Latest news with #BoardOfDeputies
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Member of UK Jewish body resigns over failure to call out Israel on Gaza
An elected representative on the UK's largest Jewish body has resigned, saying it had 'failed to act morally and failed to represent the increasing diversity of opinion within the British Jewish community' amid growing horror at Israel's renewed assault on Gaza. Daniel Grossman, one of 36 elected members of the Board of Deputies facing disciplinary proceedings over their criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, told a meeting called by the board last weekend that he had 'no confidence in the leadership'. Grossman, 21, a final-year student at Bristol University, was one of three dozen deputies who signed an open letter last month that said 'Israel's soul is being ripped out' by the war in Gaza and that their 'Jewish values compel us to stand up and to speak out'. In response, the board, which consists of more than 300 deputies, opened a disciplinary procedure against all 36 and suspended two deputies. The board's efforts to shut down debate over the Israeli government's actions has prompted criticism and discomfort among a significant and growing proportion of British Jews. Grossman told the Guardian: 'It's very simple: they are refusing to explicitly and publicly condemn Israel's genocidal assault in Gaza and to criticise the [Israeli] government for abandoning the hostages, who have been in captivity for far too long. 'Increasing numbers of people are recognising that Israel's actions in Gaza cannot be justified as purely self-defence. They seemingly want to declare a perpetual war against Palestinian civilians with the goal of ethnically cleansing them from the Gaza Strip.' Grossman said that the past 19 months since Hamas's horrific attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 had 'definitely been a journey for me'. He grew up in a mainstream Jewish community, with strong emotional and familial connections with Israel, but it had become 'increasingly clear that the way the Israeli government is acting is not acceptable by any measure'. The response to his resignation had been more supportive than he expected, he said. 'More people were sympathetic than I expected, and it has genuinely astonished me. Lots of these people may not feel able to speak out themselves, they might find it difficult with friends or family. But people have reached out to me. 'A huge shift is happening. The diversity of opinion in the Jewish community is becoming increasingly clear,' Grossman said, yet the board had tried to 'stifle dissent'. Although younger Jews were more open to criticising the actions of the Israeli government, there was not a clear generational divide, he said. 'My 89-year-old grandmother, who was a refugee during the Holocaust, said I had done the right thing and she is proud of me for speaking up.' Grossman said he was on the political left among British Jews, but added: 'This issue is touching people across the political spectrum. A lot of people are waking up.' A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies said: 'Daniel's term as a deputy was due to end in a few weeks with him having been replaced by another representative from the Union of Jewish Students. We wish him well with his future endeavours.' Its investigation into the 36 signatories to the open letter is expected to conclude in the next few weeks.
The National
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Jewish split over Gaza deepens in the UK
Dissent over position of the Board of Deputies on Israel's military campaign in Gaza flourishing
BreakingNews.ie
21-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe caught on camera using ‘antisemitic language'
Rupert Lowe, the former Reform UK MP, appears to have been caught on camera using 'antisemitic language'. The Great Yarmouth MP can be heard remarking on the size of a camera which is about to start filming him, describing it as a 'Jewish camera', in a video obtained by The Guardian newspaper. Advertisement Mr Lowe was suspended from Reform UK earlier this year following a string of allegations about his conduct, which he has strenuously denied. In the footage obtained by The Guardian, understood to have been recorded in February or March, Mr Lowe is seen sitting on a green sofa in a meeting with parliamentary staff. As he noticed the camera, Mr Lowe said: 'In days gone by you'd call it a Jewish camera, but that would be politically incorrect. Because it's so small.' Following laughter from the room, someone out of sight of the video can be heard to say: 'Career over in a second.' Advertisement Mr Lowe appeared to agree, repeating: 'Career over in a second.' Asked about his comments, Mr Lowe told the PA news agency the video was a 'ludicrous smear attempt'. But the Board of Deputies of British Jews, one of the UK's largest Jewish community organisations, branded the remarks antisemitic. 'This is bizarre and outdated antisemitic language which has no place in our politics. Mr Lowe should apologise for the offence this remark has caused,' a spokesperson for the board said. Advertisement Mr Lowe was suspended from Reform UK in March after he was accused of making verbal threats against party chairman Zia Yusuf, and of bullying. The Crown Prosecution Service said no criminal charges would be brought against the independent MP earlier this month in relation to alleged threats towards Mr Yusuf. Mr Lowe has since accused his ex-colleagues of engaging in a 'sinister' attempt to use the police to silence him, and branded Reform's leader Nigel Farage a 'coward and a viper'. The MP has hinted in interviews since his suspension he would be interested in setting up his own challenger political party on the right. Advertisement He has also suggested he would be open to joining the Conservatives, if the party were to undergo reform.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe recorded making ‘antisemitic' remark in leaked video
Former Reform UK MP has been recorded making an 'antisemitic' remark during a meeting in parliament this year, it has emerged. Video footage shows Rupert Lowe, who was suspended from the party after a bitter public spat with Nigel Farage, making the comment in front of parliamentary staff. In a leaked recording, obtained by The Guardian, Mr Lowe commented on the size of a camera being used to film him. 'In days gone by you'd call it a Jewish camera, but that would be politically incorrect. Because it's so small,' Mr Lowe is recorded as saying. Others present began laughing, before one reassured him the footage would not be shared and another joked that his 'career would be over in a second'. Responding to the resurfaced video, Mr Lowe said he could not remember making the comment. 'But if it was said, it was clearly a joke as anybody reading it can understand,' he added. The Board of Deputies of British Jews condemned the 'bizarre and outdated antisemitic language' and said it played into the trope that Jewish people are frugal with money. A spokesman said it 'has no place in our politics' and called for an apology from Mr Lowe. Reform has been approached for comment. Mr Lowe was suspended from Reform pending an investigation this year pending an investigation into his conduct and claims he had threatened violence against its chairman Zia Yusuf. That came after he publicly criticised Mr Farage, accusing the party leader of having 'messianic' tendencies, and Mr Lowe maintained he was the victim of a political hit job for speaking out. The police have since dropped an investigation into claims Mr Lowe threatened Mr Yusuf, while the now independent MP has renewed his attacks on Mr Farage. Nigel Farage 'is a coward and a viper and must never be prime minister', he has since said. Mr Lowe, a former MEP for the Brexit Party, has been toying with a defection to the Conservatives or the idea of forming a new right-wing party to rival the Conservatives. He is a staunch right-winger and campaigns fervently on issues including illegal migration, grooming gangs and free speech. Speaking to BBC Newsnight this month, Mr Lowe said he would join a reformed Conservative Party or form a new party with the backing of Elon Musk.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
BBC stars told to follow rules after Gary Lineker post
The BBC's boss has reminded stars to follow the corporation's rules and avoid damaging "mistakes", after Gary Lineker attracted renewed criticism for his use of social Tuesday, the Match of the Day host deleted an Instagram story post he shared from the group Palestine Lobby, which said: "Zionism explained in two minutes" and featured an illustration of a rat.A rat has historically been used as an antisemitic insult, referring to language used by Nazi Germany to characterise Jews. His representatives said he was not aware of the whether the post had broken BBC guidelines, director general Tim Davie said: "The BBC's reputation is held by everyone, and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us." He added: "I think we absolutely need people to be exemplars of the BBC values and follow our social media policy. It's as simple as that."The Campaign Against Antisemitism said it was submitting a complaint to the BBC, adding that Lineker's "continued association with the BBC is untenable".The charity posted on X: "Nothing to see here. Just Gary Lineker's Instagram account sharing an anti-Israel video misrepresenting Zionism, complete with a rat emoji."A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies of British Jews said "the BBC should ask him to leave now rather than allowing him to dictate his own terms"."He has caused great offence with this video – particularly with his egregious use of a rat emoji to illustrate Zionists." Lineker's agent said: "Whilst viewing and reposting a video, Gary did not notice a rodent emoticon added by the author of the post. Although if he had, he would not have made any connection. The repost has been removed."Zionism refers to the movement to create a Jewish state in the Middle East, roughly corresponding to the historical land of Israel, and thus support for the modern state of BBC, when asked on Tuesday if it had any comment on Lineker's now-removed post, responded by referring to its guidance on personal use of social former England striker has attracted criticism before for his posts on social media in the was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over a post in which he said language used to promote a government asylum policy was "not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s".The BBC's social media rules were then rewritten to say presenters of flagship programmes outside news and current affairs - including Match of the Day - have "a particular responsibility to respect the BBC's impartiality, because of their profile on the BBC".In November 2024, Lineker announced his departure from Match of the Day, but he will remain with the BBC to front FA Cup and World Cup coverage.
