Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl has issued the following statement on the Israeli Government’s proposal to annex some of the major settlement blocs in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley.
Marie said: “The Board of Deputies of British Jews represents the views and interests of the UK Jewish community. In the main, this is a Zionist community and Israel is of central importance to the identity of many of us. The Israeli Government’s proposal to annex some of the major settlement blocs in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley has prompted impassioned opinions and lively debate amongst Jews in Israel and the diaspora alike. There are some who have called on the Board of Deputies to support annexation and there are also those who call on the Board to oppose the move. In fact, the variation of opinion is even more nuanced than this, and as the body responsible for representing this range, we do not in good faith support one view over another. Rather we are here to facilitate this debate from all sides. We also have to take into account that Israel – the only democracy in the Middle East – has an elected Government which reflects the will of Israeli voters. We do, as ever, emphasise our continued belief in a negotiated two-state solution, leading to a secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state.