UK Jewish youth groups say it is ‘our duty’ to speak out against Israeli far-right
Noam Masorti Youth, RSY-Netzer, LJY-Netzer and Habonim Dror groups issue statement confirming their members will 'not engage with any member of the Religious Zionist Party'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Four Jewish UK youth movements have jointly insisted it is “our duty” to criticise the inclusion of Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich “and other extremist ministers” in the new Israeli government.
The statement from the Noam Masorti Youth, RSY-Netzer, LJY-Netzer and Habonim Dror groups expresses “dismay” at the far-right influence within Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government.
The four influential youth movements then confirm they will “not engage nor share a platform with any member of the Religious Zionist Party.”
They continue: “We unequivocally condemn the racism, homophobia, misogyny, and anti progressive Jewish sentiment upon which the Religious Zionist Party is founded.”
The statement adds :”We wish to make it explicitly clear that anti-Palestinian hatred, Jewish exceptionalism, racism and homophobia have no place in youth movements.”
The group’s call on “our communal bodies” to take a similar stance.
Addressing the issue of criticising Israel from the diaspora, the group’s confirm they are all “committed to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state” but add: “It is our duty to criticise when it fails to uphold the values enshrined in the Declaration of Independence.”
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