EXCLUSIVE: Board of Deputies’ secret Israel file revealed

By Justin Cohen

Confidential documents have shed new light on concerns of the Board of Deputies ahead of the suspension of Middle East peace talks and their fears of over the potential for growing polarisation within the community over Israel.

A draft document seen by the Jewish News looks to set out the possible consequences whether the nine-month process ends in failure or with an agreement, as well as to examine how community leaders should respond. It is believed to have been written around six weeks ago.

While the Board document focuses on what would happen if the talks broke down with Israel taking the brunt of blame – which has not been the case – a spokesperson for the organisation said this week that “the diversity of opinion in the community remains clear”.

The report warns that, if the Jewish state is blamed, Anglo-Jewry is “likely to become more polarised, with an increasingly vocal and mainstream bloc of opposition to Israeli Government policy at the same time as a committed pro-Israel activist corp”.

http://jewishnews.co.uk/exclusive-board-deputies-secret-israel-file-revealed/