JVL Statement of Principles

JVL Statement of Principles

Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) is a Jewish-led organisation for members of the labour, trade union, socialist and progressive movements.

We are internationalist and anti-racist. We stand for rights and justice for Jewish people everywhere, and against wrongs and injustice to Palestinians and oppressed peoples anywhere. Our political priorities are universal human rights and dignity, justice for all, and freedom of expression.

We call out and fight all forms of racism including antisemitism, and oppose any hierarchy of racism including notions of Jewish exceptionalism.

We take inspiration from the long history of Jewish involvement in the socialist and trade union movements and in the anti-apartheid and civil rights movements.

We support the right of the Palestinians to self-determination and oppose the oppression of the Palestinian people by the apartheid state of Israel.  This is not done in our name.

We oppose attempts to widen the definition of antisemitism beyond its meaning of hostility towards or discrimination against Jews as Jews. We take action against the weaponisation of antisemitism and its use to prevent criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian rights.

“Always with the oppressed, never with the oppressor.”

Adopted on 18th June 2023


Current activities

We support the right to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel as advocated by the BDS movement.

We provide a growing educational programme for our members and more widely, focusing particularly on issues of fighting racism, antisemitism and discrimination and other issues identified as our priorities.

We work with other progressive groups to forge a more coherent socialist movement.

We are involved in a variety of campaigns and activities – both inside and outside the Labour Party – that aim to:

  • Fight racism and all forms of discrimination and promote internationalism
  • Work with British Palestine support organisations and international Jewish Organisations in support of Palestinian rights
  • Oppose the increasing authoritarianism of the state and its attacks on civil liberties and human rights
  • Welcome and support asylum seekers and refugees
  • Combat climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution of land, rivers and seas
  • Fight against poverty and for the redistribution of wealth
  • Defend free speech and democracy, particularly in the labour and trade union movements.