Cameron in ‘valuable’ talks with communal leaders

DAVID CAMERON was urged to do “everything possible” to help bring peace to the Middle East, at a meeting with Jewish leaders in Downing Street.

The Prime Minister met the heads of organisations including the United Synagogue, Norwood and Reform Judaism to discuss domestic and foreign issues.

Community security, and in particular the government’s funding of school security, were high on the agenda, alongside antisemitism.

Mr Cameron reassured the delega- tion that he would continue to resist any threat to Jewish religious practices such as shechita and circumcision.

The group asked him to provide full support for US Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts to strike a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

Mr Cameron’s first trip to Israel as Prime Minister next month was a key topic. He was urged to use the occasion to “celebrate and strengthen” UK-Israel ties in trade, technology, academia and cyber security.

The delegation was led by the Jewish Leadership Council. Its chairman Mick DaviswaslastyearaskedbyMrCameron to head an investigation into the future of Holocaust commemoration. The PrimeMinistersaid“goodprogress”had been made, citing the establishment of the Holocaust commission.

The meeting, the Prime Minister, said, had been “a valuable opportunity for us to discuss a range of important issues”.

Mr Davis agreed it had been “extremely productive”. “Mr Cameron engaged with us constructively,” he said.

The community representatives included JW3 chairman Debbie Klein, Bicom chairman Edward Misrahi and Community Security Trust chairman Gerald Ronson.