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Communal groups unite for protest outside Palestinian mission over Israel violence
October 12, 2015 10:44
By, Josh Jackman
1 min read
ByJosh Jackman, Josh Jackman
Communal organisations including the Board of Deputies and the Zionist Federation (ZF) are planning a rally outside the Palestinian embassy to protest against the surge in violence in Israel.
Sussex Friends of Israel, We Believe In Israel and Israel Advocacy Movement are also participating in the event, which will commemorate victims and call on the Palestinian Authority to condemn attacks on Israelis.
Members of the community have been invited to the demonstration, entitled “#IsraeliLivesMatter - Protest Palestinian Violence and Incitement,” outside the mission in west London.
In the build-up to the protest, Board of Deputies president Jonathan Arkush called the lack of condemnation from the Palestinian Authority “nothing short of disgraceful.”
However, in an open letter to the Board and the ZF, some members of the community have denounced the protest as inflammatory and divisive.
More than 80 people have so far signed the letter, which states: “When Jewish organisations, who claim to represent the voice of British Jewry, say only that “#IsraeliLivesMatter”, it shames us as people who care about the lives of everyone in the region.”
Grassroots groups came together on Sunday for a candlelight vigil outside the Israeli embassy to honour the victims of recent terror attacks.
More than 40 supporters laid out yahrzeit candles and waved Israeli flags and signs reading “#AmYisraelChai”.
Campaign For Truth (CFT), Alliance for Israelis in Great Britain (Agiv), Eye On Antisemitism and charity Yad B’Yad UK organised the vigil, which commemorated the four Israelis who have died during the upsurge of violence.
CFT founder Sharon Klaff said that the event (a video of which can be found here), which attracted Israeli volunteers performing their national service at Kisharon, was “meaningful and cathartic.”
Mrs Klaff said she wanted to organise the vigil after tragedy struck someone close to her.
“One of my niece’s friends - just 15 years old - got stabbed in Herzliya, and that’s why I did it. I felt there must be many people who feel like I do.
“We had to stand together to show our solidarity, so they don’t feel lonely, like the world doesn’t understand them. We all felt the same at the vigil - emotional and tearful.”
Similar events are also planned this week in South Africa and Scotland. In Glasgow on Tuesday, Jews and Christians will join together in a ‘Vigil For Peace’.
Organiser Elliot Davis said that the event in the city centre will call on all people to condemn Palestinian groups inciting terror and to “stand in solidarity with the victims of these hateful crimes.”
