Muslim and Jewish leaders in the UK on Thursday issued a joint statement calling for interfaith cooperation and condemnation of civilian deaths in Gaza, saying they should not “import conflict,” but rather “export peace.”
The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) condemned civilian deaths and expressions of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and racism, calling on both communities to “redouble efforts to work together and get to know one another.”
In the wake of mass protests and a spike in anti-Semitism in the UK, the statement acknowledged both sides had “deeply held views about the conflict in Israel and Palestine” and disagreements over its origins and solutions, but insisted there are many points of agreement.
"The death of every civilian is a tragedy, and every effort should be taken to minimize such losses,” the statement said. “In spite of the situation in the Middle East, we must continue to work hard for good community relations in the UK. We must not import conflict. We must export peace instead.”
The joint statement is considered a significant step forward for both groups, which froze relations in 2009 when the MCB’s then Deputy Secretary-General, Daud Abdullah, signed the Istanbul Declaration, threatening violence against Israel supporters and British troops. The MCB has also boycotted Holocaust Memorial Day in recent years.
“We need constructive dialogue to limit our disagreements and identify the widest possible range of areas for cooperation. There are more issues that unite us than divide us,” the groups said.
With reference to the fresh wave of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the UK, triggered by events in the Middle East, both groups urged caution and responsibility in their protests so that demonstrations and political statements didn’t spill over into racist attacks. “There can be no excuse for racism, violence, or other forms of intimidation, when expressing views in the media, on the streets, outside shops or online,” they said.
