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Monday 7 March 2011

Vicious war of words after JNF UK dramatically quits Jewish Leadership Council

Apparently there has been quite a celebration within the Jewish UK left to hear about a dispute at the top of some Jewish/zionist organisations. A clear disagreement between the parties has led The Jewish National Fund (UK)  actually resigning from the JLC over it.  A left wing website claimed; The Israel charity's resignation was confirmed in a statement, which claimed that the Jewish Leadership Council's focus had shifted from its original remit for internal community affairs towards "foreign affairs and particularly in relation to matters of Israeli government policy".Among "numerous concerns", JNF UK's chairman, Samuel Hayek, also charged that the actions of JLC figures would give ammunition to those pursuing a campaign of delegi-timisation against Israel.But the JLC thinks it's about money: But the JLC this week claimed that the reasons given by JNF for quitting were a "smokescreen for failure to pay its way" and that the organisation was informed only after making clear to JNF its policy to suspend or expel those who default on JLC membership fees. In a strongly worded letter to Hayek, Vivian Wineman, chairman of the JLC's council of membership, wrote on Tuesday that a final demand had been issued early in February for more than 10,000 pounds owed for last year's membership. Although not covered by the final demand, Wineman also writes that the annual subscription of 5,000 pounds to the Fair Play Campaign to tackle attempts to boycott Israel had not been paid by JNF UK for the past three years.
Vicious war of words after JNF UK dramatically quits Jewish Leadership Council
A WAR of words erupted at the heart of Anglo-Jewry this week after JNF UK resigned from an umbrella body of leaders from across the community.
The Israel charity's resignation was confirmed in a statement, which claimed that the Jewish Leadership Council's focus had shifted from its original remit for internal community affairs towards "foreign affairs and particularly in relation to matters of Israeli government policy"
Among "numerous concerns", JNF UK's chairman, Samuel Hayek, also charged that the actions of JLC figures would give ammunition to those pursuing a campaign of delegi-timisation against Israel.

The move came weeks after Hayek led criticism of a planned and later postponed Jewish Leadership Council fact-finding trip to Israel and territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority. The visit, which also raised concern at the Israeli Embassy, was to have included meetings with Israeli politicians, settler leaders and NGOs, and talks had begun about the possibility of a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. 

Hayek had earlier spoken out after Mick Davis, the chairman of the JLC's board of trustees, criticised elements of Israeli policy. But the JLC this week claimed that the reasons given by JNF for quitting were a "smokescreen for failure to pay its way" and that the organisation was informed only after making clear to JNF its policy to suspend or expel those who default on JLC membership fees.

In a strongly worded letter to Hayek, Vivian Wineman, chairman of the JLC's council of membership, wrote on Tuesday that a final demand had been issued early in February for more than 10,000 pounds owed for last year's membership. Although not covered by the final demand, Wineman also writes that the annual subscription of 5,000 pounds to the Fair Play Campaign to tackle attempts to boycott Israel had not been paid by JNF UK for the past three years.

He added: "Under your [Hayek's] leadership, JNF UK has shut down its education department, closed its regional offices and is in effect withdrawing from communal life. It is clear that your withdrawal represents a continuation of this process." 

Hayek said his charity would continue to support community co-operation and insisted that the Board of Trustees' decision to resign "was not taken lightly and is a principled one". Referring to what he saw as a shift in the JLC's 
focus on foreign affairs Israel, he said: "As a result, the JLC has sought to take upon itself a leadership role in areas already covered by others such as the Board of Deputies, an elected and representative institution, where as the JLC comprises a self-appointed and non-mandated body.

"Also, JNF's fundamental belief is that Israel deserves to see a Diaspora community whose support for it is unwavering. I agree that there should be a diversity of opinion, but it is harmful to the State of Israel and its people for such a debate to take place by community leaders in the public domain. Recent comments by JLC's leadership, together with actions such as the proposed trip to the West Bank, will do nothing other than gift further ammunition to those individuals and organisations who continue to pursue a campaign of delegitimisation against Israel." 

He added: "The current structure and payment of membership fees of 26,000 pounds together with the manner in which the body operates make it impossible for Council members to truly have our voices heard or to exert significant influence on decisions taken by its leadership." 

A JLC spokesman said its "work is more focused on community matters in the UK than on anything else". And Wineman, in his letter, disputed that the focus of the organisation had shifted, arguing that matters that relate to Israel as far as it impacts on British Jews have always been at the heart of its work and that "you and your colleagues articulated the view that the JLC actually invest far greater resource in more Israel related activity". And hitting back at other claims, Wineman stated that the JLC and Board of Deputies, of which he is president, "perform different but equally important roles" and fumed: "Your suggestion that the JLC or any of its members would do anything to support the delegitimisation of Israel is shameful and defamatory".

The Board of trustees is now set to discuss its next steps, but Wineman
said: "Your withdrawal has no efffect on your liabilities accrued so to date.
Our own board of trustees will of c course bee obliged todiscuss debt 
recovery issues." A JNF spokesperson said: "JNF does not need to be 
involved with the JLC to be involved with the Jewish community in the 
UK. Our primary focus is not what the JLC think of JNF, but rather how 
we can continue to best provide strong support to the State and the 
People of Israel in Israel through an ongoing engagement with the 
Jewish community at its grassroots."


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