Hoax Email Threatens Rally While Genuine Letter Suggests Divisions

by Erica Morris - Wednesday 14th January 2009


Last Sunday's Solidarity Rally in Trafalgar Square has been hailed a resounding success, attracting a crowd of more than 15,000 supporters, despite an email hoax attempting to sabotage the gathering.

The message, made to look as if it were sent by the Board of Deputies, complete with an official looking header and signatory, was sent out to databases across the Jewish community stating the scheduled gathering would not take place, while the Board was calling for immediate negotiations with Hamas and demanding an end to the blockade in Gaza.

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The body of the email claimed the rally was being cancelled as "it might be perceived as the community taking one side in the tragic war... and might be seen as supporting Israel's military campaign".

It further stated that the Board was calling for "an immediate ceasefire, immediate negotiations between Israel and Hamas, and for lifting the economic blockade".

A statement issued on Tuesday by the group Jewdas, meanwhile, accepted responsibility for the email, saying: "We weren't trying to be malicious, we weren't even trying to stop the rally. We just thought we'd give people something to talk about over Kiddush, instead of discussing the poor quality of the gefilte fish."

Henry Grunwald, President of the Board, told the Jewish News: "It was an appalling attempt to undermine something that in a very short time a lot of people put a lot of effort into doing... I condemn whoever was behind that hoax without the slightest hesitation."

Meanwhile, a genuine letter addressed to 'the government of Israel' ran in Sunday's Observer, calling for an immediate ceasefire. Stating that only negotiations can end the conflict, it was signed by several prominent communal leaders including Rabbi Tony Bayfield - head of the Movement for Reform Judaism, Sir Sigmund Sternberg, founder of the Three Faiths Forum, Rabbi Danny Rich - Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism, and Baroness Julia Neuberger.

While stressing their passionate support for Israel, the signatories stated that the war on Hamas threatened "to undermine international support for Israel" and said: "We are concerned that rather than bringing security to Israel, a continued military offensive could strengthen extremists, destabilise the region and exacerbate tensions inside Israel with its one million Arab citizens."

Eric Moonman, President of the Zionist Federation, told TJ: "Although much of the letter was carefully considered it nevertheless gave the opportunity to Israel's critics to malign what Israel is trying to do. It also minimises the terrible circumstances which Israelis have been subjected to by the rocket fall now for a number of years."

Rabbi Bayfield, who attended the weekend's rally, said he has received both positive and negative feedback since the letter's publication and said he thought critically about the ramifications before deciding to add his name to the document.

He told TJ: "I was actually a bit concerned at first because I did not in any way want to be seen to divide the Jewish community. I think the final draft of the letter seems to me to be totally and four-square with the overwhelming mainstream of the Jewish community. It allowed me to acknowledge that there are large swathes of the Jewish community that while supporting what Israel is doing are really torn to pieces at the consequences and suffering of innocent people."

He added: "I do believe that Israel did not have any alternative but to act, but the consequences are huge and what the letter said was we need a ceasefire. There are so many voices within the Jewish community and I've had so many emails and phone calls from people, particularly young people, saying thank you."

Read the latest copy of The Jewish News Online by clicking here.

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