President Jonathan Arkush praises PM following meeting

Board of Deputies president Jonathan Arkush has praised Prime Minister David Cameron at a 10 Downing Street meeting with leaders of Jewish communal organisations.

Jonathan said: “The Prime Minister was engaging and demonstrated a very clear grasp of the range of issues raised with him by the community. He showed himself to be clearly sympathetic with communal concerns and I together with my colleagues present regarded this as one of the best if not the best of these annual meetings with the Prime Minister.”

In the meeting, convened by the JLC, Prime Minister David Cameron said “The seriousness of the terror threat is very grave. You understand that better than anyone.

“I’m determined that the Jewish community in Britain should feel safe. If you don’t, it diminishes all of us.”

Mr Cameron spoke of “a real problem in our country with segregation and building one nation. I always highlight that the Jewish community have been perhaps the best integrators of all.

“You demonstrated time and again how you can follow customs and practises which are vital to Jewish people but at the same time be an example of integration.”

He also joked: “It is 100 years since the Balfour Declaration, which shows progress in Israel has been greater than progress in social mobility in Britain, given that he went to the same school as I did.

“I think if he was here he’d be very pleased with what happened after his declaration.”

Other attendees at the session included JLC Chairman Sir Mick Davis, Union of Jewish Students president Hannah Brady, Community Security Trust chairman Gerald Ronson, United Synagogue President Stephen Pack and Chairman of the Movement for Reform Judaism Robert Weiner.