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{{Short description|Groups seeking to influence UK foreign policy}}
{{for|other uses of the term "Israel lobby"|Israel lobby (disambiguation)}}
{{Synthesis|article|date=November 2023}}
The '''Israel lobby in the United Kingdom,''' also sometimes pejoratively called the “Jewish Lobby”<ref>Safire, William. Safire's New Political Dictionary: The Definitive Guide to the New Language, Random House, 1993, p. 120. “In Great Britain the "Israel lobby" is called, even more pejoratively, ‘the Jewish lobby’...”</ref> and the “Zionist Lobby’<ref>David Aaronovitch, ], June 2, 2007.</ref><ref name=Sewell>Dennis Sewell, , ], ], ].</ref>, is defined as “the array of pro-Israel organisations in Britain”<ref name=Sewell/>.
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
==Debate==
The '''Israel lobby in the United Kingdom''' are individuals and groups seeking to influence the ] in favour of ], ], ], or the policies of the Israeli government. As any ], such individuals and groups may seek to influence politicians and political parties, the media, the general public or specific groups or sectors.


{{TOC limit|3}}
In 2002 ] and ] detailed pro-Israel efforts of arms trader ], allegedly a funder of the Britain-Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM) and of ], the owner of the conservative British publications ] and ], as well as the ] and his wife ] who they describe as "the enthusiastic Zionist columnist." They wrote "That there is a Zionist lobby and that it is rich, potent, and effective goes largely unquestioned on the left." However, they concluded "The truth is that the "Zionist lobby" does exist, but is a clueless bunch."<ref name=Sewell/>


==History==
The London-based ] reported in 2006 that the day after the ] by Palestinians began, fifty Jewish leaders met with the Israeli ambassador and “raised an initial £250,000 fund for pro-Israel lobbying and public relations.” It noted that "a debate goes on in the community’s upper echelons over whether Bicom should remain a mainly-behind-the-scenes player focussing on media or a more upfront pro-Israel lobby similar to the American Aipac...”<ref name=Rocker2006>{{cite news
]
According to ] writing in '']'', what came to be known as "]" emerged ] in the early 19th century when ] and futuristic interpretation of apocalyptic texts merged. In 1839, the evangelical ] called on the ] to support the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine.<ref>Wagner, Donald E, , ] (with registration), July–August 2003.</ref> During the 1840s ] supported a "Jewish entity" allied to the Ottoman Empire as a counterweight to Egypt.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

British journalist ] writes that perhaps the "first lobbyist on behalf of the land of ]" was ] who, after publishing his book ''The Jewish State'' in 1896, and organizing the ] in ] in 1897, met Cabinet ministers and other European officials.<ref name="Wheatcroft">], , '']'', 2 April 2006.</ref> ] ] ] began the process of convincing ] that Palestine should be the Jewish national home and, according to the website ], the "British Zionist movement began actively lobbying the British government."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zionism-israel.com/|title=Zionism & Israel|website=www.zionism-israel.com}}</ref> The ] in Manchester also, according to zionism-israel.com, "lobbied for the mandate and Jewish rights in Palestine."<ref>, .</ref>

At this time the dominant organisations of the Jewish community in England, the ] and the ], were the "institutional stronghold of the anti-Zionist camp" and formed a ] to lobby the government on behalf of persecuted Jewish communities abroad and to oppose the efforts of Weizmann and his allies.<ref>], '''', ], 2002, 171, 193-194 {{ISBN|0-520-22719-0}}, {{ISBN|978-0-520-22719-4}}</ref> In 1917 Weizmann and a small group of Zionists, in what ] called "a brilliant exercise of sustained persuasion, lobbying, and influence", persuaded the British government to publish the ]<ref name="Bregman">], '''', Macmillan, 2003, 16-18 {{ISBN|0-333-67631-9}}, {{ISBN|978-0-333-67631-8}}</ref> which supported "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people."<ref name="Wheatcroft"/> (Weizmann later became the first President of the State of Israel.)<ref name="Bregman"/> Leaders of Board of Deputies of British Jews and of the Anglo-Jewish Association considered the Balfour Declaration a "veritable calamity" that would stamp "the Jews as strangers in their native lands."<ref name="Wheatcroft"/><ref name="Wheatcroft 1917">{{cite web | last=Wheatcroft | first=Geoffrey | title=The Balfour Declaration: the Origins of the Arab-Israeli Conflict | website=New Statesman | date=2 November 1917 | url=https://www.newstatesman.com/books/2010/08/arab-palestine-jewish-rights | publication-date=23 August 2018| access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref>

According to the author ], Britain, which held the ] ratified by the ] after ], abandoned its Zionist sympathies, "which had been secured by the Zionist lobby", because of fears of coming war with ]. In 1939, Britain limited Jewish immigration to Palestine, thereby, he argues, becoming to Zionists "the principal enemy." In 1942, he writes, Zionists shifted their focus to influencing the United States through use of the "Zionist vote."<ref>Ritchie Ovendale, '''', ], 1985, page 92 {{ISBN|0-04-327078-6}}</ref>

==Contemporary period==
According to former foreign correspondent ], lobbying activities in relation to Israel, as with other issues, tend to be less formalised and on a smaller scale in the UK than ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/so-just-how-powerful-is-the-israel-lobby-in-the-us-8478432.html|title=So, just how powerful is the Israel lobby in the US?|last=Cornwell|first=Rupert|date=3 February 2013|work=The Independent|access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref> Hannah Weisfeld, the director of British pro-Israel, pro-peace organisation ], "there is no culture of lobbying in the UK" in contrast to the US.<ref name="Shaviv Magid 2013 d271">{{cite web | last1=Shaviv | first1=Miriam | last2=Magid | first2=Jacob | title=Left-wing Zionist group's rejection ignites UK debate | website=The Times of Israel | date=9 March 2013 | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/left-wing-zionist-groups-rejection-ignites-uk-debate/ | access-date=26 January 2024}}</ref>

The foreign policy of the United Kingdom is of much less importance to Israel than that of the United States, both because of the latter's much greater economic and military strength and because of the substantial and persistent military aid it supplies to Israel. However, Britain retains some ability to influence international affairs through its membership of the ], its period of membership of the European Community and its historic role in the Middle East.{{OR|date=January 2024}}

==Organizations and activities==
===Generalists===
The ] and the ] are the leading bodies of the Jewish community in Britain. Consequently, their remit is wide and lobbying is a minor part of their role. Within lobbying, they are distinctive from smaller groups in lobbying, at least on occasion, a wide range of audiences.{{OR|date=January 2024}}

====Board of Deputies of British Jews====
The ] is a forum for the views of most organisations within the British Jewish community, liaising with the British government on that basis. The Board states that the community "has a very strong attachment to the State of Israel" and articulates the community's concerns and positions on Israel to parliamentarians, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, media and other faith groups. Its programme of engagement with embassies also encompasses ties between other countries and the State of Israel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bod.org.uk/issues/israel-the-middle-east/|title=Israel & The Middle East|access-date=21 May 2020|work=Board of Deputies of British Jews}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=July 2021}}

====Jewish Leadership Council====
The ] aims to forward the interests of the organised Jewish community in Britain. Its mission is to work, through its members, to ensure the continuity in the UK, in this and future generations, of a mainstream Jewish Community (that) is, inter alia: confident in its support for Israel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thejlc.org/about|title=About|access-date=21 May 2020|work=Jewish Leadership Council}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=July 2021}}

According to sociologists ], ], ] and ], writing in ], "Pro-Israel lobbying has always been an important part of its work. In December 2006 it established a non-charitable company, the Jewish Activities Committee, as a vehicle to handle political operations. The company's founding directors were ], ], BICOM's then vice chair ] and BICOM's chairman and main funder, the Finnish billionaire ]. That same month the JLC co-founded the Fair Play Campaign Group with the Board of Deputies, aiming 'to coordinate activity against boycotts of Israel and other anti-Zionist campaigns'. According to the JLC's website, the Fair Play Campaign Group 'acts as a coordinating hub' and 'keeps an eye out for hostile activity so it can be an early-warning system for pro-Israel organisations in the UK'. Fair Play later launched the Stop the Boycott campaign with BICOM, with the Jewish Activities Committee acting as a vehicle for donations."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mills|first1=Tom|last2=Aked|first2=Hilary|last3=Griffin|first3=Tom|last4=Miller|first4=David|title=The UKs pro-Israel lobby in context|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/tom-mills-hilary-aked-tom-griffin-david-miller/uk%E2%80%99s-pro-israel-lobby-in-context|access-date=9 March 2015|publisher=]}}</ref>{{unreliable inline|date=November 2023}}

====The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland====
The ], founded in 1899, describes itself as "the UK's leading Israel advocacy and grassroots organisation" which "celebrates Israel and challenges our enemies."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zionist.org.uk/about-zf/|title=About ZFUK|access-date=6 August 2019|work=ZF}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=July 2021}} It describes itself as an ] for the ] in the ], representing more than 30 organisations and over 50,000 affiliated members.<ref name="The Jewish Leadership Council">{{cite web | title=Zionist Federation | website=The Jewish Leadership Council | url=http://www.thejlc.org/zionist_federation | access-date=4 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205001111/http://www.thejlc.org/zionist_federation |archive-date=5 February 2018}}</ref> Its activities include: training, campaigning, media engagement, lobbying, combatting the ], working with students and cultural events.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zionist.org.uk/what-we-do/|title=What we do|access-date=6 August 2019|work=ZF}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=July 2021}}

===Politics===
]
A number of groups lobby the government, politicians and political parties on behalf of Israel. Many politicians express their support through national political party "Friends of Israel" groups. Journalist ] and politicians ] and ] are among those who have described this as an "Israel lobby" or "Jewish lobby", an allegation described as antisemitic by anti-racist and Jewish communal organisations such as the ].

Former Labour Member of Parliament (MP) ] in 2003 stated that former prime minister and party leader ] was unduly influenced by a "] of Jewish advisers" in forming his ] policy towards ], ] and ]. Dalyell initially named several influential British advisors of Jewish heritage,<ref>, BBC News, 4 May 2003.</ref> but later focused on Middle East envoy, ] and mostly Jewish advisors to ] ]. ], president of the ] and a former Labour MP, said he was seeking advice on whether there was a case for referral of Dalyell to the Commons' commission for racial equality.<ref>, ''The Guardian'', London. 5 May 2003.</ref><ref>, ''The Guardian'', London.6 May 2003.</ref> He was also criticised by ], who rejects the claim there are UK "AIPAC-style" lobbies.<ref name=haaretzlobbybook>{{cite news |title='Israel Lobby' book may have sinister impact in UK |last=Rich |first=Dave |url= http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=923087 |newspaper=]| date=11 November 2007| location=Tel Aviv}}</ref>

The former ] ], ]ess ] said in 2006: "The pro-Israeli lobby has got its grips on the ], its financial grips. I think they've probably got a grip on our party." An all-party group of Lords led by the former ], ], said her "irresponsible and inappropriate" comments "evoked a classic anti-Jewish ]."<ref name="Conger">{{cite news |title = British baroness chastised for 'pro-Israel lobby' comments |url = http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1162378505591 |newspaper = ] |date = 28 November 2006 |location = Jerusalem |last=Conger |first=George}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="Kleinman ">{{cite news| title= UK politician: Pro-Israel lobby controls West| url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/1,7340,L-3306894,00.html| publisher=]| date=21 September 2006| location=Jerusalem| last=Kleinman |first=Hagit}}</ref> Defending her comments, Tonge said that Walt and Mearsheimer's article "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy" that appeared in the 23 March 2006 issue of '']'' provided evidence supporting her assertion that the "'Israel lobby' had a disproportionate voice in Anglo-American foreign policy."<ref name="Conger"/> Tonge was reprimanded by the Liberal Party leader ], who commented "I defend absolutely your right to express your views on the Middle East, including legitimate criticism of the state of Israel. But I do not believe that the remarks you used fell within that category." He added that the remarks had "clear anti-Semitic connotations"<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6049386.stm |work=BBC News |date=13 October 2006 |title=Rebuke for Peer's Israel remarks |access-date=19 December 2008}}</ref> ], chief executive of the ], was quoted as saying: "If someone makes comments that are so at odds with what the party feels, and hopefully at odds with common decency, then one would hope that they are no longer made welcome in the party itself."<ref name="Conger"/>

In 2006 ], a Liberal Democrat ] for the northwest of England wrote to a pro-Israel constituent that she "enjoyed wallowing in her own filth". In a later message to her he complained about Israel's "] policies of ]" and stated "I shall tell them that I intend to speak out against this oppression at every opportunity, and I shall denounce the influence of the Jewish lobby that seems to have far too great a say over the political decision-making process in many countries".<ref>{{cite news|last=Sholem|first=Alex|url=http://www.totallyjewish.com/news/national/?content_id=3403|title=MEP Disciplined Over Slur|work=TotallyJewish|date=4 May 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612191226/http://www.totallyjewish.com/news/national/?content_id=3403|archive-date=12 June 2007}}</ref> As a consequence of the outcry raised by the attack on the constituent, Davies resigned soon after as leader of the ] group in the ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hirsh |first=David |author-link=David Hirsh |url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/may/05/liberalmepresignsafterinvi |title=Revenge of the Jewish lobby? |work=] |location= London |date=5 May 2006}}</ref>

In a December 2007 column, after the ] ("Donorgate") broke, Assaf Uni of '']'' wrote that there was concern in the Jewish community about "conspiracy theories regarding a 'Jewish plot' in the United Kingdom, and the role of the pro-Israel lobby there". In late 2007, it was revealed that David Abrahams, deputy chair of Labour Friends of Israel until 2002, had made secret and illegal donations through junior employees of 600,000 pounds sterling (approximately $1.2 million) to the Labour Party. Abrahams, "a Jewish millionaire", admitted in '']'' that he concealed his activity because "I didn't want Jewish money and the Labour Party being put together." '']'' ran a photograph of Abrahams with Israeli former ambassador to Britain, ], and "insinuated that Israel was the source of the illegal campaign contributions." According to an article in ''Haaretz'', several in the media have maintained there was a connection between money donated by Zionist Jews and the pro-Israel policy of British prime ministers ] and ]. Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told '']'', "Clearly there is a potential for it to turn against us."<ref name="Uni2"/><ref name="Uni1"/> Writing about the scandal, journalist ] asked in '']'' about the roles of the Labour and Conservative Friends of Israel groups, given that former Labour Friends leader ] was involved. She questioned the role in Labour victories of ], noting that Mendelsohn is "a passionate Zionist and infamous lobbyist, described by ''The Jewish Chronicle'' as "one of the best-connected power brokers"." She stated her assumption that Labour Friends of Israel plays a part in shaping British foreign policies in the Middle East. She also questioned the donations and "back-room influence" of Labour Friends of India and Muslim Friends of Labour.<ref>{{cite news|last=Alibhai-Brown|first=Yasmin|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/yasmin-alibhai-brown/yasmin-alibhaibrown-the-shadowy-role-of-labour-friends-of-israel-761363.html|title=The shadowy role of Labour Friends of Israel; Such lobbyists and their back-room influence should make us very uneasy|work=]|date=3 December 2007}}</ref>

In 2009, a documentary, ''Inside Britain's Israel Lobby'', by the journalist ] was shown in the ] ''Dispatches'' series which aimed to expose the influence of the Israel lobby within British politics<ref>{{cite web|title=Dispatches - Inside Britain's Israel Lobby - Channel 4|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/episode-guide/series-42/episode-1|access-date=9 March 2015}}</ref> and alongside James Jones wrote a pamphlet investigating which groups make up the pro-Israel lobby, how they operate, and how they exert influence.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Oborne|first1=Peter|last2=Jones|first2=James|title=Dispatches - Features - Inside Britain's Israel Lobby: Pamphlet - Channel 4|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/articles/inside-britains-israel-lobby-pamphlet|access-date=9 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119125848/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/articles/inside-britains-israel-lobby-pamphlet|archive-date=19 November 2009|date=16 November 2009}}</ref> ''The Guardian''{{'}}s Middle East editor, ], said the lobby was "bankrolling Tories."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Black|first1=Ian|title=Pro-Israel lobby group bankrolling Tories, film claims|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/nov/16/pro-israel-lobby-conservatives-channel4-dispatches|access-date=9 March 2015|work=]|date=16 November 2009}}</ref> Ofcom received 50 complaints about the programme but cleared it of breaching broadcasting rules.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/ofcoms-ruling-on-channel-4s-uk-israel-lobby-program-not-in-breach/|title=Ofcom's ruling on Channel 4's "UK Israel Lobby" program: Not in Breach|date=23 March 2010|access-date=11 July 2019|website=Open Democracy}}</ref>

In 2010, Labour MP ] said "There are long tentacles of Israel in this country who are funding election campaigns and putting money into the British political system for their own ends," while his Jewish fellow Labour MP ] said that right-wing Jewish millionaires had large stakes in the Conservative Party.] spokesman Mark Gardner responded: "Anybody who understands antisemitism will recognise just how ugly and objectionable these quotes are, with their imagery of Jewish control and money power."<ref name = "Havardi 2016">{{Cite book|title= Refuting the Anti-Israel Narrative: A Case for the Historical, Legal and Moral Legitimacy of the Jewish State | last = Havardi|first = Jeremy | publisher = ] | year = 2016 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=OGDTCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA74 | isbn= 978-1-476-62297-2| page = 74}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bright |first1=Martin |title=MP: Israel's tentacles will steal the election |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/mp-israel-s-tentacles-will-steal-the-election-1.14781 |website=] |access-date=13 September 2018 |date=29 March 2010}}</ref> In 2015, Kaufman said that "Jewish money, Jewish donations to the ] ... support from the '']''" had led to "a big group of Conservative MPs who are pro-Israel whatever (its) government does", referring to the ].{{cn|date=November 2023}}

In 2012, ] wrote that "Some 80 per cent of all Tory MPs are members (of ]), including most Cabinet ministers.... while its sponsors play an important role in financing both the Tories nationally, and MPs at the local level. There is no doubt that the CFI has exercised a powerful influence over policy." Conservative MP ] in 2014 stated that despite UK rules forbidding political funding from abroad, in his view an exception was made for Israel, and later added that "the United States is in hock to a very powerful financial lobby which dominates its politics."<ref name = "Havardi 2016"/>

In 2017, ] broadcast a four part series, '']'' about Israeli attempts to influence UK politics.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rees|first1=Phil|last2=Swisher|first2=Clayton|last3=Boazman|first3=Simon|last4=Jordan|first4=Will|last5=Davies|first5=Deborah|title=The Lobby |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/investigations/thelobby/|access-date=19 August 2018|publisher=]}}</ref>

====All-Party Britain-Israel Parliamentary Group====
{{Primary sources|section|date=July 2021}}
All-Party Groups are defined by the House of Commons as "relatively informal" groups whose members include "backbench Members of the House of Commons and Lords" and sometimes ministers and non-parliamentarians. They are classified as subject or country groups.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/memi02.htm#a1|title=Page cannot be found|website=UK Parliament}}</ref> Being cross-party, All-Party Groups are more talking-shops than lobbies trying to influence government policies. They are registered only "to control the extent to which groups use the House's facilities and status"<ref>.</ref>

The "All-Party Britain-Israel Parliamentary Group" is an All-Party Group<ref>{{cite web
|publisher=Houses of Parliament
|title=Parliamentary business
|date=30 March 2015
|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/israel.htm}}</ref> registered with the UK Parliament. Its stated purpose is "To create a better understanding of Israel, and to foster and promote links between Britain and Israel". The chair in the parliament dissolved on 30 March 2015 was ] MP.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

====Friends of Israel (party political)====
] (CFI) is affiliated with the ] and states that it is "one of the fastest growing political lobby groups." It lists its objectives as supporting Israel, promoting conservatism, fighting terrorism, combating ] and peaceful co-existence in the ].<ref> of ].</ref> ] and ] in '']'' have described it as "a highly effective lobby group," writing that its director, Stuart Polak, has "done more than most to promote Israel's case to the right of British politics."<ref>Iain Dale and Brian Brivati, , ], 30 September 2008.</ref>

] (LFI), founded in 1957, is a group within the ] which in 2003 described itself as a "lobby group working within the Labour Party to promote the State of Israel".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lfi1.dircon.co.uk/about.html|title=Labour Friends Of Israel website - about us|date=1 August 2003|access-date=10 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030801165548/http://www.lfi1.dircon.co.uk/about.html|archive-date=1 August 2003}}</ref> It describes itself as seeking "to promote a strong bilateral relationship between Britain and Israel."<ref name=relations>. Accessed 25 October 2008.</ref> It organizes visits of British politicians to Israel to meet with Israeli politicians and advocates on Israel's behalf among Labour Party members.<ref name="Uni2">Assaf Uni, , '']'', 9 December 2007.</ref> Labour Party Prime Ministers ] (1997–2007) and ] (2007-2010) have been members of Labour Friends of Israel,<ref name="Uni1">Assaf Uni, , '']'', 10 December 2007.</ref><ref>Ned Temko, , ''The Guardian'', 2 December 2007.</ref> and the subsequent leader of the Labour Party (]) described himself as a "friend of Israel".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rashty |first1=Sandy |title=Ed Miliband defends Labour's approach to Israel |url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/128430/ed-miliband-defends-labours-approach-israel |newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle |access-date=9 March 2015 |date=19 January 2015|quote=Ed Miliband has described himself as a "friend of Israel" after he was questioned about his support for the country following controversial comments during last summer's Gaza conflict.}}</ref>

] (LDFI) was the first such group formed.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} Its first objective is "to maximise support for the State of Israel within the ] and Parliament."<ref> of ].</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=July 2021}}

====The Israel Britain Alliance====
The ] was founded in 2016 in order to "increase support for Israel in Parliament". It was launched by the ] and led by former Labour MP for East Kilbride ] to build relationships between politicians and grassroots Israel supporters and strengthen ties between the House of Commons and the ]. McCann was a member of Trade Union Friends of Israel (TUFI) and a vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/former-lfi-head-to-lead-new-israel-britain-alliance-1.59183|title=Former LFI head to lead new Israel-Britain alliance|date=8 February 2016|access-date=11 September 2019|work=The Jewish Chronicle}}</ref>

===Media===
BICOM is the principal group seeking to influence UK media coverage in favour of Israel. Influencing can be directed at media owners, executives and frontline employees. Some commentators are known for their expressions of support for Israel.

In a September 2001 column in '']'' about the ] in the United States, ] noted "the reluctance throughout the media to contemplate the Israeli factor" and, commenting on Britain, cited "pressure from the Israeli lobby in this country that many, even normally outspoken journalists, are reluctant even to refer to such matters." He also noted their reluctance to address issues he had mentioned in past columns related to ], the Labour Party and to the "close business links with Israel" of press magnates ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Ingrams|first=Richard|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/16/september11.usa19|title=Who will dare damn Israel?|work=]|date=16 September 2001}}</ref> Earlier in August, ''Times'' journalist, ], resigned from the newspaper as he claimed his work was severely censored by senior executives due to the Zionist sympathies of Rupert Murdoch.<ref>{{cite news|last=Deans|first=Jason|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/sep/05/pressandpublishing|title=Kiley attacks Murdoch's friendship with Israel|work=The Guardian|date=5 September 2001}}</ref>

In 2002, ''Palestine Is Still the Issue'', made by the documentary film maker ], was shown on ]. The ], Conservative Friends of Israel and the ] expressed "outrage" and, according to Pilger, demanded a "pro-Israel" film. Pilger said the BBC would not have "dared to incur the wrath of one of the most influential lobbies in this country" by showing the film, citing comments written by Tim Llewellyn, the BBC's former Middle East correspondent, that the BBC continues to "duck" the issue. Pilger stated this was "one example of pressure exerted on British journalists from Zionists and the Israeli embassy."<ref>{{cite news|last=Pilger|first=John|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/sep/23/television.middleeastthemedia|title=Why my film is under fire: The pro-Israel lobby intimidates journalists to ensure that most coverage remains biased in its favour|work=]|date=23 September 2002}}</ref>

====BICOM====
Founded in 2000, the ] (BICOM) seeks to present Israel's case to journalists.<ref name="Josephs">Josephs, Bernard. , reprinted from ''The ]'', 11 January 2008.</ref> '']'' has described it as "Britain's most active pro-Israeli lobbying organisation"<ref name="benefit">Rajeev Syal, , '']'', 4 January 2009.</ref> and as an "influential Jewish lobby group".<ref name="rumours">Peter Beaumont, Rory McCarthy, Tracy McVeigh and Paul Harris, , ''The Observer'', London. 29 June 2008.</ref>

The ]-based '']'' reported that Brian Kerner, former chair of Joint Israel Appeal, argued that there was "the need for a body able to orchestrate ]'s political and public relations" after the year 2000 outbreak of the ]. The day after it began, fifty Jewish leaders met with the Israeli ambassador and "raised an initial £250,000 fund for pro-Israel lobbying and public relations." BICOM was founded as a consequence. The article also noted that "a debate goes on in the community's upper echelons over whether BICOM should remain a mainly-behind-the-scenes player focussing on media or a more upfront pro-Israel lobby similar to the American ]..."<ref name=Rocker2006>{{cite news
| title=So they say they're in charge | title=So they say they're in charge
| publisher=The ] | work= ]
| author=Rocker, Simon | author=Rocker, Simon
| url=http://jewishchronicle.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m12s114&SecId=114&AId=43777&ATypeId=1 | url=http://jewishchronicle.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m12s114&SecId=114&AId=43777&ATypeId=1
| date=May 12, 2006 | date=12 May 2006
| location=London |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928194929/http://jewishchronicle.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m12s114&SecId=114&AId=43777&ATypeId=1 |archive-date = 28 September 2007}}</ref>
| location=London}}</ref>


According to a 2002 article in '']'', BICOM and the ] had "adopted aggressive media strategies to defend Israel and attack its critics in Britain." That year, leaders of the British Jewish community called in two high-level American strategists "to conduct research into the extent of hostility to Israel in Britain with a view to the British Jewish community launching a big public relations drive." In particular, ] were "said to have found particular hostility among professional and academic groups."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/oct/12/israel|title=Israel lobby calls in US advisers to boost image|last=Bates|first=Stephen|work=]|date=12 October 2002}}</ref> The American paper '']'' reported that in 2005 ], then ] (AIPAC) policy director, led an ambitious and "semisecret" effort to start similar pro-Israel lobbying organizations in the United Kingdom due to rising antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forward.com/articles/3367/|title=FBI Affair Costs Lobby Dynamic Director Rosen|first=Ori|last=Nir|date=29 April 2005|work=]}}</ref> In early 2008, ''The Jewish Chronicle'' reported that a new, yet unnamed London-based organisation would examine whether Israel received fair media coverage, but that it would not compete with BICOM.<ref name="Josephs"/>
The British based Muslim group ] (MPACUK), insists there is a "British Israel Lobby", stating in 2006 that "there are over 100 members of the ] lobby in the Labour party alone. This gives them a very loud voice simply because they are active, each and everyone is giving and working for the good of their community."<ref>{{cite web
| title=About MPACUK
| url=http://mpacuk.org/content/view/2046/44/
| publisher=Muslim Public Affairs Committee (UK)
| location=United Kingdom
| date=April 16, 2006}}</ref> It insists the Israel lobby exists, stating: "We would like to apologise to all the Warmongers, Anti-Ceasefire camp, pro-war camp, anti-Islam camp, anti-Muslim camp, Zionists, Israel Supporters, terrorists, extremists, fascists, right-wingers, Neo-Cons, Tony Blair, well pretty much everyone who doesn't believe in the existence of the British Israel Lobby for exposing you for hijacking our countries foreign policy, which promotes hatred/war/injustice and who can forget the rejection of the ceasefire in Lebanon."<ref>{{cite web
| title=See, There Is No Israel Lobby
| url=http://mpacuk.org/content/view/2727/34/
| publisher=Muslim Public Affairs Committee (UK)
| location=United Kingdom
| date=September 23, 2006}}</ref>


In autumn 2008, a senior Israeli government official shared his opinions on competition between BICOM, which he said wants to maintain its primary role in the UK, and the US-based ]. He stated that BICOM charged that the Israel Project doesn't understand how to work with British journalists and said "We don't want to get into this. We work with both organisations." The Israel Project denied there was competition and BICOM declined to comment saying "We don't respond to speculation."<ref>Anshel Pfeffer, , '']'', 12 September 2008.</ref>
In 2007 the ], a British private debating society, entertained the proposition: “This House believes the pro-Israeli lobby has successfully stifled Western debate about Israel’s action.” The debate, moderated by British journalist ], featured professor ], journalist ], former U.S. Ambassador to Israel ] and British journalist ]. Two-thirds of students voted that the pro-Israel lobby stifles debate.<ref>Johnny Paul,, ], May 4, 2007</ref>


===Society===
In a 2007 opinion piece about the publication of ] and ]'s book '']'' in ], Dave Rich, Deputy Director of Communications at ], a U.K. organization for the defense of British Jewry, contended: "The problem on this side of the Atlantic is that British politics lacks anything approaching the American system of openly declared political lobbies; a similar, AIPAC-style operation in Westminster would not just influence policy, it would also subvert fundamental democratic mechanisms."<ref name=haaretzlobbybook>{{cite news
Society, encompassing academia, local government and other fields, has taken on greater importance as Israel and its supporters have sought to counter pro-Palestinian sentiment and activities, such as the ] movement.
| title='Israel Lobby' book may have sinister impact in U.K.
| author=Rich, Dave
| url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=923087
| publisher=]
| date=November 11, 2007
| location=Tel Aviv}}</ref> However, the ] asserts that "many decisions made in the Houses of Parliament are made as a direct result of lobbying, the influencing of members' votes either by parliamentary colleagues, constituents or outside pressure groups." And that "nowadays, the term lobbying often refers more specifically to the work of private companies known as `lobbyists'."<ref>
{{cite news
| title=Israel Lobby
| author=
| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/82529.stm
| publisher=]
| date=December 22, 2007
| location=London}}</ref> Rich concluded, "If there is a Jewish conspiracy, it is remarkably ineffective."<ref name=haaretzlobbybook/>


In October 2007 all speakers withdrew in protest from an Oxford Union debate on the ]. One of the speakers, ], a Palestinian research fellow at the ] and vice-chair of ] (the Council for Arab-British Understanding), wrote on '']'''s ] that "the newest and least attractive import from America, following on behind Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Friends, is the pro-Israel lobby." She states the Oxford Union withdrew its invitation to speak to ] Jewish scholar and Israel critic ], asserting it was "apparently intimidated by threats from various pro-Israel groups".<ref name="Karmi">{{cite news|last=Karmi|first=Ghada|url=http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/ghada_karmi/2007/10/intellectual_terrorism.html|title=Intellectual terrorism: For the sake of free speech, British organisations should confront pro-Israel bullies, not appease them|work=]|date=25 October 2007}}</ref>
In 2008, in an article titled "New Israel lobby ‘not taking on Bicom’," the Jewish Chronicle reported that a new, yet unnamed London-based organisation would examine whether Israel received fair media coverage, but that it "would not compete with other Israeli lobbying groups such as Bicom, the Britain-Israel Communications and Research Centre, which seeks to present Israel’s case to journalists." Instead, it "would be keen to co-operate with communal organisations."<ref>Josephs, Bernard. , Jewish Chronicle, January 11, 2008.</ref>


In October 2007 ], head of the Council of the ], wrote that the "Israel lobby in the UK" was behind the decision of the ] (UCU) to cancel the UK speaking tour of some Palestinian academics. He asserted Palestinian academic unions could "detect the not-so-hidden hand of the lobby in this latest episode of stifling debate on issues pertaining to Israeli policies and the complicity of the Israeli academy in perpetuating them."<ref>{{cite news |last=Barham |first=Amjad |url= https://www.theguardian.com/education/2007/oct/02/highereducation.uk |title=We will not be silenced|work=The Guardian |location= London |date=2 October 2007}}</ref>
==Criticism==
Member of Parliament ] ], who in 2003 charged the Israelis with ] and called for ] on and suspending arms deals with Israel,<ref>{{cite news
| title=Time to get tough
| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/comment/0,10551,983467,00.html
| publisher=]
| date=June 23, 2003
| location=Manchester
| author= Tonge, Jenne}}</ref> said in 2006: "The pro-Israeli lobby has got its grips on the western world, its financial grips. I think they've probably got a grip on our party." She later clarified her remarks, saying professors Walt and Mearsheimer's article "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy" that appeared in the ], ] issue of ] provided extensive research supporting her assertion that the "'Israel lobby' had a disproportionate voice in Anglo-American foreign policy."<ref>{{cite news
| title= British baroness chastised for 'pro-Israel lobby' comments
| url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1162378505591
| publisher=]
| date=November 28, 2006
| location=Jerusalem
| author= Conger, George}}</ref>


A 2017 paper,<ref>https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_816593_smxx.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> ''Advocating Occupation:Outsourcing Zionist Propaganda in the UK'', was published in ''eSharp'', a student-run postgraduate journal of ], referred to "an Israeli state-sponsored strategy focused on controlling public opinion in the UK" that seek to "discredit and neutralise pro-Palestinian discourses".<ref name="Gayle">{{cite news|title= Glasgow University retreats over 'antisemitic' label for journal article|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/nov/10/glasgow-university-retreats-over-antisemitic-label-for-journal-article|work=]|date = 19 November 2021|access-date = 4 December 2021|author= Gayle, Damien}}</ref> The university added a disclaimer to the article in 2020, apologising for subpar research and describing its content as "antisemitic". This was followed, in October 2021, by a petition signed by 500 scholars, calling on the university to retract the disclaimer. In August 2021, the university republished the article removing the apology and claim of antisemitism, but maintained a preface that said that the article has caused offence, and "employs some discursive strategies, including a biased selection of sources as well as the misrepresentation of data, which promote what some would regard as an unfounded theory regarding the State of Israel and its activity in the United Kingdom."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/11/11/university-of-glasgow-rescinds-apology-for-unfounded-antisemitic-theory-in-controversial-article/|title=University of Glasgow Journal Revises Apology for Promoting 'Unfounded Antisemitic Theory' After Petition|website=]}}</ref>
In October, 2007 ], head of the ] claimed that the "Israel lobby in the UK" was behind the University and College Union (UCU)'s decision to cancel the UK speaking tour of some Palestinian academics, and that they could "detect the not-so-hidden hand of the lobby in this latest episode of stifling debate on issues pertaining to Israeli policies and the complicity of the Israeli academy in perpetuating them."<ref>{{cite news
| title=We will not be silenced
| url=http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/comment/story/0,,2181968,00.html
| publisher=]
| date=February 10, 2007
| location=Manchester
| author= Barham, Amjad}}</ref>


====Britain Israel Trade Union Dialogue====
Ghada Karmi, a Palestinian research fellow at the ] and vice-chair of the ] writes that "the newest and least attractive import from America, following on behind Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Friends, is the pro-Israel lobby,” referring to the ]. She describes legal and other threats against the Oxford Union, Britains who sought to boycott Israeli universities, and the ] for inviting ] Dr. ] to a conference. She opines the threats succeeded because "Britain is different, naively innocent in the face of US-style assaults on its scholars and institutions. No wonder that those who have been attacked give in so quickly, nervous of something they do not understand."<ref name=Karmi>Ghada Karmi, , ], October 25, 2007.</ref>
The ], previously Trade Union Friends of Israel, operates in the trade union movement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/tuc-congress-votes-overwhelmingly-for-israel-boycott-jeremy-corbyn-palestine-palestinians-bds-1.488509|title=Trades Union Congress votes overwhelmingly in favour of 'Israel boycott'|last=Harpin|first=Lee|date=12 September 2019|access-date=12 May 2020|work=The Jewish Chronicle}}</ref>


====Friends of Israel (geographical)====
In ] a group of British ] and ] including ] ], ] ] and ] of ] wrote a letter to the ], an advisory ] of the British government. In it they claimed that the "Israel Lobby" - and specifically Friends of Israel - has "embedded itself in the British political establishment and at the very heart of government. Its stated purpose is to promote Israel’s interests in our Parliament and sway British policy." They charged that British Members of Parliament are "eating out of the Israeli government’s hand". According to Committee Chair ], "It is very unlikely that this will come up on the agenda, because we deal with issues involving individuals."<ref>{{cite news
], based in Brighton, was established in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/how-sussex-friends-of-israel-are-fighting-back-against-the-boycotters-1.51752|title=How Sussex Friends of Israel are fighting back against the boycotters|last=Rashty|first=Sandy|date=2 January 2014|access-date=12 May 2020|work=The Jewish Chronicle}}</ref>
| title=New push to smear ‘Israel lobby’ MPs
| author=Josephs, Bernard
| url=http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m12s32s34&SecId=34&AId=57686&ATypeId=1
| publisher=The ]
| location=London
| date=January 25, 2008 }}</ref>


] was established in 2014.<ref name=jc20150512>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/three-pro-israel-groups-rising-and-one-treading-water-1.67530|title=Three pro-Israel groups rising - and one treading water|last=Jackman|first=Josh|date=9 July 2015|access-date=12 May 2020|work=The Jewish Chronicle}}</ref>
== See also ==

*]
There is an ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/young-unapologetic-zionists-release-pro-annexation-video-1.500254|title='Young unapologetic Zionists' release pro-annexation video|last=Harpin|first=Lee|date=5 June 2020|access-date=5 June 2020|work=Jewish Chronicle}}</ref>
*]

*]
] was established in 2014 and organises activities in ].<ref name=jc20150512/>
*]

*]
There is a ] group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/comment/comment/bds-resistant-to-reason-and-knowledge-1.489281|title=BDS: resistant to reason and knowledge|last=MacEoin|first=Denis|date=26 September 2019|access-date=12 May 2020|work=The Jewish Chronicle}}</ref>
*]

*]
The ] is based in ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jlifemagazine.co.uk/or-nehushtan-leeds-jlife-community-shaliach/|title=End Or the Beginning?|access-date=12 May 2020|work=Jlife Magazine|archive-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224215437/https://www.jlifemagazine.co.uk/or-nehushtan-leeds-jlife-community-shaliach/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*]

The ] are active in ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/glasgow-anti-racism-rally-descends-into-pro-palestine-demonstration/|title=Glasgow anti-racism rally descends into pro-Palestine demonstration|date=19 March 2018|access-date=12 May 2020|work=Jewish News}}</ref>

There is also a ] group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/150-march-in-belfast-to-remember-shoah//|title=150 march in Belfast to remember Shoah|date=3 May 2019|access-date=12 May 2020|work=Jewish News}}</ref>

====Israel Advocacy Movement====
The aim of the ] is to establish a mass movement of Israeli advocates in the UK. It provides training and promotional materials and advocates the use of social media and a network of street level advocacy teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.israeladvocacy.net/about/|title=About/ Overview/ Mission Statement|access-date=21 May 2020|work=Israel Advocacy Movement}}</ref> In June 2019, it hosted a debate entitled 'should ]s support a white ethno state?' with far-right activist ].<ref></ref><ref name="Mendel Kondo Cicurel Grant 2020">{{cite web | last1=Mendel | first1=Jack | last2=Kondo | first2=Marie | last3=Cicurel | first3=Deborah | last4=Grant | first4=Brigit | last5=Cicurel | first5=Deborah | last6=Wolfisz | first6=Francine | title=Pro-Israel group's online debate with far-right activist backfires | website=Jewish News | date=11 May 2020 | url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/pro-israel-groups-online-debate-with-far-right-activist-backfires/ | access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref>

====Israel Coalition====
In July 2020, the Israel Advocacy Movement, David Collier, Sussex Friends of Israel and North West Friends of Israel announced their joint founding of the ] to "resource, unify and amplify the most successful online pro-Israel initiatives".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/online-pro-israel-advocacy-groups-unite-to-form-single-coalition-1.501546|title=Online pro-Israel advocacy groups unite to form single coalition|date=12 July 2020|access-date=12 July 2020|work=Jewish Chronicle}}</ref>

====UK Lawyers for Israel====
] (UKLFI) was founded in 2011 by Jonathan Turner.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/call-to-prosecute-anti-israel-proms-protesters-1.31046?highlight=UK+Lawyers+for+Israel|title=Call to prosecute anti-Israel Proms protesters|last=Rocker|first=Simon|date=12 January 2012|access-date=11 September 2019|work=The Jewish Chronicle}}</ref> It has been described as "instrumental in a number of significant victories for pro-Israel campaigns and against antisemitism in the UK." It has been represented on the ] since 2016. Caroline Kendal, its director of operations, in 2016 said "...what we're about is actually standing for Israel, and doing that as effectively as we possibly can." In that year it claimed about 1400 members and associates, of whom about half were lawyers. Much of its activity is in relation to universities. It played a key role in the prevention of a second "Gaza flotilla" setting sail from Greece in 2011, by invoking international maritime law.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/taking-the-lead-the-legal-experts-who-are-showing-the-way-to-defend-against-antisemitism-1.147992?highlight=UK+Lawyers+for+Israel|title=Taking the lead, the legal experts who are showing the way to defend against antisemitism|last=Sugarman|first=Daniel|date=1 December 2016|access-date=11 September 2019|work=The Jewish Chronicle}}</ref> In 2019, in the face of planned protests, the group abandoned plans to host a speaker from ], a pro-settler organisation labelled extremist by the ] and ], which campaigns against the building of Arab and Bedouin settlements in the West Bank.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/uk-lawyers-for-israel-postpone-regavim-speaker-amid-threat-of-protests-1.487973?highlight=UK+Lawyers+for+Israel|title=UK Lawyers For Israel postpone controversial speaker amid threat of protests|last=Salmon|first=Benjamin|date=29 August 2019|access-date=11 September 2019|work=The Jewish Chronicle}}</ref>

====Union of Jewish Students====
The ] supports Jewish societies on 60 campuses across the UK. Its core values include "Engagement with Israel:...offering opportunities to strengthen, celebrate and explore a personal relationship with Israel as part of an evolving expression of Jewish identity".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ujs.org.uk/about_us|title=About us|access-date=25 May 2020|work=UJS website}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=July 2021}}

In 2018-19, UJS supported over 11,000 students on 'Israel programmes'. UJS declared "We wanted to portray Israel in a positive way on campus through Israeli culture, society and politics."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/ujs/pages/13/attachments/original/1569594727/UJS_Annual_Review_18-19.pdf?1569594727|title=Annual Review| access-date=25 May 2020|work=UJS website}}</ref>
In spring 2020, the UJS launched ''Spring into Israel'', "a campaign to ensure we have as many Israel related events on campus during this month." The organisational partners were BICOM, We Believe in Israel and the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ujs.org.uk/israel_portal|title=Israel Portal|access-date=25 May 2020|work=UJS website|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803205554/https://www.ujs.org.uk/israel_portal|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=July 2021}} Previous campaigns have included Bridges not Boycotts, Dialogue not Division and Exploring Zionism.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ujs.org.uk/israelcampaigns|title=Israel Campaigns|access-date=25 May 2020|work=UJS website}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=July 2021}}

====We Believe in Israel====
Founded in 2011, ] facilitates and supports a grassroots network of supporters of Israel in the UK. Its launch followed two pro-Israel conferences held in the UK in 2011 and 2015. Its founding director is ] and Labour Party activist ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.webelieveinisrael.org.uk/our_team|title=Our team|access-date=25 September 2019|work=We Believe in Israel|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925183208/https://www.webelieveinisrael.org.uk/our_team|url-status=dead}}</ref> In May 2019, the organisation announced the recruitment of its 20,000th activist.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/grassroots-pro-israel-20000th-activist-sign-up/|title=Grassroots pro-Israel group celebrates 20,000th activist sign up|last=Frazer|first=Jenni|date=28 May 2019|access-date=25 September 2019|work=Jewish News}}</ref>

====StandWithUs====
The US-based ] operates in the UK. It describes itself as equipping students to be effective Israel educators.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standwithus.com/uk|title=Stand With Us|access-date=25 September 2019|work=StandWithUs}}</ref> In September 2019, it organised a three-day conference and announced record numbers of students on its programmes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-new-approach-to-supporting-israels-legitimacy/|title=A new approach to supporting Israel's legitimacy|last=Legmann|first=David|date=17 September 2019|access-date=25 September 2019|work=Jewish News}}</ref>

===Faith===
The number and scale of faith organisations which promote Israel actively are limited. This is distinct from the expression of viewpoints by faith organisations on the issue.

====Christian Zionist groups====
] continue the tradition of supporting Israel as part of the fulfillment of prophecy. Such groups often are criticized for their beliefs (per the ] and the ]) that only those Jews who convert to Christianity will be spared a fiery death when Jesus returns.<ref>Nur Masalha, ''The Bible and Zionism: invented traditions, archaeology and post-colonialism in Palestine-Israel'', Zed Books, 2007m from Chapter "Biblical Prophecy and Christian Imperialism," including , {{ISBN|1-84277-761-0}}</ref><ref>Stephen Spector, ''Evangelicals and Israel: the story of American Christian Zionism'', Oxford University Press US, 2008, from the Chapter "God's Timetable,"
, {{ISBN|0-19-536802-9}}, {{ISBN|978-0-19-536802-4}}</ref> Christian Friends of Israel, UK explicitly rejects such a view in its "Foundation Principles."<ref>.</ref> Other such groups include the ] (The Israel Trust of the Anglican Church), Bridges for Peace, Christian Zionists for Israel UK and ].

===Community===
Several groups seek to strengthen associations and empathy between Jews in the United Kingdom, particularly young people, and Israel. Their activities can take a range of forms, including those relating to culture, education, faith, leisure and philanthropy.

====Habonim Dror====
] is a Jewish Socialist-Zionist cultural youth movement. Its mission includes "to build a socialist, culturally Jewish future in the State of Israel".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://habodror.org.uk/about-us/|title=About Habonim Dror|access-date=6 October 2019|work=Haboninm Dror}}</ref> Habonim Dror United Kingdom (HDUK) has six kenim (branches). When chanichimot are 16 they go on Israel Tour, a month trip around Israel, where they are immersed in the culture and history of Israel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://habodror.org.uk/israel-tour/|title=Habonim Dror UK {{!}} Israel Tour|website=Habonim Dror|language=en-GB|access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref> After returning from Israel Tour, participants become Madrichimot (leaders) and will spend the year doing Hadracha (leadership) training in preparation for them to take on roles in the summer across a variety of Machanot. Every year chanichimot who have just finished high school travel to Israel for a year on Shnat Hachshara, commonly referred to as Shnat, where they go on an extensive experiential and educational process and actively carry out movement aims and engage with Israeli society.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://habodror.org.uk/shnat/|title=Habonim Dror UK {{!}} shnat {{!}} 9 month gap year programme|website=Habonim Dror|language=en-GB|access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref>

====Jewish National Fund====
The ] says "JNF UK is Britain's oldest Israel charity and has supported the Zionist pioneers since the days of the Second Aliyah. Today we are working to ensure that the people of Israel who live in the underdeveloped south of the country can also share in the Jewish State's success story.is active in every area of Israeli life."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jnf.co.uk/about/|title=About us|access-date=12 September 2019|work=Jewish National Fund}}</ref>

====UJIA====
The ] (United Jewish International Appeal) seeks to enhance young ]' sense of Jewish identity and their connection with Israel.<ref name="UJIA">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thejlc.org/ujia |title=Our Israel. Our future. |publisher=UJIA |access-date=17 September 2018 |archive-date=18 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918054223/https://www.thejlc.org/ujia |url-status=dead }}</ref> UJIA's remit includes overseeing and sponsoring Israel group tours that are organised by Jewish religious and ideological organisations for young people in the Jewish community.<ref name="Cohen">{{Cite news |url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/kaddish-for-gaza-sorry/ |title=Israel tour leader keeps job after apologising for calling Hamas deaths 'murder' |last=Cohen |first=Justin |date=4 June 2018 |work=] |access-date=18 September 2018}}</ref> In 2017 UJIA launched a £300,000 fund to invest in Israeli start-up businesses that are concerned with improving education, employment and community development.<ref name="Doherty">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/ujia-funds-will-help-new-%EF%AC%81rms-get-ahead-1.435994 |title=UJIA funds will help new firms get ahead |last=Doherty |first=Rosa |date=7 April 2017 |work=] |access-date=18 September 2018}}</ref> The British Prime Minister, ], was the guest speaker at a dinner, hosted by UJIA on 17 September 2018, that was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the foundation of Israel.<ref name="Sabbagh">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/17/theresa-may-i-do-not-underestimate-antisemitism-threat |title=Theresa May: I do not underestimate antisemitism threat |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |date=17 September 2018 |work=] |access-date=17 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="Harpin">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/theresa-may-sickened-jc-poll-40-per-cent-of-british-jews-would-consider-emigrating-1.469941 |title=Theresa May 'sickened' nearly 40 per cent of Jews would consider emigrating if Corbyn got in |last=Harpin |first=Lee |date=17 September 2018 |work=] |access-date=17 September 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]


== References == == References ==
{{reflist|2}} {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730215133/https://www.appgs.org/all-party-britain-israel-parliamentary-group/ |date=30 July 2019 }}
*
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{{British Jewry}}
== External links ==


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Latest revision as of 02:15, 8 December 2024

Groups seeking to influence UK foreign policy
This article possibly contains synthesis of material that does not verifiably mention or relate to the main topic. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. (November 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The Israel lobby in the United Kingdom are individuals and groups seeking to influence the foreign policy of the United Kingdom in favour of bilateral ties with Israel, Zionism, Israel, or the policies of the Israeli government. As any lobby, such individuals and groups may seek to influence politicians and political parties, the media, the general public or specific groups or sectors.

History

Pro-Israel rally in London

According to Donald Wagner writing in Sojourners magazine, what came to be known as "Christian Zionism" emerged in England in the early 19th century when Restoration of the Jews to the Holy Land and futuristic interpretation of apocalyptic texts merged. In 1839, the evangelical Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury called on the Westminster Parliament to support the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. During the 1840s Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston supported a "Jewish entity" allied to the Ottoman Empire as a counterweight to Egypt.

British journalist Geoffrey Wheatcroft writes that perhaps the "first lobbyist on behalf of the land of Israel" was Theodor Herzl who, after publishing his book The Jewish State in 1896, and organizing the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland in 1897, met Cabinet ministers and other European officials. Russian Zionist Chaim Weizmann began the process of convincing Earl Balfour that Palestine should be the Jewish national home and, according to the website zionism-israel.com, the "British Zionist movement began actively lobbying the British government." The British Palestine Committee in Manchester also, according to zionism-israel.com, "lobbied for the mandate and Jewish rights in Palestine."

At this time the dominant organisations of the Jewish community in England, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Anglo-Jewish Association, were the "institutional stronghold of the anti-Zionist camp" and formed a Conjoint Foreign Committee to lobby the government on behalf of persecuted Jewish communities abroad and to oppose the efforts of Weizmann and his allies. In 1917 Weizmann and a small group of Zionists, in what Ahron Bregman called "a brilliant exercise of sustained persuasion, lobbying, and influence", persuaded the British government to publish the Balfour Declaration which supported "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people." (Weizmann later became the first President of the State of Israel.) Leaders of Board of Deputies of British Jews and of the Anglo-Jewish Association considered the Balfour Declaration a "veritable calamity" that would stamp "the Jews as strangers in their native lands."

According to the author Ritchie Ovendale, Britain, which held the British Mandate of Palestine ratified by the League of Nations after World War I, abandoned its Zionist sympathies, "which had been secured by the Zionist lobby", because of fears of coming war with Nazi Germany. In 1939, Britain limited Jewish immigration to Palestine, thereby, he argues, becoming to Zionists "the principal enemy." In 1942, he writes, Zionists shifted their focus to influencing the United States through use of the "Zionist vote."

Contemporary period

According to former foreign correspondent Rupert Cornwell, lobbying activities in relation to Israel, as with other issues, tend to be less formalised and on a smaller scale in the UK than such lobbying in the United States. Hannah Weisfeld, the director of British pro-Israel, pro-peace organisation Yachad, "there is no culture of lobbying in the UK" in contrast to the US.

The foreign policy of the United Kingdom is of much less importance to Israel than that of the United States, both because of the latter's much greater economic and military strength and because of the substantial and persistent military aid it supplies to Israel. However, Britain retains some ability to influence international affairs through its membership of the UN Security Council, its period of membership of the European Community and its historic role in the Middle East.

Organizations and activities

Generalists

The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council are the leading bodies of the Jewish community in Britain. Consequently, their remit is wide and lobbying is a minor part of their role. Within lobbying, they are distinctive from smaller groups in lobbying, at least on occasion, a wide range of audiences.

Board of Deputies of British Jews

The Board of Deputies of British Jews is a forum for the views of most organisations within the British Jewish community, liaising with the British government on that basis. The Board states that the community "has a very strong attachment to the State of Israel" and articulates the community's concerns and positions on Israel to parliamentarians, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, media and other faith groups. Its programme of engagement with embassies also encompasses ties between other countries and the State of Israel.

Jewish Leadership Council

The Jewish Leadership Council aims to forward the interests of the organised Jewish community in Britain. Its mission is to work, through its members, to ensure the continuity in the UK, in this and future generations, of a mainstream Jewish Community (that) is, inter alia: confident in its support for Israel.

According to sociologists Tom Mills, Hilary Aked, Tom Griffin and David Miller, writing in OpenDemocracy, "Pro-Israel lobbying has always been an important part of its work. In December 2006 it established a non-charitable company, the Jewish Activities Committee, as a vehicle to handle political operations. The company's founding directors were Trevor Chinn, Henry Grunwald, BICOM's then vice chair Brian Kerner and BICOM's chairman and main funder, the Finnish billionaire Poju Zabludowicz. That same month the JLC co-founded the Fair Play Campaign Group with the Board of Deputies, aiming 'to coordinate activity against boycotts of Israel and other anti-Zionist campaigns'. According to the JLC's website, the Fair Play Campaign Group 'acts as a coordinating hub' and 'keeps an eye out for hostile activity so it can be an early-warning system for pro-Israel organisations in the UK'. Fair Play later launched the Stop the Boycott campaign with BICOM, with the Jewish Activities Committee acting as a vehicle for donations."

The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland

The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, founded in 1899, describes itself as "the UK's leading Israel advocacy and grassroots organisation" which "celebrates Israel and challenges our enemies." It describes itself as an umbrella organisation for the Zionist movement in the United Kingdom, representing more than 30 organisations and over 50,000 affiliated members. Its activities include: training, campaigning, media engagement, lobbying, combatting the BDS movement, working with students and cultural events.

Politics

"Speak Up for Israel in Parliament" lobby day leaflet, 2009

A number of groups lobby the government, politicians and political parties on behalf of Israel. Many politicians express their support through national political party "Friends of Israel" groups. Journalist Peter Oborne and politicians Tam Dalyell and Jenny Tonge are among those who have described this as an "Israel lobby" or "Jewish lobby", an allegation described as antisemitic by anti-racist and Jewish communal organisations such as the Community Security Trust.

Former Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Tam Dalyell in 2003 stated that former prime minister and party leader Tony Blair was unduly influenced by a "cabal of Jewish advisers" in forming his Middle East policy towards Iraq, Syria and Iran. Dalyell initially named several influential British advisors of Jewish heritage, but later focused on Middle East envoy, Lord Levy and mostly Jewish advisors to US President George W. Bush. Eric Moonman, president of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland and a former Labour MP, said he was seeking advice on whether there was a case for referral of Dalyell to the Commons' commission for racial equality. He was also criticised by Dave Rich, who rejects the claim there are UK "AIPAC-style" lobbies.

The former Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament, Baroness Jenny Tonge said in 2006: "The pro-Israeli lobby has got its grips on the western world, its financial grips. I think they've probably got a grip on our party." An all-party group of Lords led by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, said her "irresponsible and inappropriate" comments "evoked a classic anti-Jewish conspiracy theory." Defending her comments, Tonge said that Walt and Mearsheimer's article "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy" that appeared in the 23 March 2006 issue of The London Review of Books provided evidence supporting her assertion that the "'Israel lobby' had a disproportionate voice in Anglo-American foreign policy." Tonge was reprimanded by the Liberal Party leader Menzies Campbell, who commented "I defend absolutely your right to express your views on the Middle East, including legitimate criticism of the state of Israel. But I do not believe that the remarks you used fell within that category." He added that the remarks had "clear anti-Semitic connotations" Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, was quoted as saying: "If someone makes comments that are so at odds with what the party feels, and hopefully at odds with common decency, then one would hope that they are no longer made welcome in the party itself."

In 2006 Chris Davies, a Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for the northwest of England wrote to a pro-Israel constituent that she "enjoyed wallowing in her own filth". In a later message to her he complained about Israel's "racist policies of apartheid" and stated "I shall tell them that I intend to speak out against this oppression at every opportunity, and I shall denounce the influence of the Jewish lobby that seems to have far too great a say over the political decision-making process in many countries". As a consequence of the outcry raised by the attack on the constituent, Davies resigned soon after as leader of the Liberal Democrats group in the European Parliament.

In a December 2007 column, after the 2007 Labour party donation scandal ("Donorgate") broke, Assaf Uni of Haaretz wrote that there was concern in the Jewish community about "conspiracy theories regarding a 'Jewish plot' in the United Kingdom, and the role of the pro-Israel lobby there". In late 2007, it was revealed that David Abrahams, deputy chair of Labour Friends of Israel until 2002, had made secret and illegal donations through junior employees of 600,000 pounds sterling (approximately $1.2 million) to the Labour Party. Abrahams, "a Jewish millionaire", admitted in The Jewish Chronicle that he concealed his activity because "I didn't want Jewish money and the Labour Party being put together." The Daily Telegraph ran a photograph of Abrahams with Israeli former ambassador to Britain, Zvi Heifetz, and "insinuated that Israel was the source of the illegal campaign contributions." According to an article in Haaretz, several in the media have maintained there was a connection between money donated by Zionist Jews and the pro-Israel policy of British prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told The Forward, "Clearly there is a potential for it to turn against us." Writing about the scandal, journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown asked in The Independent about the roles of the Labour and Conservative Friends of Israel groups, given that former Labour Friends leader David Abrahams was involved. She questioned the role in Labour victories of Jon Mendelsohn, noting that Mendelsohn is "a passionate Zionist and infamous lobbyist, described by The Jewish Chronicle as "one of the best-connected power brokers"." She stated her assumption that Labour Friends of Israel plays a part in shaping British foreign policies in the Middle East. She also questioned the donations and "back-room influence" of Labour Friends of India and Muslim Friends of Labour.

In 2009, a documentary, Inside Britain's Israel Lobby, by the journalist Peter Oborne was shown in the Channel 4 Dispatches series which aimed to expose the influence of the Israel lobby within British politics and alongside James Jones wrote a pamphlet investigating which groups make up the pro-Israel lobby, how they operate, and how they exert influence. The Guardian's Middle East editor, Ian Black, said the lobby was "bankrolling Tories." Ofcom received 50 complaints about the programme but cleared it of breaching broadcasting rules.

In 2010, Labour MP Martin Linton said "There are long tentacles of Israel in this country who are funding election campaigns and putting money into the British political system for their own ends," while his Jewish fellow Labour MP Gerald Kaufman said that right-wing Jewish millionaires had large stakes in the Conservative Party.Community Security Trust spokesman Mark Gardner responded: "Anybody who understands antisemitism will recognise just how ugly and objectionable these quotes are, with their imagery of Jewish control and money power." In 2015, Kaufman said that "Jewish money, Jewish donations to the Conservative Party ... support from the Jewish Chronicle" had led to "a big group of Conservative MPs who are pro-Israel whatever (its) government does", referring to the Conservative Friends of Israel.

In 2012, Peter Oborne wrote that "Some 80 per cent of all Tory MPs are members (of Conservative Friends of Israel), including most Cabinet ministers.... while its sponsors play an important role in financing both the Tories nationally, and MPs at the local level. There is no doubt that the CFI has exercised a powerful influence over policy." Conservative MP Sir Alan Duncan in 2014 stated that despite UK rules forbidding political funding from abroad, in his view an exception was made for Israel, and later added that "the United States is in hock to a very powerful financial lobby which dominates its politics."

In 2017, Al Jazeera broadcast a four part series, The Lobby about Israeli attempts to influence UK politics.

All-Party Britain-Israel Parliamentary Group

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All-Party Groups are defined by the House of Commons as "relatively informal" groups whose members include "backbench Members of the House of Commons and Lords" and sometimes ministers and non-parliamentarians. They are classified as subject or country groups. Being cross-party, All-Party Groups are more talking-shops than lobbies trying to influence government policies. They are registered only "to control the extent to which groups use the House's facilities and status"

The "All-Party Britain-Israel Parliamentary Group" is an All-Party Group registered with the UK Parliament. Its stated purpose is "To create a better understanding of Israel, and to foster and promote links between Britain and Israel". The chair in the parliament dissolved on 30 March 2015 was Louise Ellman MP.

Friends of Israel (party political)

Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) is affiliated with the Conservative Party and states that it is "one of the fastest growing political lobby groups." It lists its objectives as supporting Israel, promoting conservatism, fighting terrorism, combating antisemitism and peaceful co-existence in the Middle East. Iain Dale and Brian Brivati in The Daily Telegraph have described it as "a highly effective lobby group," writing that its director, Stuart Polak, has "done more than most to promote Israel's case to the right of British politics."

Labour Friends of Israel (LFI), founded in 1957, is a group within the Labour Party which in 2003 described itself as a "lobby group working within the Labour Party to promote the State of Israel". It describes itself as seeking "to promote a strong bilateral relationship between Britain and Israel." It organizes visits of British politicians to Israel to meet with Israeli politicians and advocates on Israel's behalf among Labour Party members. Labour Party Prime Ministers Tony Blair (1997–2007) and Gordon Brown (2007-2010) have been members of Labour Friends of Israel, and the subsequent leader of the Labour Party (Ed Miliband) described himself as a "friend of Israel".

Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel (LDFI) was the first such group formed. Its first objective is "to maximise support for the State of Israel within the Liberal Democrats and Parliament."

The Israel Britain Alliance

The Israel Britain Alliance was founded in 2016 in order to "increase support for Israel in Parliament". It was launched by the Zionist Federation and led by former Labour MP for East Kilbride Michael McCann to build relationships between politicians and grassroots Israel supporters and strengthen ties between the House of Commons and the Knesset. McCann was a member of Trade Union Friends of Israel (TUFI) and a vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel.

Media

BICOM is the principal group seeking to influence UK media coverage in favour of Israel. Influencing can be directed at media owners, executives and frontline employees. Some commentators are known for their expressions of support for Israel.

In a September 2001 column in The Observer about the September 11 attacks in the United States, Richard Ingrams noted "the reluctance throughout the media to contemplate the Israeli factor" and, commenting on Britain, cited "pressure from the Israeli lobby in this country that many, even normally outspoken journalists, are reluctant even to refer to such matters." He also noted their reluctance to address issues he had mentioned in past columns related to Lord Levy, the Labour Party and to the "close business links with Israel" of press magnates Rupert Murdoch and Conrad Black. Earlier in August, Times journalist, Sam Kiley, resigned from the newspaper as he claimed his work was severely censored by senior executives due to the Zionist sympathies of Rupert Murdoch.

In 2002, Palestine Is Still the Issue, made by the documentary film maker John Pilger, was shown on ITV. The Board of Deputies of British Jews, Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israeli Embassy expressed "outrage" and, according to Pilger, demanded a "pro-Israel" film. Pilger said the BBC would not have "dared to incur the wrath of one of the most influential lobbies in this country" by showing the film, citing comments written by Tim Llewellyn, the BBC's former Middle East correspondent, that the BBC continues to "duck" the issue. Pilger stated this was "one example of pressure exerted on British journalists from Zionists and the Israeli embassy."

BICOM

Founded in 2000, the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM) seeks to present Israel's case to journalists. The Observer has described it as "Britain's most active pro-Israeli lobbying organisation" and as an "influential Jewish lobby group".

The London-based Jewish Chronicle reported that Brian Kerner, former chair of Joint Israel Appeal, argued that there was "the need for a body able to orchestrate British Jewry's political and public relations" after the year 2000 outbreak of the Second Intifada. The day after it began, fifty Jewish leaders met with the Israeli ambassador and "raised an initial £250,000 fund for pro-Israel lobbying and public relations." BICOM was founded as a consequence. The article also noted that "a debate goes on in the community's upper echelons over whether BICOM should remain a mainly-behind-the-scenes player focussing on media or a more upfront pro-Israel lobby similar to the American Aipac..."

According to a 2002 article in The Guardian, BICOM and the Board of Deputies of British Jews had "adopted aggressive media strategies to defend Israel and attack its critics in Britain." That year, leaders of the British Jewish community called in two high-level American strategists "to conduct research into the extent of hostility to Israel in Britain with a view to the British Jewish community launching a big public relations drive." In particular, focus groups were "said to have found particular hostility among professional and academic groups." The American paper The Forward reported that in 2005 Steve J. Rosen, then American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy director, led an ambitious and "semisecret" effort to start similar pro-Israel lobbying organizations in the United Kingdom due to rising antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. In early 2008, The Jewish Chronicle reported that a new, yet unnamed London-based organisation would examine whether Israel received fair media coverage, but that it would not compete with BICOM.

In autumn 2008, a senior Israeli government official shared his opinions on competition between BICOM, which he said wants to maintain its primary role in the UK, and the US-based Israel Project. He stated that BICOM charged that the Israel Project doesn't understand how to work with British journalists and said "We don't want to get into this. We work with both organisations." The Israel Project denied there was competition and BICOM declined to comment saying "We don't respond to speculation."

Society

Society, encompassing academia, local government and other fields, has taken on greater importance as Israel and its supporters have sought to counter pro-Palestinian sentiment and activities, such as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

In October 2007 all speakers withdrew in protest from an Oxford Union debate on the one-state solution. One of the speakers, Ghada Karmi, a Palestinian research fellow at the University of Exeter and vice-chair of CAABU (the Council for Arab-British Understanding), wrote on The Guardian's blog that "the newest and least attractive import from America, following on behind Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Friends, is the pro-Israel lobby." She states the Oxford Union withdrew its invitation to speak to American Jewish scholar and Israel critic Norman Finkelstein, asserting it was "apparently intimidated by threats from various pro-Israel groups".

In October 2007 Amjad Barham, head of the Council of the Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees, wrote that the "Israel lobby in the UK" was behind the decision of the University and College Union (UCU) to cancel the UK speaking tour of some Palestinian academics. He asserted Palestinian academic unions could "detect the not-so-hidden hand of the lobby in this latest episode of stifling debate on issues pertaining to Israeli policies and the complicity of the Israeli academy in perpetuating them."

A 2017 paper, Advocating Occupation:Outsourcing Zionist Propaganda in the UK, was published in eSharp, a student-run postgraduate journal of University of Glasgow, referred to "an Israeli state-sponsored strategy focused on controlling public opinion in the UK" that seek to "discredit and neutralise pro-Palestinian discourses". The university added a disclaimer to the article in 2020, apologising for subpar research and describing its content as "antisemitic". This was followed, in October 2021, by a petition signed by 500 scholars, calling on the university to retract the disclaimer. In August 2021, the university republished the article removing the apology and claim of antisemitism, but maintained a preface that said that the article has caused offence, and "employs some discursive strategies, including a biased selection of sources as well as the misrepresentation of data, which promote what some would regard as an unfounded theory regarding the State of Israel and its activity in the United Kingdom."

Britain Israel Trade Union Dialogue

The Britain Israel Trade Union Dialogue, previously Trade Union Friends of Israel, operates in the trade union movement.

Friends of Israel (geographical)

Sussex Friends of Israel, based in Brighton, was established in 2013.

North London Friends of Israel was established in 2014.

There is an Essex Friends of Israel.

North West Friends of Israel was established in 2014 and organises activities in Manchester.

There is a North-East Friends of Israel group.

The Yorkshire Friends of Israel is based in Leeds.

The Confederation of Friends of Israel Scotland are active in Scotland.

There is also a Northern Ireland Friends of Israel group.

Israel Advocacy Movement

The aim of the Israel Advocacy Movement is to establish a mass movement of Israeli advocates in the UK. It provides training and promotional materials and advocates the use of social media and a network of street level advocacy teams. In June 2019, it hosted a debate entitled 'should Zionists support a white ethno state?' with far-right activist Mark Collett.

Israel Coalition

In July 2020, the Israel Advocacy Movement, David Collier, Sussex Friends of Israel and North West Friends of Israel announced their joint founding of the Israel Coalition to "resource, unify and amplify the most successful online pro-Israel initiatives".

UK Lawyers for Israel

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) was founded in 2011 by Jonathan Turner. It has been described as "instrumental in a number of significant victories for pro-Israel campaigns and against antisemitism in the UK." It has been represented on the Board of Deputies of British Jews since 2016. Caroline Kendal, its director of operations, in 2016 said "...what we're about is actually standing for Israel, and doing that as effectively as we possibly can." In that year it claimed about 1400 members and associates, of whom about half were lawyers. Much of its activity is in relation to universities. It played a key role in the prevention of a second "Gaza flotilla" setting sail from Greece in 2011, by invoking international maritime law. In 2019, in the face of planned protests, the group abandoned plans to host a speaker from Regavim, a pro-settler organisation labelled extremist by the Jewish Labour Movement and Yachad, which campaigns against the building of Arab and Bedouin settlements in the West Bank.

Union of Jewish Students

The Union of Jewish Students supports Jewish societies on 60 campuses across the UK. Its core values include "Engagement with Israel:...offering opportunities to strengthen, celebrate and explore a personal relationship with Israel as part of an evolving expression of Jewish identity".

In 2018-19, UJS supported over 11,000 students on 'Israel programmes'. UJS declared "We wanted to portray Israel in a positive way on campus through Israeli culture, society and politics." In spring 2020, the UJS launched Spring into Israel, "a campaign to ensure we have as many Israel related events on campus during this month." The organisational partners were BICOM, We Believe in Israel and the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. Previous campaigns have included Bridges not Boycotts, Dialogue not Division and Exploring Zionism.

We Believe in Israel

Founded in 2011, We Believe in Israel facilitates and supports a grassroots network of supporters of Israel in the UK. Its launch followed two pro-Israel conferences held in the UK in 2011 and 2015. Its founding director is PR consultant and Labour Party activist Luke Akehurst. In May 2019, the organisation announced the recruitment of its 20,000th activist.

StandWithUs

The US-based StandWithUs operates in the UK. It describes itself as equipping students to be effective Israel educators. In September 2019, it organised a three-day conference and announced record numbers of students on its programmes.

Faith

The number and scale of faith organisations which promote Israel actively are limited. This is distinct from the expression of viewpoints by faith organisations on the issue.

Christian Zionist groups

Christian Zionist groups in Britain continue the tradition of supporting Israel as part of the fulfillment of prophecy. Such groups often are criticized for their beliefs (per the Book of Ezekiel and the Book of Zechariah) that only those Jews who convert to Christianity will be spared a fiery death when Jesus returns. Christian Friends of Israel, UK explicitly rejects such a view in its "Foundation Principles." Other such groups include the Church's Ministry Among Jewish People (The Israel Trust of the Anglican Church), Bridges for Peace, Christian Zionists for Israel UK and International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, UK.

Community

Several groups seek to strengthen associations and empathy between Jews in the United Kingdom, particularly young people, and Israel. Their activities can take a range of forms, including those relating to culture, education, faith, leisure and philanthropy.

Habonim Dror

Habonim Dror is a Jewish Socialist-Zionist cultural youth movement. Its mission includes "to build a socialist, culturally Jewish future in the State of Israel". Habonim Dror United Kingdom (HDUK) has six kenim (branches). When chanichimot are 16 they go on Israel Tour, a month trip around Israel, where they are immersed in the culture and history of Israel. After returning from Israel Tour, participants become Madrichimot (leaders) and will spend the year doing Hadracha (leadership) training in preparation for them to take on roles in the summer across a variety of Machanot. Every year chanichimot who have just finished high school travel to Israel for a year on Shnat Hachshara, commonly referred to as Shnat, where they go on an extensive experiential and educational process and actively carry out movement aims and engage with Israeli society.

Jewish National Fund

The Jewish National Fund says "JNF UK is Britain's oldest Israel charity and has supported the Zionist pioneers since the days of the Second Aliyah. Today we are working to ensure that the people of Israel who live in the underdeveloped south of the country can also share in the Jewish State's success story.is active in every area of Israeli life."

UJIA

The UJIA (United Jewish International Appeal) seeks to enhance young British Jews' sense of Jewish identity and their connection with Israel. UJIA's remit includes overseeing and sponsoring Israel group tours that are organised by Jewish religious and ideological organisations for young people in the Jewish community. In 2017 UJIA launched a £300,000 fund to invest in Israeli start-up businesses that are concerned with improving education, employment and community development. The British Prime Minister, Theresa May, was the guest speaker at a dinner, hosted by UJIA on 17 September 2018, that was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the foundation of Israel.

See also

References

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