What is the London Initiative and why does its letter matter?

Signatories include one of UJIA presidents, Sir Trevor Chinn, who was recently awarded the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour; Mischon de Reya deputy chair Anthony Julius; former Conservative cabinet minister Sir Malcolm Rifkind; and former Canadian Attorney General Irwin Cotler. Many names on the list have long fought antisemitism and championed Israel.

Davis and Prashker understand that TLI’s letter to Netanyahu has reached people close to the Israeli PM. But, with the knowledge Netanyahu is unlikely to change course because of one letter, the pair say their main goal is to “bolster” those in the diaspora who feel their views are not being represented elsewhere: pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy.

Speaking on Zoom from Israel, Prashker told the JC he hopes the letter “gives confidence to people that we – the endangered majority – can change the direction of travel”.

From London, Davis, who also has Israeli citizenship, said: “We have a stake in the state – this is the homeland of the Jewish people… In the same way that we defend and work for the state, a country that we love, we feel a duty to speak up and speak out when things in Israel are going in a direction that we feel is dangerous for the viability and resilience of the state.”

TLI champions what, the pair say, are three “interlocking imperatives” for liberal Zionists: strengthening liberal democracy, furthering fairness in society and pursuing peace with the Palestinians.

Its membership, which is expected to stand at 360, comprises key players across business, community, religion and media. The goal is for 45 per cent of members to be Israeli (20 per cent of whom will be Israeli-Arabs), 45 per cent diaspora Jewry and 10 per cent “international allies”.

One of TLI’s aims is to show “the fate of all citizens of Israel and world Jewry are interconnected,” Prashker explained, adding he is “desperately concerned” about younger Jews’ connection to Israel. He mentioned his children’s friends, many of whom are considering leaving the Jewish state. He thinks some in the diaspora (and Israel) have been “pushed away” by Netanyahu’s government.

"We feel very strongly that the majority of world Jewry needs bolstering right now and has agency and should have a sense of agency about Israel’s future.

“A situation where one is only allowed to speak up and speak out if one agrees with this government is unacceptable to us,” he added.

Davis, meanwhile, stressed that “criticism of the policy or actions of the government” is not the same as hostility to Israel. “The establishment of the state of Israel is the greatest project of the Jewish people since we built the Temple.”

Prashker went on: “Our vision is to get Israel back on track to the vision set out by the founders in the proclamation of independence. We think there were decades of progress and now... steps backwards.”

New members of TLI attended a three-day retreat in London – hence the name – to build connections. The next, planned for October, is being organised with the help of TLI’s senior adviser, Michael Wegier, who does not act in his capacity as Board of Deputies chief executive when doing work for TLI and was not involved with the letter. Another senior adviser is Nicola Cobbold, chair of the Anne Frank Trust.

The initiative’s first action opposed Israeli tax legislation on overseas donations, which Prashker said would have taxed foreign philanthropists at 80 per cent. He accused the government of being “hostile to civil society and philanthropy,” creating a “chilling effect,” where donors shy away from initiatives promoting Israeli-Palestinian relations.

And, in its recent letter – TLI’s second action – the signatories warned against ministers' language of “racism, hatred and incitement,” citing heritage minister, Amichai Eliyahu’s claim that “the government is racing toward erasing Gaza…All of Gaza will be Jewish.”

Such figures, the letter argued, should be treated as “persona non grata” in Jewish communities around the world, though Netanyahu did publicly rebuke Eliyahu for the comments and insisted that he “does not speak for the government”.

“Jewish communities around the world are dependent on the respect for minority rights and decency... [but] I am not willing to accept that the great contribution of Judaism to ethics, human rights, democracy, was a matter of expediency,” Prashker continued. He suggested that some in the community “suspend their world view at ten thousand feet on an El Al flight” to Israel, where they will be in Jewish majority.

Both men have been called “self-hating Jews” by people they know over the letter. Even worse insults have been levelled at them on social media. But Davis insisted his views are nothing new. “I’ve had people complaining about what I have written since 2008. My concerns have always been very consistent.”

As the former chair of JLC, he recalled a “huge fuss” when he criticised the Israeli government. “As soon as you speak as the chairman of an institution, [people assume] you are reflecting the view of every Jew – and how can you presume to do that?

“I am concerned... that institutional leadership feels inhibited, that as leaders they can’t show leadership.”

“There is an irony, because those same leaders don’t have a difficulty in writing to political people in their own countries to complain about what they’ve done in the context of Israel... But they feel inhibited about writing the same thing to politicians in Israel,” he claimed.

While Davis recognised fears that such criticism could be “used by our enemies,” he argued that Israel’s opponents already have “enough of their own narratives,” and urged communal leaders to speak out more.

“If we are not true to our value systems then we are nothing,” he said. “Sometimes it takes leadership – brave leadership, inspirational leadership – to coax people through these challenging times.... to help people vocalise, stand out, speak out and do the right thing.”

The letter and signatures have been published and can be read here.