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Scots head for a yes vote despite fear over Israel

September 11, 2014 10:01
Many in the Scottish Jewish community will put aside concerns over a future Scottish government’s Middle East policy when the vote in next Thursday's referendum

By

Adam Henderson And Daniel Easterman

3 min read

Scottish Jews are concerned that independence could lead to a rise in anti-Zionism but, for many, it will not stop them voting yes.

Scotland's 6,000-strong community has faced a summer of rising anti-Israel protest amid the Gaza conflict, with Glasgow and Edinburgh town halls flying the Palestinian flag and protesters boycotting stores stocking Israeli goods.

With the latest polling putting the yes and no camps at level pegging in the run-up to the vote on September 18, Jews are having to consider what affect independence could have on issues such as circumcision and kosher slaughter, and whether a new goverment would pursue a harder line on Israel.

But Paul Morron, president of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, believes that whatever happens next Thursday, there will no reason for the community to panic.