Jews in UK and US split on Israel's attack on Gaza
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Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip has caused a division of opinion among Jews in Britain and America.
A spokesman for a British website, zionismontheweb, said it had experienced considerable support for Israel.
"Given that this is a fight between the Israeli Defence Force and the Hamas terrorists who are illegally occupying Gaza, which should be under the Palestinian Authority, perhaps that result is not so surprising," said the site's administrator. "It wasn't so long ago that Hamas was throwing people in Gaza off the roof of buildings because they supported Fatah and the Palestinian Authority. There is a side to this which isn't being shared."
But other groups called for a ceasefire. Peace Now UK, a group campaigning for reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, issued a statement saying: "The time has come for the government of Israel to hold its fire and to let diplomacy work." Another group, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, was planning a protest outside the London home of Ron Prosor, Israel's ambassador to London.
In America, however, the Jewish community has been widely supportive of Israel.
"Folks here have a good understanding of what Israelis are facing," said Josh Block, of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a lobbying group. "Israel left Gaza in 2005 and in return got kidnapping and at least 6,300 rockets sent into Israeli territory." (©Daily Telegraph, London)
- Alex Spillius and Duncan Gardham in London and Washington
