Not in our name.

We condemn the occupation, encampment, the violence, destruction and starvation inflicted by Israel on the Palestinian population in Gaza.

We believe it is in Israel’s power to bring an end or the very least significantly lessen the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.

We condemn the brutality of the Zionist settlers in the West Bank, Jordan valley and Gaza. We condemn the apparent complicity of the IDF and the State with the settlers’ actions. We condemn the colluding role we know the IDF is playing with these settlers.

The majority of our group believe that genocide and/or ethnic cleansing is being committed in our name.

Jewish safety does not depend on Palestinian oppression. Never Again means never again for anyone.

We recognise that antisemitism is real and dangerous. Spurious attempts to conflate criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism should be called out and robustly challenged.

Judaism is thousands of years old; Zionism is 150 years old. Newcastle Minyan was formed as a space where non-Zionist and anti-Zionist views can be expressed openly. We will not pray for the wellbeing of a state which is committing genocide.

We understand the discomfort and distress it causes many Jews with a deep connection to Israel to accept that the country is guilty of something so awful. Shul should be a place to process these feelings and fears in safety, not to be protected from truth and reality.