UK calls for EU to ban Hizbollah

Anglo-Jewish leaders have welcomed Britain’s formal request to the European Union to outlaw Hizbollah as a terrorist organisation.

The government’s move increases the likelihood of the EU taking action against the Iranian-backed group and follows months of pressure from the Jewish community.

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Charity Commission rejects claim against JNF

The Charity Commission has rejected a campaign group’s claim that the JNF should be stripped of its charitable status.

But the Commission will question JNF trustees on whether aspects of its work breach equality laws by dealing differently with Israelis and Palestinians.

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Church acts to ease fears over Israel report

A rewritten version of a controversial report about Israel was due to be voted on by Church of Scotland leaders this week.

Phrases questioning Jewish claims to the land of Israel were removed from the document, compiled by the Church’s church and society council, following complaints from Jewish communal organisations.

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Two men deny harassment charges

Two Orthodox men have appeared in court to deny harassment charges.

Samuel Erlanger, 38, and Shlomo Feldman, 29, were charged by police last month during an ongoing investigation which saw Golders Green rabbi Chaim Halpern questioned in connection with alleged sexual assault and perverting the course of justice

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No bullying allowed, says Board of Deputies

It is the representative body of British Jewry, with more than 250 years of democratic debate and defending religious liberties to its name.

But the Board of Deputies has felt the need to issue its first code of conduct — warning deputies they must not engage in harassment, bullying or “unreasonable discrimination” during meetings.

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Students reject boycott

The National Union of Students has rejected a proposal to join the international boycott movement against Israel.

At a national executive meeting only five NUS officers voted in favour of an anti-Israel motion, with 15 against and three abstentions.

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Church agrees to tone down anti-Israel report

A “truly hurtful” report about Israel is to be rewritten in an attempt to diffuse a row between the Church of Scotland and the Jewish community.

The discussion document compiled by the Church’s church and society council provoked outrage after apparently suggesting that Jewish claims to the land of Israel could be invalidated by the treatment of Palestinians.

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Ben-Gurion University seeking international debating champions

Ben-Gurion University is seeking participants from around the world for a prestigious debating tournament.

The Red Sea Open is Israel’s only international debating competition. It will be held at BGU’s Eilat campus for the fourth time later this year.

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Scots pledge £510k for Shoah learning

Two pupils from every school and college in Scotland will visit Auschwitz-Birkenau after the Scottish Government announced an increase in Holocaust education funding.

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West End Israel boycott protest fails to close stores

Protesters were evicted from two busy stores in central London at the weekend after attempting to demonstrate against the sale of Israeli eco-friendly goods.

Members of the Palestine Place group claimed they “shut down” the Whole Foods store in Kensington and “occupied” the John Lewis store on Oxford Street.

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Extra police to tackle Golders Green crime rise

A leading police commander has encouraged Jewish groups to work with officers following a meeting with 50 residents in Golders Green.

Chief Superintendent Adrian Usher, commander of Barnet police, said that his “door was always open to those who have the best interests of the community at heart”.

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