British Jews speak out in support of UK’s new settler sanctions

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Several organisations and senior rabbis have come out in support of the measures announced by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband this week.

Anger has been particularly expressed at Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the religious leader of around a quarter of Britain’s Jewish population, who called the sanctions “a dark day for British Jews.”

The anti-zionist Voice of Rabbis organisation told Sir Ephraim in response that “Israel is a political state; Judaism is a religion. 

“You represent the State of Israel, not British Jews. Conflating the two and exploiting Jewish identity to defend Israeli policies is reckless and shameful, especially from someone speaking in a rabbinical capacity.”

Jewish Voice for Liberation, formerly Jewish Voice for Labour, welcomed “the sanctions on Israeli settlement goods announced by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband in response to Israel’s multiple crimes against the Palestinian people.

“The moves, while late and insufficient, represent an advance on the inaction of previous governments, including that of Keir Starmer. 

“We welcome the ban on provision of services supporting the construction of illegal settlements and the outlawing of events, like the recent one in Edgware, promoting the sale of settlement properties.”

And Yachad UK said the government’s moves “should be supported by those who support the rights of the seven million Israelis and seven million Palestinians to live with freedom, dignity and security.

“These new policies do not target Israel, they target the occupation.”

The Guardian also reported several senior rabbis dissenting from the chief rabbi’s comments, reflecting concerns at his consistent prioritisation of Israel’s interests. 

Sir Ephraim lived on an illegal West Bank settlement himself in the 1970s. The sanctions were also condemned by the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Senior rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg called settler behaviour on the West Bank “a violation of God’s name of the worst order. 

“We cannot stay silent. This is terrible for Palestinian people who want to get on with their lives in peace. It is terrible for Israel.” 

He added that “the time is for action.”

Rabbi Alexandra Wright, from the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London, said the government had to act as “the occupation and escalating violence are harming Palestinians and Israelis.

“The sanctions are the UK’s commitment to a two-state solution.”

And Jeremy Gordon, the rabbi of New London Synagogue, said: “It is wrong to argue for silence, inaction or appeasement before the settler movement and those who support it.”

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