Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl has rejected claims that by failing to condemn proposed Israeli plans for the annexation of settlement blocs in the West Bank, the communal organisation is instead supporting the move.

In a statement released by the Board on Friday, the president said she recognised the proposed plan had “prompted impassioned opinions and lively debate amongst Jews in Israel and the diaspora alike.’’

She also confirmed the Board had received demands both to support and to oppose the move.

Mrs van der Zyl added that the variation of opinion was “even more nuanced than this” but concluded, “we do not in good faith support one view over another.’’

The new statement came amid continued pressure from groups such as Yachad and youth orgainsations such LJY-Netzer, the youth movement of Liberal Judaism, for the Board to “speak up against the unilateral annexation of the West Bank, which will have far-reaching ramifications not only for the region and its inhabitants but also for us as Jews in the diaspora”.

They claimed the Board’s stated support for a negotiated two-state solution with the Palestinians would be "impossible to achieve’’ if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu goes ahead with an annexation of a portion of the West Bank.

But on Friday, Mrs van der Zyl reiterated her belief that the role of the Board was to represent the views and interests of the UK’s Jewish community.

She said: “In the main, this is a Zionist community and Israel is of central importance to the identity of many of us.’’

Emphasising her belief that the Board’s role was ‘’facilitate debate’’ on the annexation issue she added; “ We also have to take into account that Israel – the only democracy in the Middle East – has an elected government which reflects the will of Israeli voters.

“We do, as ever, emphasise our continued belief in a negotiated two-state solution, leading to a secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state.’’