Thousands of leaders from Jewish communities around the world—including prominent figures from North America, the United Kingdom and other countries—have signed a letter addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that his government’s policies and rhetoric are causing “lasting damage” to both Israel and global Jewry.
The letter opens with a declaration of support: “We, members of Jewish communities around the world, support the State of Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people. Our commitment to Israel and its citizens is deep and unwavering—always, and especially since the barbaric Hamas attack of October 7. We harbor no illusions about the actions and intentions of Hamas, other extremist forces or the states that support them.”
The letter, sent Thursday, states that the decisions of the Israeli government have harmed Jews around the world. “We recognize the painful dilemmas any Israeli government must confront when facing such threats,” the signatories wrote. “However, we cannot ignore the ongoing damage being caused by the policies and rhetoric of your government—to Israel, to its international standing and to the prospects of achieving a secure peace for both Israelis and Palestinians. This has serious consequences not only for the State of Israel, but also for the well-being, security and unity of Jewish communities in the diaspora.” The letter adds that current policies are also fueling antisemitism worldwide.
“As past, present and future leaders of Jewish communities, we do not remain silent in the face of external threats to Israel,” the letter continues, “nor will we remain silent when we believe that the policies of Israel’s government are endangering the strength, security and sustainability of both Israel and global Jewry. We will continue to raise our voices and encourage others in our communities to do the same. We call on the heads of leading institutions and organizations in our communities to make clear that politicians who use racist language are not welcome among us. We reject actions and speech that contradict our values, our history and tradition, Israel’s Declaration of Independence and the rule of law.”
The signatories urge the prime minister to ensure the provision of food and humanitarian aid to Gaza residents, to reach a deal to return all hostages and end the war, and to clearly commit that Israel will neither attempt to resettle Gaza nor pursue or support policies of expelling Palestinian civilians.
The letter also calls on Netanyahu to crack down on Jewish extremist violence in the West Bank. “If the Israel Defense Forces, when ordered by you, can launch a missile through a window in Tehran and eliminate an Iranian general with pinpoint accuracy, then it certainly has the ability to maintain order in the West Bank, prevent extremist violence, protect Palestinian civilians and enforce the law,” the letter states.
The authors also criticize racist and inflammatory remarks by members of Netanyahu’s government. One example cited is Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, who recently said, “The government is racing toward erasing Gaza... Thank God we are erasing this evil... All of Gaza will be Jewish.” The letter calls such statements “a moral abomination and a desecration of God’s name,” asserting that they violate Jewish values and the foundational principles of the State of Israel.
The initiative behind the letter, known as The London Initiative (TLI), was launched last year by Sir Mick Davis and Mike Prashker. TLI aims to promote Israel in the spirit of its Declaration of Independence, through the strengthening of liberal democracy, the pursuit of a just society and a secure peace. The initiative seeks to build an unprecedented partnership between Israeli citizens and Jews worldwide who share that vision and seek a better future.
By midday Thursday, the letter had been signed by Jewish community leaders and members from 18 countries.
The letter closes with a reaffirmation of solidarity with Israeli citizens: “We continue to stand with the people of Israel, the vast majority of whom want this war to end and the 50 hostages—living and dead—still held by Hamas to be returned. Recent data show that most Israelis are prepared to pursue a secure peace with the Palestinians as part of a broader regional normalization effort. We are ready to support any Israeli initiative aimed at achieving that goal.”
Among the North American signatories are Birthright co-founder Charles Bronfman, former president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Susie Gelman, Rabbi Sharon Brous, UnXeptable founder Ofir Gutelzon and major philanthropists including Michael Gelman and Marcia Riklis.
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British signatories include Dame Vivien Duffield, chair of the Clore Duffield Foundation; Oscar-winning producer Simon Chinn; former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind; UJIA President Sir Trevor Chinn; Portland Trust chair Sir Ronald Cohen; Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg; and filmmaker Sharon Lifschitz, whose parents were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7.
Other signatories include Ronald S. Lauder Foundation CEO Marc Gervis of Canada, JCC Global President Monica Kievirt of Mexico, Kaleidoscope founder Stephen Pincus of Canada, Australian Jewish community leader Ron Finkel, former Canadian ambassador to Israel Jon Allen and former CCLJ president in Belgium Michel Soskine.