinian leadership, which would be a viable alternative to Hamas, financed by the Arab League.
At that moment, the Israeli government instead chose to break the ceasefire and return to war in Gaza with the “Itamar offensive”, so-called as it was Itamar Ben-Gvir's condition for returning to the coalition, thus enabling the Israeli government's budget to be passed within the tight deadline needed to avoid an election. Since then, no hostages have returned. Hundreds and hundreds more Palestinians have been killed; food, fuel and medical supplies have once again been blocked from entering Gaza; and we are back in a brutal war where the killing of 15 paramedics and their burial in a mass grave is again possible and risks being normal. Such incidents are too painful and shocking to take in, but we know in our hearts we cannot turn a blind eye or remain silent at this renewed loss of life and livelihoods, with hopes dwindling for a peaceful reconciliation and the return of the hostages.
This most extremist of Israeli governments is openly encouraging violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, strangling the Palestinian economy and building more new settlements than ever.
This extremism also targets Israeli democracy, with the independence of the judicial system again under fierce attack, the police increasingly resembling a militia and repressive laws are being advanced as provocative partisan populism is bitterly dividing Israeli society. Israel's soul is being ripped out and we, members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, fear for the future of the Israel we love and have such close ties to.
Silence is seen as support for policies and actions that run contrary to our Jewish values. Led by the families of the hostages, hundreds of thousands of Israelis are demonstrating on the streets against the return to war by an Israeli government that has not prioritised the return of the hostages.
We stand with them. We stand against the war. We acknowledge and mourn the loss of Palestinian life. We yearn for the “day after” this conflict when reconciliation can start. As we mark the festival of freedom with so many hostages still in captivity, it is our duty, as Jews, to speak out.
First, let me welcome this. It took courage to write it, sign it, and send it.
That said, there are obvious questions.
Why has it taken so long to say this?
Has it only just become evident that there has been genocide going on in Gaza?
What has changed, apart from the commencement of new hostilities?
What is the goal of this letter?
All of these need to be answered. I do not think the letter is enough: it says what so many already knew. There has to be a next step.
But there are other issues raised, as well.
Where does this leave the UK government's position, which is horribly and unquestioningly Zionist?
Why hasn't the UK recognised Palestine?
What is the UK going to do to oppose the fascist government in Israel?
Why hasn't the UK condemned the US for hosting Netanyahu recently?
When will we stop arming Israel?
When will we stop reconnaissance flights to support the Israeli offensive?
Why can't Starmer speak out?
And why is he still promoting the persecution of those who support those in Gaza and the West Bank?
There are so many questions, and so few answers.
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I wonder why they chose to publish it in the Financial Times?
I agree it is an excellent letter that says much of what needed saying.
I doubt it will have the slightest effect on the UK government. Or the Israeli one either, for that matter.
possibly chose the FT because of who the editor-in-chief is (Roula Khalaf) – if you look at her career and what she has covered during that career, this could make her sufficiently sympathetic to publish this letter. Very brave of all concerned and certainly backing up the opinion of many people.
One of my questions is: why are they using the word “killing” when the use of the word “murder” is more appropriate.
The other problem with the letter is the assumption that, if only there was a different gov in Israel everything would be OK. Not true.
Ilan Pappe in “Ten Myths about Israel” (Chapter 7 Israel & Democracy is of particular interest) and “The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine” deals comprehensively with this latter problem which has been festering for 70 odd years – a total and complete political failure to address reconciliation.
A good book., Mike.
Pappe works at Exeter University and is an excellent historian. Writes very clearly and what he does is based on well researched sources,
Might this to be about Bibi’s trial outcome?
Could it be a sense that it will all be over?
Thank you, good pertinent questions.
This is a long watch, but illuminating – isomorphic to the game plan of this agenda, which UK are sadly tied into – the ‘special abusive relationship’.
Only US and Israel didn’t vote for food as a human right. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/09/united-nations-right-to-food-us-hunger.
How Trump Shut the Water off in Scotland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9RweR9EUSg&t=4600s&ab_channel=JourneymanPictures
One other question is the ruling last July by the ICJ that the Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal and should they should withdraw.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/07/experts-hail-icj-declaration-illegality-israels-presence-occupied
will we get behind the court?
Another question:
Why do they refer to “war”?
They mention “heartbreaking war”, “return to war” twice, “in a brutal war” “against the war”. It’s actually the mass murders of tens of thousands of men, women, children and babies. Unarmed, unable to defence themselves. What kind of war is that?
It isn’t a war – it’s GENOCIDE. They don’t use that word – not once.
*defend themselves*
I also question their use of the word ‘war’, implying this is a conflict between two equivalent armies, when it is clearly and wholly one-sided. It is not a war in the conventional sense we all understand, it is indeed a one-sided genocide and in the occupied Palestinian territories ethnic cleansing by stealth.
Agreed
Good point. Wars are between states and Gaza is not a state but rather an occupied territory.
Therefore the “right to defend” argument is irrelevant. In fact, since they have occupied Gaza, their duty is to protect the inhabitants of that territory.
Better late than never.
Once there’s lasting peace in the middle east, and only then, will it be time for a UN Truth & Reconciliation committee to be set up and bring perpetrators to justice.
I suggest that the biggest threat to the long term security of, and even to the continuing existence of the state of Israel is its current Government.
Anyone who is supporting tee actions by the Israeli Government in Gaza and the West Bank is condemning the area to further decades of violence and instability.
This letter is welcome and I hope will shake Keir Starmer out of his current pusillanimous stance towards Israel. Perhaps the reason why the Board of Deputies have chosen to issue the letter now is because, as they state, what appeared to be a strong cease-fire agreement was broken by Israel, probably because the last thing the extremist wing of the Israeli Government, without whom Netanyahu can’t survive, don’t want a just and lasting peace – their goal clearly being a greater Israel. No doubt Trump also helped by ignoring the cease fire agreement and demanding the immediate release of all the hostages, thus giving a green to Israel to recommence hostilities.
The Reform section of the Jewish community were here in February last year.
https://www.reformjudaism.org.uk/statement-from-progressive-jewish-clergy-on-israel-and-gaza/
Haaratz in Israel continues to play a courageous role. If they can speak out against their own government, why can’t we?
I saw a few moths ago that 15,000 children had been killed in Gaza. That covers 0-18 years of age. If we laid them side by side giving each only 60cms or two feet, that would stretch for almost six miles and take the best part of two hours to walk past. “Self defence?”
There would a similar line for adult women and and another for men. The wounded would probably be longer and they have inadequate access to medical care by design.
The International definition of Anti-Semitism says Israel must not be held to a different standard of accountability. I think it is safe to say that if any other state was doing the same, our media and politicians would hold them to account. We must do so here.
The priority must be to stop the suffering for both sides. Our leaders need, not just to speak out but to take action even if it means upsetting the American government who seem unconcerned about the killing while claiming it is a primary concern in Ukraine.
I also endorse all of your questions Richard. To the question of why has it taken the BoD so long to raise its voice in protest, I would simply say, better late than never and that this could be a key turning point where the premier organisation representing Jews in Britain is no longer prepared to offer unconditional support to Israel. Equally telling is a poll in the USA which for the first time shows majority opinion against Israel. The world is at last turning against Israel and this letter is, hopefully, a major step in its formal recognition as an apartheid, genocidal State with all the legal and economic ramifications that will ensue.
I support Jewish Vouce for Labour. Their estimate is that the Board of Deputies represent less than half of British Jews, some estimates as low as 15%.
Thank you, John.
The poet Michael Rosen said 36 out of 300 signed.
Agreed
That’s depressing
Thanks for that John. Has Jewish Voice for Labour publicly expressed similar views to those expressed in the BoD letter and if not, perhaps you could urge them to do so?
Well said Richard.
You say that the letter by these board of deputies members , says what ‘so many already knew’. The BBC didn’t ‘know’ and haven’t said it. Even this morning they suggested the leader of the teachers union was an extremist for showing support for a ceasefire in Gaza.
There has been a not very subtle strategy by govts of both parties to explicitly or implicitly conflate opposition to the war crimes/ genocide in Gaza with antisemitism — ‘ hate marchers’ etc, along with new police powers to stop the right to demonstrate.
It would have been good if the letter had concluded that UK should stop arming Israel and collaborating with its military etc.
But the letter certainly kicks away any crutches that the Starmer govt has left for doing nothing to respond to the ICC /ICJ – and all the pleas by NGOs like Amnesty, Save the Children etc etc . to actually do something – rather than simply ‘calling’ for a ceasefire.
Our system seems so corrupt – media/govt combining aiding and abetting mass starvation and bombing and killing civilians. And by doing nothing our govt implicating all of us.
Thank you and well said, Richard.
Mmm.
The Board is the community’s establishment and was promoted by the British establishment. It doesn’t represent all of the community despite what it and its media allies say.
Readers may not be aware that, in June, France and Saudi Arabia will host a conference in NYC to find a way forward. At that conference, France is hinting that it will recognise Palestine. If yes, it will be interesting to see what the EU as an institution and member states do.
Macron could not care less about Palestine. This is about his legacy. France is burning bridges with its former colonies in Africa, vide Algeria and the Sahel states, so needs to make new friends and find some common cause.
The early favourite for the 2027 presidential election, Dominique de Villepin, has long advocated for a Palestinian state and making headway.
The UK may soon find itself alone with the US. Starmer can’t do otherwise as some, but not all, of the forces that put him where he his are Zionist. He has to hang with his sponsors.
Starmer is a garbage Zionist.
It’s pretty obvious why Starmer – an empty placeholder of a PM in any case – says nothing, or at least nothing that isn’t defensive of the impunity afforded to the U.S.’s true special relationship partner, which certainly isn’t the U.K.
The U.K. is a vassal state of the U.S., the £ is a little brother of the $, the City is a branch office of Wall Street where the latter finds it convenient to store some of its dollars, and none of this may any longer be stated by the British establishment for fear of offending mad king Donald. Nothing may be allowed which might affect the wealth generated by the City, and with good reason – absent the economy of the City, London and the South-East of the U.K. and the rest of the country is poorer than Mississippi, the poorest state of the U.S.
So if all that means keeping shtum about the ongoing massacre in the Levant then so be it. I doubt it keeps Starmer awake in any case – note the ease with which he shifted from Labour Friends of Palestine to Labour Friends of Israel when circumstance (and McSweeney) dictated in about 2019.
Thank you for posting this – I am Gob-smacked! I think that the most positive move we should all consider tacking is to cut and paste this BOD letter in order to forward it in an email to our MP. That is what I will be doing ASAP. It’s high time all of our worthless representatives realized that the policies of this Labour regime, and its Tory predecessor in government, continue to be dangerously extreme politically. We need to spell out that their unconditional support for the ongoing Israli genocide of Palestinians, both in Gaza and the West Bank, is totally incompatible with our global commitment to human rights and the Geneva Convention that the UK was instrumental in drafting!
I wrote this yesterday in response to an editorial in The Scotsman: https://dearscotland.substack.com/p/why-is-the-scotsman-ignoring-the
Today’s Scotsman editorial warns ‘we must guard against a new holocaust,’ but ignores the one underway in the land of Palestine.
Holocaust, from the Greek holos ‘whole’ + kaustos ‘burnt,’ means destruction or slaughter on a mass scale. The Nazi regime’s murder of 6 million Jews during World War II is known as “The Holocaust,” but 5 million non-Jews were also murdered by the Nazis.
So another word was coined by the Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin to mean the mass murder of a people based on their ethnicity – genocide. Genocide is what the International Court of Justice, Human Rights Watch, Medicins Sans Frontiere, Amnesty International and the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights all agree Israel is committing against the Palestinians.
Of course it’s supremely ironic that the perpetrators of this 21st century genocide are those who are the survivors and their descendants of the Nazi holocaust – Zionist Jewish Israelis.
A July 2024 Lancet study concluded that deaths in Gaza are likely far higher than the 37,396 then reported:
“In recent conflicts, such indirect deaths range from three to 15 times the number of direct deaths. Applying a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per one direct death9 to the 37 396 deaths reported, it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186 000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza.”
This Holocaust didn’t begin on October 7, 2023, but in 1948 when the state of Israel was founded. Ever since Israel has deliberately used forced evictions, destruction of homes, guns, tanks, bombs, economic siege, starvation, the destruction of natural resources, the deprivation of water, electricity and medicine to achieve the same result – the mass murder of Palestinians.
Although the United States is Israel’s chief enabler, the UK, under Zionist Keir Starmer, and EU leaders are complicit not only in supplying Israel with weapons but also in refusing to say that Israel is committing humanity’s worst crime. The Scottish Administration hasn’t exactly covered itself in glory, either. Recall Angus Robertson’s “secret” meeting with the deputy Israeli ambassador last August.
The Scotsman should have the moral courage to acknowledge this Holocaust.
“Of course it’s supremely ironic that the perpetrators of this 21st century genocide are those who are the survivors and their descendants of the Nazi holocaust – Zionist Jewish Israelis.”
There’s an even greater irony here that would only be apparent to those who’ve read Shlomo Zand’s “The Invention of the Jewish People”.
The Palestinians themselves are of course a semitic people and perhaps more than just “cousins” to their Israeli persecutors.
The term semitic refers to the language they speak. Arabic is a semitic language.
It’s worth noting that the proceedings of South Africa v Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are ongoing.
There was an interim statement way back in early 2024 which did not declare unambiguously that there was a genocide in Gaza, although it did say that Gazans had a right to be protected from one, that Israel should comply with International Humanitarian Law to prevent one and that Hamas should return the hostages.
Thank you for republishing this.
It’s long overdue, leaves a lot unsaid but it is highly significant that a wholly Zionist organisation should be saying this.
I don’t trust them, but I welcome this statement of obvious which Netanyahu can ignore.
The people who SHOULD be worried are the “100% Zionist unqualified” like Keir Starmer (who had to sign 10 Board of Deputies pledges before they would allow him to become Labour leader https://bod.org.uk/bod-news/rebuilding-will-take-more-than-mild-expressions-of-regret-the-board-of-deputies-launches-its-ten-pledges-for-labour-leadership-and-deputy-leadership-candidates/ )
He is now in a thoroughly deserved and v tricky position, being more supportive of Israel’s fascist government than the BoD, his sponsors.
The Jewish Chronicle (which I get as ePress from my local library every week) last Friday, in its Pesach/Passover themed edition was full of a host of articles about disagreements and debates over Israel and how Jews might handle them, both at a family and community level.
It struck me as unusual when I read it, maybe the cracks are much deeper than I thought.
Whether will be good fof Palestinians remains to be seen.
Ive asked my (Junior Health Minister) MP whether she edorses the BoD letter (yes or no).
It is a question no Minister in Starmer’s government will want to be asked, given the Hobson’s choice between upsetting Israel (& therefore upsetting Starmer), or appearing to criticise members of the BoD who appear, (on the basis of their 10 pledges), to get to choose who does or does not hold high office in the UK.
The current BoD chair (appointed June 2024) Phil Rosenberg is not on the list of signatories of the open letter. The letter is not on the BoD website at the time of writing.
https://www.ft.com/content/6a506d98-40a0-48e7-8e98-2882beb30914
So there would appear to be division about Israel’s genocide, war crimes and the IDF, amongst the Deputies… as suggested by Jewish News, sister paper to Jewish Chronicle.
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/36-board-of-deputies-members-express-open-opposition-to-israels-continued-war-in-gaza/
Meanwhile, Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, visited UK yesterday for a private chat with David Lammy. He wasn’t arrested (luckily they didn’t meet in a Quaker Meeting House).
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/arrest-warrant-sought-israeli-foreign-minister-visit-britain
Thanks
It’s a welcome intervention, but suffers from the implication that Israel’s current clearly fascist and genocidal government is an aberration, quite separate from the ‘soul’ of Israel. But it isn’t. It is a likely, perhaps inevitable result of the colonisation of other people’s land, and moreover of the central zionist idea of a country ‘for’ one particular ethno-religious group.
I vividly remember reading Desmond Tutu’s 2002 Guardian article ‘Apartheid in the Holy Land’ (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/apr/29/comment) – Tutu believed, indeed, that Israeli apartheid was worse than South Africa’s – and he should know. The Deputies’ letter looks forward to reconciliation – but what’s really needed, as in South Africa, is both ‘truth and reconciliation’ – the wrongs of the past need to be acknowledged and fully explored – the wrongs of many decades, not just the last few terrible months.
Channel 4 news reported and interviewed an author.
Encouraging. The more that gets to the mainstream the easier for other voices to be heard.
It wasn’t a great interview though, was it?
I was truly sickened, shocked and appalled when Newsnight tonight chose to welcome Douglas Murray for a congenial interview. To condone such a vile Trumpist sycophant allowing him to spew his despicable ideology, while freely promoting his book, full of lies and hatred, for eight nauseating minutes, and without even the briefest of challenges, was a new low for the BBC. What next, a fireside chat with Tommy Robinson or Andrew Tate, so we can better understand their sick world view? Richard Murphy, please watch and comment on this disgraceful racist Newsnight program segment.
Douglas Murray’s unashamed Muslim bashing and deeply offensive demands that our government should essentially eradicate Islam in the UK, constituted dangerous hate speech that should not have been tolerated by the BBC! No doubt in my mind that Murray, in his unswerving admiration for the apartheid state, wholeheartedly supports the aggressive ethnic cleansing of the innocent civilians in Gaza as pursued by the extreme right-wing Israeli Government. Trump is very supportive of this man, but the BBC must challenge the serious danger posed by his racist incitment to blame and target an entire ethnic community.
Those of us who join the London marches in our thousands, as I do in my wheelchair, alongside the descendants of holocaust survivors, just want this genocidal slaughter to end. No alarming deluge of BBC whitewash, in the guise of a ‘guest interview’ should be permitted to warp the peaceful intentions of those who condemn Israel for its atrocities. The BBC will fail to persuade the well-informed to abandon the persecuted Palestinian people to support the cruel objective of their Israeli occupiers. We all need to comment on this agregios assault on decency and customary humanitarian values as committed by our publicly funded broadcaster.
But the BBC exists to support the Establishment, and he is part of it, don’t you know?
Isn’t that how it works?
Worth a watch re Douglas Murray https://youtu.be/GVejf829IE4?si=iINEObJxPnrHugbb
Last week (11 April), Mehdi Hasan spoke with Iran expert, Trita Parsi, about US and Israeli plans for possible conflict with Tehran if there’s no progress on talks.
They question ‘How Serious Are Trump’s Threats to Bomb Iran? https://zeteo.com/p/how-serious-are-trumps-threats-to
Disquieting. Easier to think about if a) you hope Iran does not yet possess nuclear weapons and b) you believe there is no climate crisis.
I think you are being too hard on the British Board of Deputies. When I saw Richard’s headline I thought this is going to be a defence of Israel Gov. So on reading it I was agreeably surprised. I would imagine it was a long struggle in that organisation between those who support Israeli Gov whatever, and those with a less hard line. So I am not surprised it has taken them so long and the document is less condemnatory than it could have been,
The letter is NOT from the BoD but from 30 members of the BoD. (about 10%)
It doesn’t represent a change of heart by the BoD but an anguished rebellious cry from 30 of its members which is not the same thing.
I welcome it but I’m not going to exaggerate its significance.
I’m waiting to see how many, (if ANY) Labour MPs (including Ministers) endorse it. I’m not holding my breath.
Agreed
It’s good to see the open letter published, but it appears that it was signed by just 36 of the 300 on the board.
https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/members-of-the-board-publish-open-letter-saying-they-cannot-no-longer-support-israels-war-u30pro4d
Well done for recycling the letter. ‘Every little helps’ : a news ‘discovery’ platform reported it yesterday but then ‘undiscovered’ it.
The Terror in Palestine will define the C21st as the Holocaust in Germany defined the C20th. The US is entirely responsible.
Little Britain and unelected EU representatives need to realise that the US wishes their ruin.
Instead, forge a new economy based on sustainable green principles with all those nations keen to grow in peace without the totally malign US menace.
More on how this can happen please Richard.
This heartfelt open letter stands as a powerful call for peace, justice, and a return to shared humanity. It reminds us that silence in times of suffering is complicity, and true healing comes through empathy and dialogue—not war. In contrast, peaceful nations like Nepal offer the world a glimpse of harmony and resilience, making them not just travel destinations but inspirations for a more compassionate global future.