Under the headline "Top British Jews urge immediate Gaza ceasefire", Agence France Presse reports that Israel continues to alienate its most important international supporters.
LONDON (AFP) — A group of prominent British Jews wrote to the Israeli government Sunday to urge an immediate ceasefire, saying only a negotiated solution could secure long-term security in the region.
The letter, published in The Observer weekly newspaper, warned that Israel's assault targeting Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip could strengthen extremism.
The letter had 11 signatories, including respected rabbis, university professors and politicians, who described themselves as "friends of Israel" who were looking "with horror" at the death toll on both sides, which they said could "undermine international support for Israel."
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They said Hamas' rocket attacks on Israeli civilians were "war crimes" which should not be tolerated.
"However, we believe that only negotiations can secure long-term security for Israel and the region," they wrote.
"We are concerned that rather than bringing security to Israel, a continued military offensive could strengthen extremists, destabilise the region and exacerbate tensions inside Israel with its one million Arab citizens."
The signatories called for "an immediate and permanent ceasefire entailing an end to all rocket attacks and the complete and permanent lifting of the blockade of Gaza."
They also demanded international monitoring of the ceasefire agreement, with measures to ensure the security of Israel's borders and the prevention of weapons smuggling into Gaza.
"An immediate ceasefire is not only a humanitarian necessity but also a strategic priority for the future security of Israelis, Palestinians and people of the region," they said.
The signatories included Jeremy Beecham, former chair of the Labour party;
Rabbi Tony Bayfield, head of the Movement for Reform Judaism; lawyer Michael Mitzman, organiser for the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust for the Home Office.