Call for peace

In a letter published in The Times, leading British Jewish supporters of Israel call for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.

‘Sir, We write as passionate and proud supporters of Israel. This past month we have witnessed devastating loss of life on all sides, so many of whom are civilians, as Israel has again been thrown into conflict with her neighbours and tried to deal with the missiles and tunnels used by Hamas. We have watched with great sadness as communities in the region and beyond have become embroiled in anger and hatred towards the other.

As we write, the violence is renewed after rockets were fired from Gaza at the end of the 72-hour cease-fire. In the interests of the people of both Israel and Gaza we implore both parties, and the international community to do all they can to find a way to restore the ceasefire.

As soon as the ceasefire is secure, all parties, the international and diaspora communities, must unite in a renewed effort to support a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinian people, guaranteeing both the security and self-determination they have a right to. This is the only way to ensure this war will not be repeated, and we must all redouble our efforts to achieve it.

We wish to see a long-term durable solution for the peoples of the region, and we believe that a ceasefire, and immediate efforts towards a long-term peace, are both essential to make this happen. We remain dedicated to Israel’s character as a Jewish and democratic state, and the values of social and political equality for all citizens, alongside freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel, and as enshrined in its Declaration of Independence.

Rabbi Charley Baginsky, chair, Liberal Judaism Rabbinic Conference; Lord Beecham; Professor David Cesarani, Holocaust Research Centre, Royal Holloway University; Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, Senior Rabbi, Movement for Reform Judaism; Rabbi Deborah Dr Kahn-Harris, Leo Baeck College; Rabbi Sybil Sheridan, chair, Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK; Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Senior Rabbi, Masorti Judaism; Lord Woolf’