Wednesday 12 November 2014

SAY NO TO YACHAD

There are many reasons why Yachad's application to join the Board of Deputies should be rejected.

I will just concentrate on two of them.

BDS

The very fact that Yachad's Director Hannah Weisfeld was prepared to appear on a platform discussing BDS with the notorious BDS campaigner Ilan Pappe should be enough to condemn Yachad but if not the following mealy mouthed statements at the 2012 SOAS panel discussion is.

Hannah Weisfeld: "I didn't tell anyone here not to support BDS". "I agree with you entirely that a unified Palestinian strategy is hugely important." Weisfeld went on to refer to a "level of criminality that exists over the Green Line."


War Crimes Accusation

Last Yom Hazikaron and Independence Day, whilst Israelis and Jews worldwide were honouring the sacrifice of Israels fallen IDF soldiers, Yachad was holding a conference that hosted a group of individuals that call soldiers of Israels Defence Forces “war criminals.  This is the type of anti-Israel activity that Yachad embraces.

Last 20th July was a significantly sad day in Israels war against Hamas terror in Gaza. It was the day that four brave soldiers who died in defence of Israel were buried. It was the day that another seven, all members of the elite Golani Brigade, were killed in action.
The 20th July was also the day when thousands of British Jews were rallying outside the Israeli Embassy in London in support of an Israel under attack from Palestinian rockets and terrorists.  Absent from this rally was the leader of the so-called pro-IsraelYachad. 

Yachad heads its campaign manifesto with slogans like We believe all people should have the right to live free from fear and violenceand We believe in Israels right not just to exist but to flourish and we stand against those who defame it.Yet, Yachad is not only a group that regularly defames Israel. It actively promotes anti-Israel tours to the territories, as well as organising events that call Israels finest sons war criminals.

Yachad funds numerous educationaltrips to Judea & Samaria, known to them as the West Bank. Their guides include a member of the infamous fringe group Breaking the Silence. On consorting with such radical groups should the reputation of Yachad hang.  Even the left-wing Haaretz newspaper called Breaking the Silence as having a clear political agenda, and can no longer be classed as a human rights organisation. 

If you still have any doubts then please see Jonathan Hoffmans piece in last years Jewish Chronicle at the time Yachad was rejected by the Zionist Federation.




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