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| What British Jews really think about the Gaza conflict | What British Jews really think about the Gaza conflict |
| (30 days later) | |
| It suits a variety of agendas to claim that British Jews are largely united in support for Israel during this current round of conflict. Israelis and those who approve of Israel’s actions find succour in this supposed homogeneity. Conversely, Palestinians and those who support them outside the region point to what they regard as the heroic minority of Jews who share their views and in doing so hope to forestall accusations of antisemitism. | |
| In truth though, the situation is more complex and more ambiguous. While surveys have shown that a large majority of British Jews – like Jews elsewhere in the diaspora – believe in a Jewish state and identify with Israel, there has been a significant fragmentation over the question of Israel in recent years. | In truth though, the situation is more complex and more ambiguous. While surveys have shown that a large majority of British Jews – like Jews elsewhere in the diaspora – believe in a Jewish state and identify with Israel, there has been a significant fragmentation over the question of Israel in recent years. |
| A variety of positions on Israel have emerged since the outbreak of the second intifada in 2000. These range from Jewish anti-Zionists on one side, to the religious, settlement-supporting right at the other. Perhaps most significantly, the centre of the British Jewish Israel “map” has split into different factions, including those who believe Israel must always be publicly supported, those who are prepared to countenance a variety of broadly Zionist views, and those who feel that Israel must be pushed hard to achieve a two-state solution. | A variety of positions on Israel have emerged since the outbreak of the second intifada in 2000. These range from Jewish anti-Zionists on one side, to the religious, settlement-supporting right at the other. Perhaps most significantly, the centre of the British Jewish Israel “map” has split into different factions, including those who believe Israel must always be publicly supported, those who are prepared to countenance a variety of broadly Zionist views, and those who feel that Israel must be pushed hard to achieve a two-state solution. |
| Some Jewish institutions incorporate – sometimes uncomfortably – those who hold to a variety of positions, and new institutions have emerged to fight for one particular position, such as Yachad, the “pro-Israel pro-peace” organisation that occupies similar territory to J-Street in the US. | Some Jewish institutions incorporate – sometimes uncomfortably – those who hold to a variety of positions, and new institutions have emerged to fight for one particular position, such as Yachad, the “pro-Israel pro-peace” organisation that occupies similar territory to J-Street in the US. |
| One of the key moments in this process of fragmentation was Operation Cast Lead in 2008-9. Not only was the organisation of what is now the almost-traditional Jewish community rally in support of Israel made much more difficult as some Jewish leaders found it hard to offer unambiguous support for Israel’s actions, towards the end of the conflict some mainstream Jewish leaders were beginning to express significant criticism of Israel. | One of the key moments in this process of fragmentation was Operation Cast Lead in 2008-9. Not only was the organisation of what is now the almost-traditional Jewish community rally in support of Israel made much more difficult as some Jewish leaders found it hard to offer unambiguous support for Israel’s actions, towards the end of the conflict some mainstream Jewish leaders were beginning to express significant criticism of Israel. |
| One might have assumed then that this current operation – Protective Edge – which is militarily quite similar to Cast Lead, would occasion a similar or even greater level of plurality of views from British Jews. Yet at first glance this doesn’t seem to have happened. A rally in support of Israel was held last weekend, and only Jews for Justice for Palestinians and similar groups have taken a strong stance against Israel. | One might have assumed then that this current operation – Protective Edge – which is militarily quite similar to Cast Lead, would occasion a similar or even greater level of plurality of views from British Jews. Yet at first glance this doesn’t seem to have happened. A rally in support of Israel was held last weekend, and only Jews for Justice for Palestinians and similar groups have taken a strong stance against Israel. |
| It certainly frustrates some Jews who are critical of Israel when the diversity that has emerged in quieter times seems to collapse back into solidarity for Israel during times of conflict. But there are good reasons why even those Jews who have no love for the current Israeli government are finding it hard to oppose at the moment. One factor is that while the Hamas-Israel conflict is still asymmetric, it is less asymmetric than previous rounds: Hamas has more and better missiles. These missiles are causing deep fear and suffering in Israel – not of course on the same level of suffering that is happening in Gaza, but still very real – and in a community where over 90% have visited Israel it’s easy to empathise with Israelis under fire. | It certainly frustrates some Jews who are critical of Israel when the diversity that has emerged in quieter times seems to collapse back into solidarity for Israel during times of conflict. But there are good reasons why even those Jews who have no love for the current Israeli government are finding it hard to oppose at the moment. One factor is that while the Hamas-Israel conflict is still asymmetric, it is less asymmetric than previous rounds: Hamas has more and better missiles. These missiles are causing deep fear and suffering in Israel – not of course on the same level of suffering that is happening in Gaza, but still very real – and in a community where over 90% have visited Israel it’s easy to empathise with Israelis under fire. |
| Another factor is the upsurge of violent antisemitism in France and elsewhere in Europe, linked to Gaza-related protests. Although the situation in the UK is less severe, the perceived lack of seriousness with which the Palestinian solidarity movement has responded to these outbreaks hardly helps to create a situation conducive to Jewish empathy with the Palestinians. | Another factor is the upsurge of violent antisemitism in France and elsewhere in Europe, linked to Gaza-related protests. Although the situation in the UK is less severe, the perceived lack of seriousness with which the Palestinian solidarity movement has responded to these outbreaks hardly helps to create a situation conducive to Jewish empathy with the Palestinians. |
| At the same time, there are also reasons to think that, for many British Jews, support for Israel is far from unconditional. The pro-Israel rally held last weekend attracted only a fraction of the thousands that have attended similar rallies in the past – leading to criticism from some Israel supporters that the community is not supporting Israel enough. | At the same time, there are also reasons to think that, for many British Jews, support for Israel is far from unconditional. The pro-Israel rally held last weekend attracted only a fraction of the thousands that have attended similar rallies in the past – leading to criticism from some Israel supporters that the community is not supporting Israel enough. |
| I have been struck in my talks with British Jewish leaders and opinion formers, and in my interactions in social media, by how much discomfort there is with the toll that this conflict is taking on Gazans, even as they see no way of preventing it. For example, on the BBC’s Today programme yesterday, leading the leader of the Reform Judaism movement in Britain Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner said she was “completely heartbroken” by what is going on and that she feels “empathy for both sides”, yet she did not go so far as to say that Israel’s actions are wrong. This will undoubtedly be dismissed as the worst kind of hand-wringing liberalism by pro-Palestinian activists and even many supporters of Israel. But this ambivalence is a common emotion in the British Jewish community, although it is hard to know just how common. | I have been struck in my talks with British Jewish leaders and opinion formers, and in my interactions in social media, by how much discomfort there is with the toll that this conflict is taking on Gazans, even as they see no way of preventing it. For example, on the BBC’s Today programme yesterday, leading the leader of the Reform Judaism movement in Britain Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner said she was “completely heartbroken” by what is going on and that she feels “empathy for both sides”, yet she did not go so far as to say that Israel’s actions are wrong. This will undoubtedly be dismissed as the worst kind of hand-wringing liberalism by pro-Palestinian activists and even many supporters of Israel. But this ambivalence is a common emotion in the British Jewish community, although it is hard to know just how common. |
| What is likely to happen is that the longer this conflict continues and Palestinian and Israeli casualties mount up, so this ambivalence is likely to increase and, for some at least, develop into criticism of the Israeli government’s actions. This will be too little too late for supporters of the Palestinians and too much too soon for many supporters of Israel. But what is clear is that the British Jewish community’s relationship to Israel is more complex than it is often portrayed and British Jews are more heterogeneous bunch than they are often portrayed. | What is likely to happen is that the longer this conflict continues and Palestinian and Israeli casualties mount up, so this ambivalence is likely to increase and, for some at least, develop into criticism of the Israeli government’s actions. This will be too little too late for supporters of the Palestinians and too much too soon for many supporters of Israel. But what is clear is that the British Jewish community’s relationship to Israel is more complex than it is often portrayed and British Jews are more heterogeneous bunch than they are often portrayed. |
| • Comments on this article are set to remain open for 24 hours from the time of publication but may be closed overnight UK time | • Comments on this article are set to remain open for 24 hours from the time of publication but may be closed overnight UK time |
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