Israel's plan to declare sovereignty over the large settlement blocs in Judea and Samaria has not only garnered criticism from the international community but also within sections of the Jewish community.
Thirty-eight representatives of the 300-delegate strong Board of Deputies – the United Kingdom Jewish community's umbrella organization – have signed a letter calling on its honorary officers to condemn Israel's proposed plan.
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One of the signatories, Tal Ofer, the deputy for a synagogue in Essex, northeast of London, said, "Our letter shows there is cross-communal support on the need for the Board of Deputies to speak up on the proposed annexation."
He further explained that "it is still not late for the Board of Deputies to do the right thing and express the grave concerns of British Jews on the proposed annexation."
The letter argued that annexation would further exacerbate the disparities that exist between Israel and Palestinian rights and that Israel would endanger its position as a liberal democracy.
It also raised the specter of the potential impact on British Jews, suggesting that Israel's go-it-alone strategy may lead to the loosening of the bonds, causing members of the community to "disengage" from Israel. It further warned that the viability of the community was at stake.
"As the major representative body of British Jews, the Board should reflect both our community's pride in Israel's successes as well as our concerns for its democracy and security," the letter concluded.
Despite the opposition to annexation outside of Israel, a recent Israel Democracy Institute poll found that 52% of Israelis would support the government's application of sovereignty to areas of the West Bank.
This article was originally published by i24NEWS
