Diaspora Jewish groups publicly distance themselves from current Israeli government policy
Jewish diaspora groups in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany have launched a campaign distancing themselves from the Israeli government's policies after Bezalel Smotrich joined the New York Israel Day Parade. Group representatives told Al Jazeera the government does not speak for all Jews.
According to Al Jazeera, IfNotNow in New York, Yachad in London and Jüdische Stimme in Berlin issued a joint statement after Bezalel Smotrich attended the Israel Day Parade in New York last weekend. The statement stresses that current Israeli government policy 'does not speak for the entire Jewish community'. IfNotNow's Sarah Anne Minkin confirmed the campaign is titled 'Not In My Name'.
The campaign has been signed by 1,200 US faith leaders and 400 academics based in Germany. Signatories include Hebrew Union's New York Vice-President Rachel Timoner, Liberal Jewish Federation of Germany president Walter Homolka and senior figures of the UK Reform Jewish Movement. The statement was formally submitted to the European Commission's Freedom of Thought unit.
Israel's Diaspora Affairs Ministry described the statement as 'individual views' and did not issue a comprehensive response. Smotrich, returning to Tel Aviv from New York, called the criticism 'part of the diversity of the community'. Academics said the diaspora is going through a redefinition of its relationship with Israeli politics.
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