Our statement on Israel’s election result

The election results out of Israel make one thing clear: the violence and indignity of occupation will only intensify under the new Israeli government.

As diaspora communities, we have a moral duty to stand against it.

Once again, millions of Palestinians have been denied the right to vote for a government that controls the minutiae of their daily lives and deprives them of their basic civil liberties. From intimidation of Palestinian citizens of Israel at voting booths to the celebration of violence against the people of Gaza, it is clear that neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Benny Gantz put forward a meaningful alternative to occupation, division and racism. Instead they have legitimised the intolerance, ultra-nationalism and attack on democratic values which is taking hold globally.

As British Jews, it is painful to see our communal representatives congratulating Netanyahu when they stayed silent as he ushered far-right extremists into the Knesset. We deserve leaders with the courage and principle to stand on the side of freedom, and condemn bigotry and oppression wherever it occurs.

It’s clearer than ever that this will only happen if we make it happen. We have spent the past few months laying the foundation for a grassroots movement that will finally hold our leadership to account, and we know we have the support of countless British Jews who recognise that we cannot let this moment pass us by. If you share our urgency, and support our efforts to create a Jewish community we can be proud of, please consider supporting our work.