PM’sJerusalemremark leaves Board ‘concerned’
BOARD OF Deputies president Jonathan Arkush has expressed concern over comments made by David Cameron about Jerusalem.
During Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons last week, Mr Cameron said he had been “shocked” during a past visit to Israel by the “encirclement of East Jerusalem” by illegal Jewish settlements.
Mr Cameron told MPs: “The first time I visited Jerusalem, had a proper tour around that wonderful city and saw what has happened with the effective encirclement of East Jerusalem — occupied East Jerusalem — I found it genuinely shocking.
“We are supporters of Israel, but we do not support illegal settlements and we do not support what is happening in East Jerusalem.”
Mr Cameron, who described himself as being “well-known as a strong friend of Israel”, was responding to a question from Bradford East Labour MP Imran Hussain, who suggested that settlements were a “major roadblock” to peace.
In a statement, Mr Arkush called Mr Cameron a “trusted friend” of the community, but said many British Jews would have been “concerned and
DavidCameroninJerusalemin 2007.Hesaidhewas“shocked”bysettlements uncomfortable with the language” he used in his answer.
He added: “Jerusalem has been the focal point of the Jewish people for thousands of years, and has had a Jewish majority since the mid-19th century, long before Israel gained its independence. The Jewish Quarter of the Old City, including the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, cannot rightly be described as being under occupation.”
Last Thursday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit back at Mr Cameron’s remarks, saying his coun- terpart “probably forgot some basic facts about Jerusalem. Only Israeli sovereignty is preventing Isis and Hamas from setting fire to the holy sites in the city, like they do elsewhere across the Middle East.”
He contrasted in Jerusalem, where the ruleof lawheldsway,withthesituationin Iraq, Syria and other Middle East states.
Mr Cameron did, however, refer to Jerusalem as “this capital city”. British government policy has been to recognise — but not accept — that Israel regards Jerusalem as its capital.