Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council launch paper on opportunities and challenges of Brexit for the Jewish community

The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council last night launched a paper entitled Brexit and the Jewish Community which seeks to outline the opportunities and challenges Brexit presents to the Jewish community.

At a packed event in the Houses of Parliament, hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Jews, Daniel Hannan MEP and Louise Ellman MP  discussed the potential opportunities and challenges of leaving the EU for the Jewish community with Sky’s Sandy Rashty..

Daniel Hannan said: “The EU is based around the idea that the nation state is arbitrary, transient and discredited. I can’t think of a stronger vindication of the desire of people to form their own state than the story of Israel.”

Louise Ellman said: “The important work the EU has done has helped us to address antisemitism and may provide protection on issue such as shechita.”

The Paper includes several key asks including assurances that financial sanctions are not lifted on antisemitic terror groups after we leave the European Union. Brexit can also be seen as an opportunity to look at proscribing Hezbollah in its entirety. Other areas the report covers are trade with Israel and issues concerning kosher meat.

Following the event, Board of Deputies Chief Executive Gillian Merron and Jewish Leadership Council Chief Executive Simon Johnson, said: “Since the EU referendum, there has been a great deal of uncertainty around Britain’s future. This Paper clarifies how leaving the European Union could affect the Jewish community and sets out our position regarding key areas of Jewish life. We hope that it will both inform and shape the debate around the withdrawal process and ensure that the Jewish community is able to continue to thrive in the UK.”

Read the Paper here.

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