Latest news with #HarriettGoldenberg
Arab News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
UK Jewish group investigates members for condemning Israel's renewed Gaza offensive
LONDON: A major body representing Jews in the UK has suspended one of its senior figures and is investigating dozens of others after they signed a letter condemning Israel's renewed offensive in Gaza. The Board of Deputies of British Jews said it had launched the probe after 'multiple complaints' in response to the letter published in the Financial Times last week. The letter, signed by 36 members of the group, said they could not 'turn a blind eye or remain silent in the face of this renewed loss of life and livelihoods' in Gaza. Among the signatories was Harriett Goldenberg, vice chair of the organization's international division. Members of the group's executive committee voted to suspend her while the complaints procedure is underway, a statement on Tuesday said. The Board of Deputies is the largest representative body of Jews in the UK with 300 deputies elected by synagogues and communal organizations. The group previously criticized the UK government for putting pressure on Israel over the military campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 51,000 people. The recent letter represented a significant break from the official position of the Board of Deputies, which has offered support for Israel since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023 that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 250 hostages. Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg said: 'We take alleged breaches of the code of conduct very seriously. 'The Board of Deputies is clear: Only our democratically elected honorary officers and authorized staff speak on behalf of the organization.' Goldenberg told the Financial Times last week that British Jews run the risk of being complicit if they do not speak up. 'In Jewish history, silence is not a good thing,' she said. The letter condemned Israel for breaking a ceasefire in Gaza, which had led to the killing of 'hundreds and hundreds more Palestinians.' It also said this 'most extremist' Israeli government was openly encouraging violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dozens of members of UK Jewish body facing disciplinary action over criticism of Israel
Three dozen members of the largest body representing British Jews are facing disciplinary action after signing an open letter criticising Israel over the war in Gaza. Amid signs of deepening divisions among British Jews over the 18-month long war, the Board of Deputies announced this week that all 36 signatories to the letter were now 'subject to a complaints procedure' after 'multiple complaints'. One, Harriett Goldenberg, was suspended as vice-chair of the board's international division pending the investigation. She was also asked to step back from her role on the executive until the result of the investigation, according to the Jewish Chronicle. A statement from the board said the letter was 'not representative' of its policy on Israel. A special meeting of its executive committee was convened on Tuesday to 'discuss the ramifications and consequences of this act'. The committee voted unanimously to open a complaints procedure, which is expected to take at least four weeks, the board said. The signatories to the letter, which was published by the Financial Times, said they could no longer 'turn a blind eye or remain silent' over the war in Gaza. 'Israel's soul is being ripped out', they said. They added: 'The inclination to avert our eyes is strong, as what is happening is unbearable, but our Jewish values compel us to stand up and to speak out.' Since the break out of the war, which began after the attacks by Hamas against Israelis on October 7 2023, statements by the Board of Deputies have been broadly supportive of the Israeli government. After the executive committee meeting this week, Phil Rosenberg, the board's president, said: 'We take alleged breaches of the code of conduct very seriously … The Board of Deputies is clear: only our democratically elected honorary officers and authorised staff speak on behalf of the organisation.' Last week, Michael Wegier, the board's chief executive, said a group of deputies had 'aired their views in a national publication, specifically in their capacity as deputies, leading them to an incorrect assumption by a significant number of people in our community and beyond, that this group is putting forward the board's official position, which it is not.' In an article in the Jewish Chronicle, he added: 'Taking the legitimate and often painful debate within our community to the letters pages of national newspapers, and sowing confusion about the position of the community as a whole, is a shortsighted and dangerous precedent.' Most of the letter's signatories belong to Reform, Liberal or Masorti communities. Many of the complaints reportedly came from members of the United Synagogue, the largest communal denomination in the UK. Goldenberg has been approached for comment.
The Guardian
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Dozens of members of UK Jewish body facing disciplinary action over criticism of Israel
Three dozen members of the largest body representing British Jews are facing disciplinary action after signing an open letter criticising Israel over the war in Gaza. Amid signs of deepening divisions among British Jews over the 18-month long war, the Board of Deputies announced this week that all 36 signatories to the letter were now 'subject to a complaints procedure' after 'multiple complaints'. One, Harriett Goldenberg, was suspended as vice-chair of the board's international division pending the investigation. She was also asked to step back from her role on the executive until the result of the investigation, according to the Jewish Chronicle. A statement from the board said the letter was 'not representative' of its policy on Israel. A special meeting of its executive committee was convened on Tuesday to 'discuss the ramifications and consequences of this act'. The committee voted unanimously to open a complaints procedure, which is expected to take at least four weeks, the board said. The signatories to the letter, which was published by the Financial Times, said they could no longer 'turn a blind eye or remain silent' over the war in Gaza. 'Israel's soul is being ripped out', they said. They added: 'The inclination to avert our eyes is strong, as what is happening is unbearable, but our Jewish values compel us to stand up and to speak out.' Since the break out of the war, which began after the attacks by Hamas against Israelis on October 7 2023, statements by the Board of Deputies have been broadly supportive of the Israeli government. After the executive committee meeting this week, Phil Rosenberg, the board's president, said: 'We take alleged breaches of the code of conduct very seriously … The Board of Deputies is clear: only our democratically elected honorary officers and authorised staff speak on behalf of the organisation.' Last week, Michael Wegier, the board's chief executive, said a group of deputies had 'aired their views in a national publication, specifically in their capacity as deputies, leading them to an incorrect assumption by a significant number of people in our community and beyond, that this group is putting forward the board's official position, which it is not.' In an article in the Jewish Chronicle, he added: 'Taking the legitimate and often painful debate within our community to the letters pages of national newspapers, and sowing confusion about the position of the community as a whole, is a shortsighted and dangerous precedent.' Most of the letter's signatories belong to Reform, Liberal or Masorti communities. Many of the complaints reportedly came from members of the United Synagogue, the largest communal denomination in the UK. Goldenberg has been approached for comment.
Middle East Eye
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UK: Members of prominent Jewish group break with leaders to condemn Israel over Gaza
Dozens of members of the largest body claiming to represent British Jews have broken with the organisation's leadership over their stance on the war in Gaza. In an open letter, 36 members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews (BoD) criticised the Israeli government for resuming its assault on Gaza, warning that "Israel's soul is being ripped out". Published in the Financial Times (FT) on Wednesday, the letter is the first public show of opposition to Israel's war on Gaza from within the BoD. Signatories urged the BoD, which has more than 300 elected deputies, to release a statement criticising the renewed offensive in Gaza last month, but the BoD has not done so. "The inclination to avert our eyes is strong, as what is happening is unbearable, but our Jewish values compel us to stand up and to speak out," the open letter says. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "Israel's soul is being ripped out and we, members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, fear for the future of the Israel we love and have such close ties to. "Silence is seen as support for policies and actions that run contrary to our Jewish values." 'Most extremist of Israeli governments' The letter criticises Israel's assault on Gaza and settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, saying that "this most extremist of Israeli governments is openly encouraging violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, strangling the Palestinian economy and building more new settlements than ever". It further warns that the Israeli police force is "increasingly resembling a militia and repressive laws are being advanced as provocative partisan populism is bitterly dividing Israeli society". Harriett Goldenberg, vice-chair of the BoD's international division, told the FT that while "some fear the appearance of disloyalty, we feel it is essential as British Jews to speak up". She added: "Otherwise, we run the risk of being complicit. In Jewish history, silence is not a good thing." The BoD said that it is a diverse organisation and "others would no doubt put more emphasis on the fundamental responsibility of Hamas for this ghastly situation". "This diversity is not unlike the politics of Israel itself, whose rambunctious democratic culture sees a fierce exchange of views about these excruciating life and death issues." This past September, the BoD slammed the Labour government for imposing a partial arms embargo on Israel and has consistently voiced support for Israel's war on the besieged Gaza Strip.
