Board of Deputies President: ‘Israel rally was an important moment for UK Jews’

Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl has described Sunday’s pro-Israel rally in central London as an ‘important moment’ for Jews but condemned the attendance of far-right figure Tommy Robinson.

She said of the demonstration organised by the Zionist Federation: “This was an important moment for Jews from all parts of the community to come together to show our support for the state of Israel which has been subjected to a storm of rockets launched by Hamas. It was also an opportunity to display our resolve against the sickening antisemitism we have witnessed in recent weeks. We all hope against hope that one day the rockets will cease for good and there will be lasting peace.”

On Tommy Robinson’s attendance, Marie said: “Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson) and supporters of of far-right extremist organisations like the English Defence League are not welcome at our community’s events. Their message of hate and division must be confronted and defeated. We utterly reject their bigotry.”