5 members of UK Jewish group suspended for open letter criticizing Israel’s war against Hamas

Five members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews have been suspended for two years for organizing an open letter condemning Israel’s prosecution of the war against Hamas in Gaza.

The letter, published in the Financial Times on April 16, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of implementing harmful policies to appease the government’s far-right flank.

Around 10 percent of the umbrella organization for UK Jewry’s members signed the letter, which said that “our Jewish values compel us to stand up and to speak out.” The letter sparked an uproar among more hawkish parts of the UK’s Jewish community at the time.

Following a two-month investigation, all 36 signatories of the letter have been found to have breached the Board of Deputies’ code of conduct, the organization said Tuesday.

For 31 who signed the letter, but did nothing more, a notice of criticism will be sent, with a warning that similar breaches could lead to a suspension.

The five who incurred the additional sanctions were more actively involved with the letter’s publication, the Board of Deputies says.

Three of them have been given the opportunity to reduce their suspension to six months by apologizing, it adds.