Jewish News issue 975

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WHO’LL BE SMILING NEXT WEEK?

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST JEWISH NEWSPAPER 3 November 2016

• 2 Cheshvan 5777 • www.jewishnews.co.uk •

@JewishNewsUK

What British-based American Jews think about the nailbiting battle for the White House P10

Brits turn their backs on biased Israel boycotts Survey reveals more than half now oppose ‘singling out’ the country for sanctions A dramatic rise in opposition to boycotts of Israel among the British public is revealed in a new survey published today. A Populus opinion poll, commissioned by Israel and Middle East think tank BICOM, shows more than half of the 2,050 respondents are against “singling out” Israel with boycotts. The numbers show that 51 percent of respondents “do not boycott Israeli goods,” an eight percent rise when compared to figures from a similar poll in October 2015. Similarly, 56 percent thought that Israel boycotts “hurt both Palestinians and Israelis” – nine percent more than 2015. “Our poll shows a very significant shift against the idea of boycotting Israel,” said BICOM chief executive James Sorene. “The British sense of fair play is

a clear theme in the poll as time and again respondents reject singling out Israel, given everything else going on in the world.” Of those surveyed, 48 percent felt that “hating Israel and questioning its right to exist” was “anti-Semitic,” with 45 percent of Muslim respondents agreeing with that statement, while only 20 percent thought otherwise.

Elsewhere, some 57 percent said simply criticising Israel was not in itself anti-Semitic. Interestingly, in the week of the 99th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, 43 percent also said they agreed with Britain’s then-foreign secretary Lord Balfour, who wrote in support of a Jewish homeland in historic Palestine in 1917. This figure was up from 40 percent last year. In addition, 57 percent of respondents felt that Israel was Britain’s ally, the highest percentage for any Middle Eastern country. Again, this figure was higher than in 2015, with a five percent increase. “The judgement of the British people is stark,” said Sorene. “They understand that hating Israel and questioning its right to exist is pure anti-Semitism.”

Members of the Goldsmiths University rugby team, who are ‘excited’ to display support for Israel boycotts on their new team shirts

…But nobody told these scrumbags A rugby team at a top London university has unveiled a new kit featuring a Palestinian flag in a show of support for the boycott Israel movement. A group picture was posted on the Goldsmiths University team’s Facebook page showing the flag on the shirt sleeves. The post said: “We’re excited to reveal our new kit which features the Palestinian flag on the as part of our SU’s continued commitment to supporting BDS. We’re hoping through our work with Goldsmiths Palestine Society we can encourage more societies and clubs to endorse and raise awareness about BDS.” A Union of Jewish Students

spokesperson told Jewish News: “The Goldsmiths Israel Society have been promoting a scheme called ‘Bridges Not Boycotts’, but Goldsmiths RFC seems to only be interested in creating further divisions.” A spokesperson for Goldsmiths said: “The team is independent to the university. This decision was taken by Goldsmiths RFC. Sport should be unifying and should be played without borders and by all. No one should feel alienated or excluded. It is disappointing that the club has taken this decision. We are working across campus to ensure all groups feel safe and supported at Goldsmiths.”