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'Anger' at Scottish Council's links with group whose leaders shared antisemitic posts
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Board of Deputies Vice President Marie van der Zyl has expressed anger and disgust that a Scottish Council will continue to fund, support and publicise a pro-Palestinian group whose leaders have publicly posted and shared antisemitic material.
Marie wrote to West Dunbartonshire Council to alert it to the fact that leading members of West Dunbartonshire Supports the People of Palestine (WDSPP) had shared and promoted a vile assortment of antisemitic imagery, tropes, and conspiracy theories on social media, including links to sites that promote Holocaust denial. Perhaps unaware of these facts, West Dunbartonshire Council made premises available for WDSPP events and publicised the group’s activities on its website. With the new information, Marie requested that West Dunbartonshire end the association.
However, Council Leader Jonathan McColl replied: “The shared posts are quite clearly the worst kind of conspiracy theory nonsense, designed to cause offence, and in no way contribute to sensible debate.
“That said, having looked at what you have sent, I cannot see anything written by any of the individuals on behalf of the group they are involved in that could be seen as racist.”
Marie said: “We supplied West Dunbartonshire with clear evidence that leading members of WDSPP had shared and propagated some of the worst antisemitic tropes, such as Jews controlling and manipulating the world for nefarious ends, a fact not disputed by Councillor McColl. That a council can promote and support an organisation whose leaders are spreading antisemitism, is something which causes huge distress to the Jewish community. This is no different from material that far-right extremists post and should not be tolerated by any public body.”
“We have expressed our views in no uncertain terms to Mr McColl and once again request him to sever relations with this disgraceful group.”
Left to right: Chief Executive Gillian Merron at the opening reception of the International Shalom festival in Edinburgh with Lord Provost of Edinburgh Frank Ross, International Shalom Festival CEO Nigel Goodrich and Artistic Director of the festival Hadar Galron
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Chief Coroner discusses timely funerals with Board
Board of Deputies Vice President Marie van der Zyl met with the Chief Coroner HHJ Mark Lucraft QC this week to help ensure that bereaved Jewish families receive a speedy and sympathetic service.
Marie, along with medical advisor Professor David Katz, the Adass Yisroel’s Shlome Sinitsky and United Synagogue Head of Burial Melvyn Hartog, raised the issues of out-of-hours services and non-invasive autopsies.
Mr Lucraft said that he intended to promote out-of-hours coroners' services and non-invasive autopsies throughout the country.
The meeting also discussed the role of medical examiners and reform of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, which will help ensure less bureaucratic obstruction to timely funerals.
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Book now for dinner with Ruth Davidson and Emily Maitlis
Places are going fast but there is still time to show your support for our major fundraising event of the year – The President’s Dinner on September 11.
In this time of political uncertainty and increasingly polarised debate, it has rarely been more important that a Jewish voice is heard by Government, the media, diplomats and other groups in society. We are delighted to be joined by one of today’s most talked about political leaders, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson MSP who will be interviewed by Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis.
Show your support by attending our dinner and donating, putting together a table of supporters or advertising in our dinner brochure. For more information, please do not hesitate to be in touch: dinner2017@bod.org.uk
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Board of Deputies Activity
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ANTISEMITISM
Public Affairs Director Phil Rosenberg wrote an opinion piece in the JC on the local authorities up and down the country who are defeating opposition to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Read the article here.
SOCIAL ACTION
Vice President Marie van der Zyl, Interfaith and Social Action Officer Anthony Silkoff and Deputy Lauren Keiles, met Jemma Levene, Deputy Director at Hope Not Hate. They discussed how the Jewish community can work with others to combat antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred, anti-Gypsyism and all forms of racism.
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INTERNATIONAL
International Relations Officer David Walsh met a civil servant at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to discuss the recent disturbances in Jerusalem, Israel-diaspora relations, the FCO’s recent Human Rights Report and its reference to Palestinian incitement and other related matters.
COMMUNITY
Marie van der Zyl visited the JLGB summer camp in Colchester, attended by more than 500 children from all over the UK. Marie presented Duke of Edinburgh bronze and silver award certificates.
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