British Jewish group launches probe into letter criticising war on Gaza, suspends vice-chair

The UK’s Board of Deputies of British Jews has suspended its vice-chair after she co-signed a letter denouncing Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, while 35 other members of the body, one of the largest representing British Jews, are also facing disciplinary action for signing the open letter.

The Board of Deputies confirmed that all 36 signatories will now be "subject to a complaints procedure," while Harriet Goldenberg, vice-chair of the board’s international division, is pending investigation.

Goldenberg has also been asked to step down from her role until the investigation is complete, Israeli media reported.

The probe comes after the Board of Deputies slammed the letter, stating it did not represent its policy on Israel, and that their executive committee will be discussing the consequences of the letter.

The Board of Deputies is the largest Jewish organisation in the UK and usually takes pro-Israel positions.

The letter, in which the signatories say they can no longer "turn a blind eye" to the bombardment of Gaza, comes amid mounting criticism of Israel over its devastation of the Gaza Strip, where over 51,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.

The signatories said that "Israel’s soul is being ripped out," pointing to continued strikes on the enclave, the blocking of vital humanitarian aid, and the targeting of displaced Palestinian civilians.

"…What is happening is unbearable, but our Jewish values compel us to stand up and to speak out," the letter reads.

The Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg said that the signatories were in breach of the organisation's code and that this would be dealt with.

"The Board of Deputies is clear: only our democratically elected honorary officers and authorised staff speak on behalf of the organisation," he said.

The letter was published in the Financial Times and marked the first public show of opposition to Israel’s war from within the Board.

The letter further called on the elected leadership of the Board to publish a statement criticising Israel’s violation of the ceasefire on 18 March and the resumption of the war on the enclave.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Goldenberg said while "some fear the appearance of disloyalty, we feel it is essential as British Jews to speak up".

The Board of Deputies has voiced support for Israel’s war on Gaza, and last year criticised the UK’s Labour government for imposing a partial arms embargo on Israel.

This comes as Israel continues to bombard the Gaza Strip, which has been utterly devastated, with many recent airstrikes killing only women and children, according to the United Nations.