Bernard Spiegal

The Board of Deputies of British Jews, alongside something called the Jewish Leadership Council, had a meeting with the new Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, on the 10 August.  Those two organisations are part of a cluster of pro-Israel bodies that can fairly be characterised as the Jewish Establishment.

Up until now, seemingly without shame, British governments in general felt the need to be seen cosying-up to this Jewish Establishment. 

An establishment that is pro-Israel beyond what decency should normally permit.

The basic position of this establishment can be summarised as: nothing of note occurred in Palestine/Israel prior to 7th October 2023. There was nothing in Israel’s record of oppression of Palestinians in the Occupied Territory that need raise a censorious eyebrow. Therefore, Hamas’s bloody October 2023 incursion into Israel was a wrong-of-wrongs, having no rational basis, and no parallel, apart from the Nazi Holocaust which is prayed in aid whenever the standard Israel/BoD/JLC exculpatory analysis of Israel’s murderous actions in the OPT appear to be under question.

What, then, is the meaning of the photo below and what I imagine is a BoD press statement? On the one hand, it would appear that Miliband wanted to flatter the Jewish Establishment (JE) as to its importance by showing the parties – Government and delegation – as in some sense equal. The visual symmetry of the two parties, facing each other across a rather impressive table, was not designed to suggest conflict. Rather, it was designed to show just how seriously government takes the views of the JE.

Is it a coincidence that the frozen moment of the still image appears to catch the BoD’s President, Phil Rosenberg, speaking to – or talking at – Miliband, who looks to be both attentive and interested, whether feigned or not? 

From the Jewish delegation’s perspective, this image is gold dust, for it appears to signal that BoD and JLC are the big boys on the block, close to government and the seats of power. This is the image the JE wishes to, needs to, display in part because it consigns Israel-critical, and in particular Jewish Israel-critical, opinion to the margins. And even this characterisation is likely an exaggeration – Jewish-critical opinion is better assessed as ‘nowhere to be found’ in the corridors of power. Certainly, there is no expectation that Israel-dissident voices will be sitting at that rather impressive table, briefing our Foreign Secretary, any time soon.

But, look at it another way

Another way of looking at the picture is to see it as a set-up job, designed to reassure the JE that Government is both respectful and heedful of its positions and concerns. Essentially, the meeting can be seen as a charade, designed to pander to the JE’s bloated sense of self-importance, as a precursor to Government making some moves in respect of Palestine/Israel that will be uncongenial to the puffed-up delegation.

 And so it appears to be, if credence is given to the 12 April edition of Middle East Eye[1], i.e. two days after the publicised photo shoot:

The government is poised to announce a raft of new policies in September, multiple Whitehall and civil society sources told Middle East Eye.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband in particular is pushing for stronger measures and has been consulting a range of civil society organisations, MEE understands.

Sources said discussions are underway in the Foreign Office over whether the measures will involve legal sanctions for companies and organisations that have business or other links with settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.

The Foreign Office is looking at imposing new sanctions on individuals and organisations involved in the settler movement in the occupied West Bank, sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Banning the export of these military goods is now under discussion, although no concrete decisions have been made.

[The Foreign Office has] given clear advice to UK businesses that they should not engage in economic activity in illegal settlements and warn them of the reputational and potentially legal consequences of any such activities.

A salutary note

Nothing quoted above can be seen as immune to the possibility of retrenchment as Miliband comes under immense pressure from pro-Israel supporters to rein-in any proposed measures.

Even if the measures referred to above actually materialise, on their own they are insufficient to effectively deter and punish Israel for its crimes.

However, the measures, if implemented – for example the ban on arms and arms-related trade – could presage a significant cultural-political shift that widens the space within which Israel has no immunity from the consequences of its actions. In UK terms, this could represent a diminution, or at least the beginning of a diminution, in both Israel’s and JE’s influence on UK policy in respect of Palestine/Israel.

The JE will seek to shore up its influence, no doubt deploying its ready-to-hand, multi-function weapons: scatter-gun accusations of antisemitism; and deployment of the seriously flawed IHRA definition of antisemitism.

Caveat

Even if an optimistic view is taken on the likelihood of change as set out above, there is a wider perspective, ever to be kept in mind.

Essentially, there are two sets of time. They are out of sync with each other. One set runs fast, the other (relatively) slower.

Palestinian/Palestine time runs fast. In Palestine/Israel it has a relentless pace, marked by the abominations Israel, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day inflicts on Palestinians and Palestinians. The land of Palestine is being swallowedu-up by the idea and the actuality of a Greater Israel.

International, pro-Palestine time runs slower. Not by will, but by virtue of the inherent features of the political/economic/social environment within which it is housed.

The fear is that International, pro-Palestine time will arrive too late to connect with a still materially-present Palestinian/Palestine. An outcome that cannot be permitted.

[1] https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-ban-israeli-settlement-goods-next-month-government-mulls-further-sanctions-and-arms-sales