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Jews meet to debate violence in Holy Land
A LEADING movie producer and director has urged British Jews critical of Israeli policy to stand up and be counted.
Uri Fruchtmann, who lives in Hampstead, made his comments at the Hampstead Town Hall launch of new group Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) aimed at encouraging Jews to speak out about the troubles in the Holy Land.
Mr Fruchtmann, a director of Ealing Studios, who produced Spice Girls vehicle Spiceworld and The Importance of Being Earnest, said on Monday: “Whatever your opinions are it’s okay to have them. But if you’re critical of Israeli policy, if you find it’s unacceptable, it’s time to stand up and express them. There are 30 million Jews in the world. Do you really expect them all to have the same opinion?”
He urged British Jews to be careful about who they make donations to.
The panel meeting, chaired by Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow, packed the town hall with many were turned away at the door.
IJV has already won support from the likes of Stephen Fry, Harold Pinter and Zoe Wanamaker.
And the meeting was mainly devoted to discussing the purpose of the group.
Panellist academic Jacqueline Rose said: “Our aim is to create a space where debate can be more open and freer.”
She spoke of “the feeling that our history as Jews gives us an obligation to speak out when these things are being perpetrated in our name”.
Co-founder Brian Klug said: “The issue is not whether people have the opportunity to express their view but what happens afterwards. If you cross a certain line, in the end you’re liable to find yourself vilified. We’ve been described as leaders of the Israeli hate list but it’s not hate that drives us. This isn’t a political party, let others pick up the ball and run with it.”
One former Israeli fighter pilot, who refused to bomb a civilian target in Gaza and now lives as a gardener in England, said: “I was told to be a harsh critic. I was told this is why we’re the best air force in the world. And the first time I criticised my country, I was kicked out of the army.”
But the debate failed to impress some.
Fred Baraschek said: “We must avoid th Animal Farm reaction that what Israel does is bad and what Palestinians do is good.”
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