Ed Miliband: ‘Passivity over West Bank is no strategy‘
The foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, has given an exclusive interview to Jewish News, following the government’s announcement of sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The sanctions will ban settlement goods and target people supporting settlement expansion. In the interview, he rejected allegations that he was putting the security of British Jews at risk, saying anyone who targets British Jews because of the actions of the Israeli government, is antisemitic. The government’s decision is against the advice of the Board of Deputies, the Jewish leadership Council and the Chief Rabbi. Mr Miliband said he respected all three organisations and believed they were all committed to the two-state solution and were all appalled by the tragedy that has unfolded in the region. He said: “A strategy of passivity in the face of what is happening is not a strategy and we can’t see the destruction of the policy to which we are all ostensibly committed and just stand by.” Jewish News report here. Later, the UK issued a joint statement with 11 other countries – France, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Sweden – saying they are committed to the two state solution.
Reaction to sanctions decision:
The Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Saar, said the “hostile” Labour government was guilty of “outrageous lies”. He accused the UK of “blatant interference in the affairs of a sovereign state” and announced retaliatory measures. The British Consulate in Jerusalem has been closed, British officials from the US-led co-ordination centre for postwar Gaza have been expelled, and 11 MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott and all five sitting Green Party MPs, are banned from entering Israel, for “antisemitic and anti-Israel activity”.
The Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, said: “This is truly a dark day for British Jews. Today our government has chosen to ignore the deep concerns expressed by so many of us. The measures announced amount to little more than political flag bearing for mendacious anti-Israel rhetoric and those who harbour a dangerous obsession with the Jewish State. These measures will succeed only in bolstering the very extremism they seek to target.” Full statement here.
The Board of Deputies issued a statement saying they had “deep regret” over the introduction of sanctions: “As we have told both governments over recent weeks, the deteriorating relationship between the UK and Israel has the potential to negatively impact the two countries’ security and their economies, and further inflame community tensions here too”.
Yachad UK, a British Jewish organisation aiming to empower British Jews to support a political resolution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict, said the government’s action was an important and necessary development, targeting the occupation and not Israel itself.
Christian Aid has welcomed the ban saying it is an important step in confronting the forcible displacement of Palestinians from their land and an appropriate response to “a blatant violation of international law that has undermined the prospects of a just peace between Palestinians and Israelis for decades and left families homeless, desperate, and reliant on aid.”
The Catholic aid agency CAFOD has also welcomed the decision, saying “the new policy measures, highlighting the illegality of the occupation and pledging firm action against those who finance or facilitate illegal settlements, mark an encouraging step-change by Andy Burnham’s government.”
Hindu group at centre of dispute that closed Eiffel Tower for a day
The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday after staff walked out following a dispute over a weekend visit by Hindu monks. A delegation of around 100 adherents of the Hindu organisation BAPS, who were in the city for the opening of a new BAPS Hindu temple nearby, visited the Eiffel Tower first thing on Saturday but there is a dispute over what happened next. BAPS follows the Swaminarayan tradition, and the delegation included its 93 year old guru and monks observing strict rules on celibacy and contact between men and women. Unions say female staff were told to keep out of sight during the visit because of their sex, in deference to the group’s rules. However BAPS has issued a statement on X saying that the arrangements for the visit were made for logistical reasons and to minimise disruption to other visitors: “To our knowledge, at no time was access to the Eiffel Tower denied to anyone,” it said, adding: “We wish to offer our sincere apologies to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced by this situation”. BAPS said it was “deeply committed to the universal values of mutual respect and service to others.” BBC news report here.
Faith leaders in Wales seek deeper cooperation with Senedd members
Sixteen leaders representing faith communities across Wales have signed a joint open letter to Members of the Senedd as the new term begins. The letter says the faith representatives are praying for the newly elected members, describing the start of this Senedd term as a “new moment” for the nation. The leaders say that antisemitism, anti-Hindu prejudice, Islamophobia, and prejudice based on religion or ethnicity “must be rejected.” They point to the contribution of faith communities in education, healthcare, and other services, and describe places of worship as hubs for social outreach and integration. The letter says they want to share examples of faith-based public service at the local level, and deepen “cooperation, mutual understanding and acceptance” between faith communities and the Senedd. The letter is here.
Gather Movement three year plan to map faith based services nationwide
The Gather Movement, which connects more than 8,000 churches and charities working in front line social action, has set an ambitious target in its work of seeking better coordination amongst faith groups which provide essential services. At the launch of its report “Heart of the Neighbourhood”, it outlined plans to complete the mapping of services undertaken by all main faith groups in every local authority area within the next three years. It also wants to achieve funding to provide “Church Network Enablers” to bring together faith, civic, health and voluntary sector partners; and to create 50 church unity steering groups, developing leadership skills and creating stronger local networks. More than 200 people attended the launch of the report. They heard speakers point to the need to avoid duplication and the skills of church leaders in building lifelong relationships of trust.
Bishop of Salisbury ‘cooperating fully’ with investigations
The Church Times reports that the Bishop of Salisbury, Stephen Lake, has issued a statement in response to the news that a disciplinary complaint has been brought against him after allegations of financial misconduct and concerns raised with the National Safeguarding Team. It quotes him saying: “I continue to stand back voluntarily from public ministry and I have co-operated fully with the investigations. I look forward to the opportunity to be able to respond to the allegations brought under the Clergy Discipline Measure.”
170 people baptised in the sea off south Devon
Merlin Kraft, a self-employed tradesman and social media evangelist known online as BibleLadUK, organised a beach baptism at Bigbury-on-Sea in Devon last weekend, and 170 people turned up from all parts of Britain to be baptised in the sea. It was his second such event this year, promoted with an invitation on social media, and pastors from nearby churches came to help, including Calvary Chapel in Plymouth. He is not ordained and people coming forward simply had to say that they belong to Jesus Christ before being baptised. There is an increasingly popular trend of baptisms in the sea, which are regarded by the pastors involved, as a sign of revival. He said he is in disbelief at the numbers who came forward. Premier Christian News story here.
