British Jews Protest Proposed Sanctions Against Israel

Approximately 800 British citizens, organized by the National Jewish Assembly (NJA), have written to their Members of Parliament to oppose the UK government's intention to impose sanctions on Israel. The proposed sanctions are reportedly in response to Israeli settlement activity in Judea and Samaria, referred to by the UK and much of the international community as the West Bank.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has threatened sanctions and called for a reset in relations between the UK and Israel, while also seeking to intervene in Israel's internal affairs. The NJA, a Jewish advocacy group fighting antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment in Britain, argues that the UK government's stance is misguided. They are particularly critical of the UK's support for a Palestinian state that would include East Jerusalem, citing historical instances during Jordanian rule when Jews were expelled from the Jewish Quarter, synagogues were destroyed, and access to the Western Wall was denied. The NJA asserts that Jerusalem is Israel's capital and should remain under Israeli sovereignty, emphasizing that under Israeli control, holy sites are accessible to people of all faiths.

The letters also challenge the UK government's repeated use of the term "settler violence" to justify its policy. The NJA contends that this framing unfairly targets Israeli communities by attributing the actions of a small minority to the entire population. They argue that law enforcement and judicial systems within democratic countries are responsible for addressing such criminal behavior, and Israel is no exception. The organization also questions the data presented on violence in Judea and Samaria, referencing past criticism by UN Watch regarding the methodology of UN OCHA's reporting, which they claim may inflate the extent of physical violence by including non-violent incidents.

The National Jewish Assembly has previously led campaigns involving letters to public officials and protests. Their future plans include a campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood and a "parliamentary lobbying day" scheduled for January 2027.