Open letter from 36 members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews

I think the actions of the IDF have already descended to the brutality of Hamas on that terrible day in October.
50,000 plus dead, mostly women and children.
Many more severely injured. There can be no argument about that.
The signatories are concerned about Israel, the government and its actions and I applaud them.

We write as representatives of the British Jewish community, out of love for Israel and deep concern for its future.

The signatories of this letter are concerned with the behaviour of Israelis. It would be tragic if the actions of the IDF are seen to descend to the brutality of Hamas.

I and I suspect many other posters have been aware since the brutality of the Israeli became clear that many people of the Jewish faith were horrified at what was being carried out by the Israeli government, and their support for the Israeli government has leached away until now it is a torrent of dissent.

Thanks for posting this NotSpaghetti. It has been clear that not all Jews are supportive of Israel's actions in Gaza and that criticism of the Israeli government is not anti semitism, the two are entirely separate.
The latest behaviour of the Israeli government is IMO totally unjustified and constitutes war crimes. I won't "mince my words", the video found on a dead man's phone is clear evidence that these medics were murdered by members of the IDF and their bodies dumped in a shallow grave.
The lies that have been told in an attempt to cover up the crime make me wonder how many other lies have been told in the past when medics and innocent people have died in suspicious circumstances. It is impossible to defend the indefensible. I applaud these brave people for standing up for what they know is right.

^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 ..
Who can excuse killing Red Crescent personnel and burying the bodies to hide the crime? A line has to be drawn. It makes no sense to deny that this happened or, worst of all, to justify it.

I think Trump was big headed enough to think he could just walk in and settle things single handedly. In his eyes he is King of the World.

Thank you for bringing attention to the letter.
Yes Allira I think Trump played a role in it, in the breakdown of negotiations.
The letter reminds us of aggression in the West Bank too.

Here's the Jewish Chronicle's take on the letter.

www.thejc.com/news/uk/members-of-the-board-publish-open-letter-saying-they-cannot-no-longer-support-israels-war-u30pro4d

It covers Phil Rosenberg's view.

Wrll I've pasted the letter in full, Anniebach so we know what it says...
And as only 36 people signed it I'm not surprised Phil Rosenberg didn't.

The president of the largest communal body of Jews in the UK has responded to an open letter signed by some of its representatives criticising Israel's offensive in Gaza.

Phil Rosenberg, president of The Board of Deputies of British Jews, said he disagreed with the letter, which he said "lays blame squarely on the Israeli Government".

He also criticised the letter, published in the Financial Times, for "barely" mentioning Hamas and the role he said it had played in the breakdown of hostage release negotiations.

I didn't see that, silverlining48.
Maybe it will be available somewhere.
🤞

I watched the tv interview with Baron Frankal and was impressed with their bravery and common decency and hope that more will raise their heads above that parapet.

Good for them. I expect their views are held by many other Jews, inside as well as outside Israel.

Among the signatories was vice-chair of the international division of the Board of Deputies, Harriet Goldenberg. She told the Financial Times she and other signatories had decided to publicly voice their concern after the Board of Deputies denied a request to release a statement condemning the resumption of hostilities in Gaza.

Another signatory of the letter, lawyer Philip Goldenberg, told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme there is a "whole range of views" among British Jews, "and there are those who think we should not have done this".

Mr Goldenberg added that there will be others "who share our views, but don't, for their own personal reasons - perfectly fairly - want to put their head above the parapet".

www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77ndzkz778o

Trump's mismanagement hasn't helped but it's the Israeli government who is ultimately responsible and any country who doesn't call them out for their war crimes, including ours.

Powerful and courageous. Thanks for sharing this NotSpagehetti.

I am totally with them and applaud their standing up for what they know is right

Me too.

There was a lot of conversation about this on LBC today - including a contribution from a rabbi. It started just after a conversation about Trump - including how he sowed division. It was quite a civilised phone-in I felt.

It starts about here if you are interested:

www.globalplayer.com/catchup/lbc/uk/episodes/2zGn6k4wAtSvijab1iGXZAgBmN/

As has been said powerful words, well written 👏

It may be a small point Madeleine45 but Jews behave just the same as anyone else, Christian, Muslim or no faith at all. Many Jews are atheists come to that.

Powerful words.

Will the Israeli Government take heed?
How much of this is down to Trump's mismanagement?
It seems to me that he is not interested in a ceasefire.

I am totally with them and applaud their standing up for what they know is right. That ,as people who have been treated so terribly in the past , it seems appalling that the people now governing Israel can behave in the same most terrible manner. The photo from the dead palestinian even showed that they lied about the fact of the group showing lights and being an ambulance group. No wonder decent people are in despair and upset to think that any jews could behave in such a manner when they think that they can lie about saying that there are Hamas people are based in civilian areas to allow them to bomb innocent people not just once but many times. Well done to all those who signed that letter and may you get many more people to join you in stopping the aggressive israely government continuing in this dreadful way.

The thing is, it isn’t just about the return of the remaing few hostages it’s about defeating hamas as a force in Gaza.Until this is done then nothing is achieved.I have a feeling that at last the citizens of Gaza are rebelling against hamas and this could be built on by leaflet campaigns from Israel .After its done then reconstruction can start.
Reconciliation is years away.

Brave words from brave people.