Suspended deputies hit back at Board leadership over ‘chilling’ sanctions for breach of code of conduct

The statement said the five deputies remained “deeply concerned about the remaining hostages, the appalling humanitarian crisis and ongoing war in Gaza and the further deteriorating situation in the West Bank”.

The five “live with the impact of the atrocities of the October 7 attack on Israel, but there is no justification for the continuing misery and destruction being wrought on Gazan civilians.

“The priority must be an immediate deal to bring all remaining hostages home and put in place alternative governing arrangements in Gaza to allow it to rebuild. Enough was enough when we wrote the letter, yet the situation has gone from bad to worse.

“We call upon members of the Jewish Community in the UK to condemn the actions of the Government of Israel in Gaza, which are burning not only lives and property but the chances of peaceful coexistence in the future.”

The five deputies said while they “welcome the recent action taken against the Iranian Nuclear programme” they remained “deeply concerned” that the situation in Gaza, since the letter’s publication had become “significantly worse”.

In the letter to the FT two months ago, the 36 deputies said “Israel’s soul is being ripped out”, prompting an immediate backlash from other parts of the community.

Philip Goldenberg[Missing Credit]

The five received suspensions from the Board for two years – effectively banning them from the rest of the Board’s triennial session - for being involved in promoting the letter, including taking part in media interviews. They were Harriet Goldenberg, who had been deputy chair of the Board’s foreign affairs division, Baron Frankal, Robert Stone, Philip Goldenberg and Rebecca Singerman-Knight.

However, three of the five were told their suspensions would be reduced to six months if they made an apology.

But far from accepting the sanctions quietly, they have openly challenged Board leaders.

Singerman-Knight said: “I am a proud Zionist with deep connections to Israel – the land, the state and its People. It is precisely because of my Zionism that I speak out against the extreme elements within the current governing coalition.

“They are leading Israel far away from its founding ideals and damaging its reputation in an international arena which is already poorly disposed towards it. “My suspension from the Board of Deputies saddens me deeply as the views we expressed – from a position of love for Israel – are representative of many in our communities and the Board should be able to reflect the diversity of voices that exist in the UK Jewish community.”

Harriet Goldenberg said: “So many Jews in the UK agreed with our sadly groundbreaking letter. We were inundated with thanks from those who said we represented them, and that we were their voice.

“It is tragic that voice is still needed. There are so many in our community, in pain and in fear, that feel as we do.”

[Missing Credit]

Philip Goldenberg commented: “In our letter to the FT, we called out the Israeli Government for its dreadful actions in Gaza and the West Bank. But it is also guilty of using the power of the State to suppress dissent, attacking judges, the civil service and everybody who disagrees with it.

“Sadly and ironically, the Board’s executive is behaving in exactly the same way, effectively expelling those who spoke inconvenient truth unto power. This is utterly contrary to the Jewish tradition that robust debate is an essential part of a civilised life, and feels more like Putin’s Russia.”

Stone said: “The views we expressed were those of many, many British Jews and Israelis. The brutal Israeli Government is betraying the ancient principles of Judaism, not least now the exhortation in25:21, ‘If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.’”

Explaining the rationale behind the suspensions, the Board said yesterday: “In the cases of five deputies, additional sanctions should be applied due to other activities undertaken in relation to the letter. These included: deputies who contributed to the misleading press release; deputies who made public appearances in breach of guidance from the Board to identify themselves as representatives of their constituencies; a deputy whose social media posts were disrespectful to other deputies, and a deputy who sent inappropriate communications to the panel.

“In light of the seriousness of these breaches and in line with the code, the executive has agreed to suspend these five deputies from the Board’s activities for two years and remove them where applicable from elected positions they hold within the Board. In three of these five cases, the deputies have been given the opportunity to reduce the suspension to six months by way of an apology to affected parties.”

The Board today said it would not be making further comment.

Board CEO Michael Wegier said yesterday, “We are a democratic organisation that welcomes debate, diversity and free speech. Managing diversity of opinion within our organisation depends on our code of conduct. That code ensures deputies do not create misunderstandings about the position of the Board or its members, do not bring the institution into disrepute, and treat one another and the institution with respect.

“By implementing these sanctions, we have acted to uphold the integrity of the Board and its diverse stakeholders.”