Yorkshire Jews Say – Not In Our Name

More and more Jewish people around the world are standing in solidarity with Palestinians, stating loudly and clearly “Not In Our Name”.  We are pleased to publish this letter from Jewish people in Yorkshire making their stand clear and inviting more signatories from other Jews in the County; this adds to the reports on the Jewish Bloc on the National marches, the welcome Jewish speakers have had on local marches, rallies and vigils across the United Kingdom.  The importance of standing up and saying that Israel does not speak for all Jews; and that also goes for those outside Israel, like our own governments – who support the terrible actions it commits, not only but especially since October 7th.

Yorkshire Jews Say Not in Our Name

This letter is only for those who identify as Jewish and live in Yorkshire. To keep in touch, email notinournameyorkshire@gmail.com with your name and the town you live in. We will use it only to keep in touch about the outcome of this letter. We have many views between us but at this moment we wish to make it clear together that solidarity with the actions of the Israeli government is not the view of all Jewish people in Yorkshire.

We speak out as Jews living across Yorkshire to say: ‘Not In Our Name.’

We speak out to express our opposition to Israel’s war on Gaza.

We speak out to add our voices to the global call for an immediate ceasefire and for the safe passage of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

We speak out to demand the release of the Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas on 7th October.

We speak out to express our profound grief that the atrocity carried out against Israelis by Hamas and others has led to an even greater atrocity by the State of Israel against the Palestinian people.

We speak out because we believe the killing of thousands of innocent civilians (the majority women and children); the indiscriminate destruction of lives and homes; and the risk of mass starvation and disease are utterly unacceptable and an affront to Jewish values and Jewish historical experience.

We speak out to insist that the current situation can only be understood within the political and historical context of Israel’s on-going dispossession and discrimination against the Palestinian people.

We speak out because understanding this context is not to excuse violence but to enable an honest reckoning with what has brought us to this catastrophic moment.

We speak out to counter the conflation of Jews in the United Kingdom, and around the world, with the political language and military actions of Netanyahu’s Israeli government.

We speak out to oppose the uncritical support for the war given by Jewish institutions in the U.K. who claim to speak for all Jews.

We speak out to express our concern about the rise in antisemitism in the UK which is only encouraged by associating all Jews with the actions of the Israeli government.

We speak out to say: ‘Not in Our Name’.

We speak out to say that the war against Gaza is making a just peace settlement in the region more difficult than ever.

We speak out because we firmly believe that the people of Israel/Palestine will only find peace when there is complete equality (ethnically, religiously and nationally) for all those who call Palestine/Israel their home.

We speak out because continuing the war will only lead to the deaths of more innocent Palestinians without achieving security for Israelis or the return of the hostages.

We speak out to say: ‘Not In Our Name’.

To sign this letter if you are Jewish and live in Yorkshire, find it at https://openletter.earth/yorkshire-jews-say-not-in-our-name-433c986d.

Note that your ‘occupation’ and ‘organisation’ are optional.

Leeds City Square (credit John Coates)