The UK’s Jewish deputies have split as some stand against genocide – but who is right?
The Board of Deputies of British Jews has long been seen as a bastion of pro-Israel sentiment – an organization whose unwavering support for the Israeli government often eclipsed any discussion of its policies’ consequences for Palestinians.
For years, this stance has been a point of contention for many in the British Jewish community, with critics arguing that the Board’s blind allegiance to Israel has come at the expense of human rights and the wellbeing of Palestinians.
But now, there is an internal rift within the Board, and could have profound implications for how Jewish communities in the UK, and beyond, engage with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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A group of 36 elected deputies within the Board have publicly condemned the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza.
They signed an open letter calling for an end to Israel’s military offensive, highlighting the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region and urging the Israeli government to take steps toward peace.
This was a significant departure from the Board’s historically unwavering support for Israel, particularly the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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The letter’s signatories took a stand not only against the ongoing violence but also against the complicity they believe some Jewish organizations have shown in enabling the continuation of this violence.
The Board’s leadership, unsurprisingly, did not take kindly to this dissent.
President Phil Rosenberg was quick to assert that the signatories did not represent the Board’s official stance, reinforcing the idea that the Board remains firmly aligned with Israeli policies.
But the response from the Board was more than just political; it was punitive.
Harriett Goldenberg, a vice-chair of the Board’s international division and one of the signatories, was suspended, and formal complaints were filed against all of those who dared to challenge the organization’s orthodoxy.
For those dissenting within the Board, the issue at hand is far more than politics—it’s a question of humanity.
They believe the actions of Israel in Gaza, including airstrikes that target civilian infrastructure, the killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, and the use of collective punishment, are nothing short of genocidal.
These actions have drawn widespread international condemnation, but what is perhaps most troubling is the role that the Board of Deputies has played in enabling this violence by offering blanket support to Israel, regardless of the cost to human life.
Genocide, as defined by the United Nations, includes acts “committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”
Israel’s actions in Gaza, including the deliberate targeting of civilians and the systematic destruction of Palestinian communities, fit this definition.
For years, the Board of Deputies has stood by in silence or, worse, actively defended these actions. The wave of dissent within the Board signals a critical shift: there are Jewish voices that refuse to remain silent while the Palestinian people suffer.
Those who signed the open letter were not acting out of political opportunism but out of what they saw as moral necessity.
They were making it clear that their loyalty lies with human dignity, not with the actions of the Israeli state.
In doing so, they were calling on the Jewish community, particularly those in leadership positions, to do the same.
The Board’s decision to silence its dissenters by suspending members and branding them as disloyal, then, is not just a political move—it’s an attempt to stifle an ethical and moral conversation that needs to happen.
If Jewish organizations, including the Board of Deputies, cannot publicly condemn Israel’s actions when they amount to genocide, then what role do they serve in the world?
Political loyalty to any nation, race, creed or ideal should never come at the expense of moral accountability.
The refusal to criticize Israeli policy in Gaza, particularly when it results in the deaths of thousands of innocent people, is an abdication of moral responsibility – many believe.
By supporting Israel’s actions unconditionally, the Board of Deputies may therefore be considered to have aligned itself with a regime that has been increasingly accused of war crimes and human rights violations.
This rift within the Board, therefore, is not a cause for despair.
It’s a beacon of hope that even within the most established Jewish organizations, there are those who are willing to break with tradition and speak out according to their conscience.
These dissenters are sending a clear message: Jewish identity does not have to be synonymous with support for genocide.
Of course, discussions about Israel and its policies often lead to accusations of anti-Semitism. This is one of the dangers of criticizing that state—the risk of being labelled as hostile to all Jewish people.
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But this conflation of criticism of Israeli policies with hatred for Jewish people is not only intellectually dishonest; it’s dangerous.
Criticizing the actions of the Israeli state is not anti-Semitic; it is a necessary part of holding any state accountable for its actions.
The problem lies not in the criticism of Israel but in the refusal to engage with that criticism.
The Board’s attempts to silence dissenters within its own ranks is part of a broader trend which includes labelling anyone who opposes Israel’s policies as anti-Semitic.
This tactic is not only a way to stifle debate but also a form of manipulation that undermines the legitimacy of the very concept of anti-Semitism.
By equating political criticism with hatred of a people, those in power muddy the waters and make it harder to have honest conversations about Israel’s actions in Gaza.
So what should the rest of us think?
The rift within the Board of Deputies should serve as a wake-up call to all of us—especially to those who are still blind to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
There is no moral justification for the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, and no amount of political loyalty should blind us to the atrocities being committed.
For too long, organizations like the Board of Deputies have ignored the cries of the oppressed in favour of political expediency.
But now, a brave minority within the Board is standing up, speaking out, and calling for a more ethical and responsible approach to the situation in Gaza.
🧡 **Support Vox Political**
If you value independent political journalism that holds power to account — without corporate or party influence — please consider supporting this work. Even £1 helps keep it going.
👉 Support here via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
Perhaps it is time for all of us to take a stand for justice.
The actions of the Israeli government should be condemned, and the British Jewish community must not let blind loyalty to Israel overshadow its moral responsibility.
As the dissenters within the Board of Deputies have shown, it is possible to be a proud Jew without supporting the policies of the Israeli state – and in doing so to stand for peace, for justice, and for the protection of human rights.
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The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
Jewish deputies have split as some stand against genocide
The UK’s Jewish deputies have split as some stand against genocide – but who is right?
The Board of Deputies of British Jews has long been seen as a bastion of pro-Israel sentiment – an organization whose unwavering support for the Israeli government often eclipsed any discussion of its policies’ consequences for Palestinians.
For years, this stance has been a point of contention for many in the British Jewish community, with critics arguing that the Board’s blind allegiance to Israel has come at the expense of human rights and the wellbeing of Palestinians.
But now, there is an internal rift within the Board, and could have profound implications for how Jewish communities in the UK, and beyond, engage with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
🧡 **Support Vox Political**
If you value independent political journalism that holds power to account — without corporate or party influence — please consider supporting this work. Even £1 helps keep it going.
👉 Support here via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
A group of 36 elected deputies within the Board have publicly condemned the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza.
They signed an open letter calling for an end to Israel’s military offensive, highlighting the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region and urging the Israeli government to take steps toward peace.
This was a significant departure from the Board’s historically unwavering support for Israel, particularly the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
The letter’s signatories took a stand not only against the ongoing violence but also against the complicity they believe some Jewish organizations have shown in enabling the continuation of this violence.
The Board’s leadership, unsurprisingly, did not take kindly to this dissent.
President Phil Rosenberg was quick to assert that the signatories did not represent the Board’s official stance, reinforcing the idea that the Board remains firmly aligned with Israeli policies.
But the response from the Board was more than just political; it was punitive.
Harriett Goldenberg, a vice-chair of the Board’s international division and one of the signatories, was suspended, and formal complaints were filed against all of those who dared to challenge the organization’s orthodoxy.
For those dissenting within the Board, the issue at hand is far more than politics—it’s a question of humanity.
They believe the actions of Israel in Gaza, including airstrikes that target civilian infrastructure, the killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, and the use of collective punishment, are nothing short of genocidal.
These actions have drawn widespread international condemnation, but what is perhaps most troubling is the role that the Board of Deputies has played in enabling this violence by offering blanket support to Israel, regardless of the cost to human life.
Genocide, as defined by the United Nations, includes acts “committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”
Israel’s actions in Gaza, including the deliberate targeting of civilians and the systematic destruction of Palestinian communities, fit this definition.
For years, the Board of Deputies has stood by in silence or, worse, actively defended these actions. The wave of dissent within the Board signals a critical shift: there are Jewish voices that refuse to remain silent while the Palestinian people suffer.
Those who signed the open letter were not acting out of political opportunism but out of what they saw as moral necessity.
They were making it clear that their loyalty lies with human dignity, not with the actions of the Israeli state.
In doing so, they were calling on the Jewish community, particularly those in leadership positions, to do the same.
The Board’s decision to silence its dissenters by suspending members and branding them as disloyal, then, is not just a political move—it’s an attempt to stifle an ethical and moral conversation that needs to happen.
If Jewish organizations, including the Board of Deputies, cannot publicly condemn Israel’s actions when they amount to genocide, then what role do they serve in the world?
Political loyalty to any nation, race, creed or ideal should never come at the expense of moral accountability.
The refusal to criticize Israeli policy in Gaza, particularly when it results in the deaths of thousands of innocent people, is an abdication of moral responsibility – many believe.
By supporting Israel’s actions unconditionally, the Board of Deputies may therefore be considered to have aligned itself with a regime that has been increasingly accused of war crimes and human rights violations.
This rift within the Board, therefore, is not a cause for despair.
It’s a beacon of hope that even within the most established Jewish organizations, there are those who are willing to break with tradition and speak out according to their conscience.
These dissenters are sending a clear message: Jewish identity does not have to be synonymous with support for genocide.
Of course, discussions about Israel and its policies often lead to accusations of anti-Semitism. This is one of the dangers of criticizing that state—the risk of being labelled as hostile to all Jewish people.
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
But this conflation of criticism of Israeli policies with hatred for Jewish people is not only intellectually dishonest; it’s dangerous.
Criticizing the actions of the Israeli state is not anti-Semitic; it is a necessary part of holding any state accountable for its actions.
The problem lies not in the criticism of Israel but in the refusal to engage with that criticism.
The Board’s attempts to silence dissenters within its own ranks is part of a broader trend which includes labelling anyone who opposes Israel’s policies as anti-Semitic.
This tactic is not only a way to stifle debate but also a form of manipulation that undermines the legitimacy of the very concept of anti-Semitism.
By equating political criticism with hatred of a people, those in power muddy the waters and make it harder to have honest conversations about Israel’s actions in Gaza.
So what should the rest of us think?
The rift within the Board of Deputies should serve as a wake-up call to all of us—especially to those who are still blind to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
There is no moral justification for the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, and no amount of political loyalty should blind us to the atrocities being committed.
For too long, organizations like the Board of Deputies have ignored the cries of the oppressed in favour of political expediency.
But now, a brave minority within the Board is standing up, speaking out, and calling for a more ethical and responsible approach to the situation in Gaza.
🧡 **Support Vox Political**
If you value independent political journalism that holds power to account — without corporate or party influence — please consider supporting this work. Even £1 helps keep it going.
👉 Support here via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
Perhaps it is time for all of us to take a stand for justice.
The actions of the Israeli government should be condemned, and the British Jewish community must not let blind loyalty to Israel overshadow its moral responsibility.
As the dissenters within the Board of Deputies have shown, it is possible to be a proud Jew without supporting the policies of the Israeli state – and in doing so to stand for peace, for justice, and for the protection of human rights.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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