British Jewish group sparks new outrage with condemnation of Gaza blockade

[bemildred]

LONDON - A controversial coalition of prominent Jewish activists and academics has reignited controversy in the British Jewish community after taking out an paid advertisement in The Times thsi week calling for Israel to lift its economic blockade of the Gaza strip and accusing the state of breaching international law.

"Independent Jewish Voices" was formed a year ago and counts Nobel laureate Harold Pinter and actor Stephen Fry among its prominent signatories.

Marxist historian Eric Hobsbawm is also a signatory though neither he nor Fry and Pinter - the groups most recognisable names - signed Wednesday's statement. The group was formed to provide an alternative to the Board of Deputies of British Jews - a cross communal Jewish organisation dating back to 1760 - who the IJV felt were inauthentically presenting themselves as the exclusive voice of Judaism in Britain. IJV members say that the Board of Deputies refuses to allow criticism of Israel and this presents a unrepresentative picture of Jewish opinion in the U.K.

The statement which appeared on the inside pages of the paper was signed by 250 of the groups members. Entitled "End the siege of Gaza!", the statement condemned Israel's actions in blockading Gaza as a violation of international law, and also called for a halt to Palestinian rocket attacks.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/950381.html

[papau]

1. As long as the rockets don't land near London - besides ending the Jewish state for minority status

in an arab state is the way to go after Hitler.

[Tom Joad]

2. What are you saying?! Could not be more unclear.