Yachad (NGO)

Yachad
יחד‎
Founded2011
TypeNon-profit
NGO
FocusTwo-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Location
MethodEducation and advocacy
Key people
Hannah Weisfeld[1]
Websiteyachad.org.uk Edit this at Wikidata

Yachad (Hebrew: יחד, "together") is a non-governmental organization based in the United Kingdom.[2] It describes itself as "pro-Israel, pro-peace".[3][4]

Positions

Yachad asserts that "Israel's best hope for safety and security lies in a comprehensive peace with its neighbors. That means a two-state solution: Israel and Palestine." According to Yachad, "time is running out and the two-state solution is in peril". Facing this situation, "Now is the moment for diaspora Jews to play their part and do all they can in the search for peace."[citation needed]

Yachad supports the creation of a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, with mutually agreed land swaps,[5] supports United Nations recognition of Palestinian statehood,[6] opposes the expansion of West Bank settlements[7] (and supported UN resolutions against this[8][9]), opposed the 2020 Trump peace plan for Israel/Palestine,[10] and opposes Israeli plans to annex the West Bank.[11][12]

Activities

Yachad has a wide-ranging programme of activities through campaigns that claim to aim to build support for those in Israel working for peace and democracy. Yachad organizes day trips to East Jerusalem and the southern West Bank.[13]

It has campaigned against evictions of Palestinian Arab households in East Jerusalem.[14]

It has commissioned major surveys of British Jewish opinion about the Middle East, including in 2015[15][16] and 2016.[17]

Speakers at its events have included the former head of the Shin Bet, Ami Ayalon (2014, 2016)[5][18] anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller(2017),[19] Labour MPs Wes Streeting (2019)[20] and Stephen Twigg (2019), Conservative former UK Minister of State for the Middle East Alistair Burt (2019, 2022),[21][22] historian Simon Schama (2021),[23] Palestinian Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, Israeli human rights lawyer Michael Sfard, and journalist Jonathan Freedland (2023).[24]

Its donors include Trevor Chinn.[25]

History

Yachad was launched in May 2011, “to provide a voice for British Jews who believe that to be pro-Israel today means safeguarding a Jewish and democratic Israel within internationally recognized borders, through the creation of a Palestinian state.”[26]

In 2012, Yachad ran 88 events attended by 3,480 people, and raised £87,372 ($132,289) from 88 donors.[26]

In 2013, its application to join the Zionist Federation was rejected, a decision criticised by communal leaders such as Jeremy Newmark, chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, and Vivian Wineman, president of the Board of Deputies.[26][27]

By 2014, its director said it had 4,000 supporters and hundreds of donors.[5] That year it was admitted to the Board of Deputies after a vote that was postponed twice due to controversy; the vote passed by 135 to 61.[28]

During the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict Yachad organised 1000 members of the British Jewish community, to lobby Mark Lyall Grant — as UK ambassador, then President of the United Nations Security Council — to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza.[29]

In 2019, Stephen Twigg described it as an “increasingly important player” in the UK Parliament.[21]

In 2023, it protested in solidarity with the judicial reform protests in Israel[30][31] and refused to attend a meeting with an Israeli minister during them.[32]

During the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, Yachad promoted pro-peace and Israeli moderate voices in the UK.[33] It commemorated Israelis murdered in the October 7 attack by Hamas[34] and later participated in “Humanity, Not Hatred” peace vigils organised by the Together Coalition led by Brendan Cox.[35]

References

  1. ^ "Hannah Weisfeld". the Guardian. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  2. ^ Rocker, Simon (14 April 2011). "Britain's J-Street unveils as Yachad". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  3. ^ "About us". Yachad. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  4. ^ "Jerusalem & Babylon / The new ally from within". Haaretz. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  5. ^ a b c Walters, Louisa (19 September 2014). "OPINION: Disagree with us by all means, but keep the debate respectful". Jewish News. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Yachad backs Palestinian statehood bid". The Jewish Chronicle. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Board of Deputies criticises Yachad for saying Israel is moving away from peace". The Jewish Chronicle. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  8. ^ Doherty, Rosa (20 January 2017). "Board of Deputies president Arkush sparks new Yachad row". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  9. ^ Doherty, Rosa (15 January 2017). "Board of Deputies "condemns" Yachad for backing a UN resolution against settlements". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  10. ^ Doherty, Rosa (11 February 2020). "Jewish Labour Movement signs statement against Trump's 'sham' Middle East peace plan". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  11. ^ Weisfeld, Hannah (24 April 2020). "Britain's pro-Israel groups must now decide where they stand on West Bank annexation". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  12. ^ Harpin, Lee (4 May 2020). "Board President urges UK Jewry to 'stay together' on West Bank annexation issue". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  13. ^ Shehadi, Lemma (15 May 2023). "As Palestinians commemorate Nakba, liberal UK Jewish groups debate the occupation". The National. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  14. ^ "JNF UK won't back Yachad". The Jewish Chronicle. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  15. ^ Sherwood, Harriet (12 November 2015). "Poll of British Jews finds widespread unease with Israel's policies". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  16. ^ Frazer, Jenni; Magid, Jacob (12 November 2015). "Most British Jews find Israel's approach to peace harmful, new study shows". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Survey finds 41 per cent of young Jews would back sanctions against Israel to advance peace". The Jewish Chronicle. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  18. ^ Ayalon, Ami (5 February 2016). "Ami Ayalon". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  19. ^ Oryszczuk, Stephen; Walters, Louisa (28 March 2017). "Brexit challenger Gina Miller at Yachad: Corbyn's Labour 'not a functioning Opposition'". Jewish News. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  20. ^ Weich, Ben (12 September 2019). "Wes Streeting: whether it's on Israel or antisemitism, I get attacked by all sides". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  21. ^ a b Harpin, Lee (25 June 2019). "Left-wing group Yachad an 'increasingly important player' in Westminster, claims Labour MP Stephen Twigg". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  22. ^ Harpin, Lee; Walters, Louisa (24 November 2022). "Ex-Middle East minister Burt says it's becoming 'more difficult' to criticise Israel". Jewish News. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  23. ^ Walters, Louisa (12 April 2021). "Simon Schama: Battle of competitive victimhood hampering two state solution bid". Jewish News. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  24. ^ Harpin, Lee; Walters, Louisa (28 June 2023). "Lib Dem's Moran calls Gove's anti-BDS legislation an 'awful, awful, grubby bill'". Jewish News. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  25. ^ Harpin, Lee (20 April 2020). "Hard-left attacks Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer after donation from Jewish philanthropist". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  26. ^ a b c Shaviv, Miriam; Magid, Jacob (9 March 2013). "Left-wing Zionist group's rejection ignites UK debate". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Zionist turns on Zionist in 'anti-Israel' attack". The Jewish Chronicle. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  28. ^ Buchanan, Kirsty (10 February 2022). "Board of Deputies may face vote on censuring Yachad". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  29. ^ Israel-Gaza conflict – August 2 as it happened Telegraph.co.uk, 3 August 2014
  30. ^ Frazer, Jenni (13 March 2023). "Over 1,500 British Jews and Israeli expats protest against the Netanyahu government". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  31. ^ Harpin, Lee; Walters, Louisa (8 March 2023). "London Israel demo organisers condemn 'leftist' claims as both 'wrong and misleading'". Jewish News. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  32. ^ Harpin, Lee; Walters, Louisa (31 August 2023). "UK communal leaders ignore calls to boycott meeting with Israeli minister". Jewish News. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  33. ^ Shehadi, Lemma (24 November 2023). "British-Jewish groups see truce opening the way to calls for peace". The National. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  34. ^ Sherwood, Harriet (21 October 2023). "Shock, rage, increasing unease: UK's Jewish community wrestles with response to war". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  35. ^ Rocker, Simon (16 November 2023). "Different faiths unite for 'Humanity, Not Hatred' vigil". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 26 January 2024.

Further reading