An organisation in 'crisis': Jewish anti-Zionists hit back at Board of Deputies

What Happened

On Sunday, Jewish Anti-Zionist Action (JAZA), the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN), and the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) protested outside the Great Israeli Real Estate Event at Edgware United Synagogue in northwest London. The demonstration targeted the marketing of land and properties, including those in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The Board of Deputies of British Jews issued a statement condemning the protest as 'wholly unjustified' and claimed no properties beyond the Green Line were advertised. However, Sky News images and marketing materials obtained by protesters contradicted this, and event organisers had previously apologised for listing West Bank settlements as illegal. JAZA members, who were ejected after disrupting the event, said they obtained brochures and recorded conversations with vendors who acknowledged selling properties in 'Judea and Samaria' (the West Bank) off the record. Pro-Israel counter-protesters gathered outside the synagogue, and MEE journalists witnessed attacks and verbal abuse against the anti-Zionist demonstrators; one counter-protester taunted attendees with a photo of a dead Palestinian child. Counter-protesters chanted Tommy Robinson slogans, and some wore Trump hats and Jewish Defense League (JDL) apparel—the JDL is designated a right-wing terrorist group by the FBI. JAZA member Max Hammer described the counter-protesters' behaviour as 'the behaviour of a fascist mob' and accused the Board of aligning with far-right street violence, deepening a crisis within the organisation.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The incident exposes a growing schism within the British Jewish community over Israel and Zionism, as anti-Zionist Jewish groups openly challenge the Board of Deputies’ claim to communal representation. The Board’s alignment with far-right counter-protesters—some reportedly adopting Tommy Robinson chants and JDL insignia—marks a significant escalation in intra-communal polarisation, mirroring wider international divisions fuelled by the Gaza war. The contested sale of West Bank settlement properties also prolongs legal and diplomatic tensions over occupied territories, with over 100 UK parliamentarians and public figures having condemned the event beforehand.

Watch For

Monitor whether the Board of Deputies issues a retraction or correction of its statement, or faces internal backlash from member synagogues. JAZA and allied groups may stage further protests targeting similar real estate events or communal institutions. Political and regulatory scrutiny could follow, including questions in Parliament or local government reviews regarding the Edgware United Synagogue’s hosting of the event. Also watch for any legal complaints or actions under consumer protection or international law regarding the advertising of settlement properties.