Former Shin Bet chief backs criticism of Gaza war by Board of Deputies members
A former head of Israel's Shin Bet security agency has intervened in support of members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews facing disciplinary action for speaking out against the Israeli government and its war on Gaza.
Writing in The Guardian newspaper on Tuesday, Ami Ayalon said the 36 board members were 'true friends of Israel' who had 'expressed the exact concerns and sentiments' as those voiced during weekly anti-government protests attended by thousands in Israel.
Ayalon, a former Israeli navy admiral and a longstanding critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said: 'It is not easy to speak out and I commend them for their bravery. I know that they will now face a backlash. However, so many of us leading the struggle in Israel wish that more of our friends in the diaspora would follow their lead.'
He said that to support Israel now meant 'to speak out against this extremist government, not to sit on the sidelines in silence or, worse still, conduct a business-as-usual relationship, meeting government officials and presenting an image of a global Jewry united behind the Israeli government'.
His comments come after board president Phil Rosenberg met Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in London last week and wrote on social media: 'Jewish leadership is standing up for peace & security in Israel & the Middle East… Unity is strength. Division serves only our enemies.'
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Board leaders last week launched disciplinary action against 36 deputies who signed a letter published in the Financial Times in which they accused the Israeli government of 'extremism' and called for an end to the war in Gaza, as well as condemning violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Rosenberg noted that the signatories made up just 10 percent of board members, while board chief executive Michael Wegier accused them of 'misrepresenting our community'.
But the board's response prompted further statements of support for the signatories, and condemnation of the Israeli government.
UK: Rabbis condemn Israel in latest show of Jewish opposition to Gaza war Read More »
On Friday, 30 Jewish religious leaders in the UK, including prominent figures within Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism, said in a letter also published in the Financial Times that they were 'horrified' by the war on Gaza and called on Israel to uphold international law and allow aid into the besieged enclave.
In a separate letter published by Jewish News, 40 prominent Israelis including former soldiers, ambassadors and members of the Knesset, said the signatories of the letter to the Financial Times had taken a 'righteous stance'.
Ayalon headed Shin Bet between 1996 and 2000. He is also a former commander-in-chief of the Israeli navy and a former Knesset member for the Labor Party.
He is among other former military and security chiefs who earlier this month accused Netanyahu and his far-right coalition of waging a 'political' war in Gaza and demanded an end to the conflict in a statement published in Israeli newspapers.
Writing in the Guardian, Ayalon said Israel was facing an "existential" crisis.
"Silence is a show of support for the Israeli government," he said.
"I call on our allies - governments and diaspora Jewish communities - to hear the plea of the Israeli public and in particular the hostage families, who are demanding an end to the war and a new dawn for Israel."
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