LONDON – As Israel's image reaches a low point in Britain, the kingdom's Jewish organizations have decided to launch joint activities in a bid to help improve the negative image.
Daniel Shek, chief executive of Bicom, the British Israel Communications and Research Centre, said his organization was working on a regular basis to improve the image, especially after the increasing drop in the British public opinion's view of Israel following the Israel Defense Forces' recent operations.
"The project's is aimed at providing more information about the State of Israel and increasing the British citizens' awareness. There is great similarity between the two countries, and therefore we are operating to make the British understand that there is a western reality in the State of Israel. Comparing Israel to the apartheid policy is unacceptable," he stated.
According to Shek, Israel has become a punch-bag in Europe, which can be hit in any opportunity, and the proof is the academic boycott on Israel, which was lifted two weeks ago.
"Academic discussions, such as a discussion which was held at the University of Oxford recently on the question whether Zionism is the greatest danger, have become legitimate. Covering what is happening in the area is legitimate, but the discussion on Israel being a Jewish state in the Middle East is worrying," Bicom's chief executive said.
Sources at Britain's Jewish organizations said they were helping the State of Israel and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with its public relations task.
'Close relations between anti-Semitism, anti-Israel opinions'
According to Shek, "we are in fact complementing their work, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a governmental institution with limited economic resources. Our PR organization is strong and we have a team of professionals and experts in public relations."
Additional organizations have joined the image improvement mission. Mark Gardner, spokesman for the Community Security Trust (CST), said his organization welcomed the initiative.
"There are close relations between anti-Semitism and prejudice and the anti-Israel opinions prevailing in Britain. Any new initiative that can help or is interested in helping to fight the phenomenon is a blessed initiative and will receive the necessary assistance from us," he promised.
Sources at the Jewish Leadership Council of Great Britain also said their organizations would be happy to join the initiative to help Israel.