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Board urged to invite PA envoy to talk

● Deputies asked to consider address from Manuel Hassassian

December 22, 2010 13:35

BySimon Rocker, Simon Rocker

2 min read

A senior officer of the Board of Deputies has urged president Vivian Wineman to issue a "historic" invitation to the Palestinian Authority's UK Ambassador, Manuel Hassassian, to address British Jewry's main representative body.

Board treasurer Laurence Brass, in a letter to Mr Wineman, said it would be right to open dialogue with the Palestinian envoy even if it incurred criticism from right-wingers "who have tended to dominate" its Middle East agenda.

Mr Brass cited the example of UJIA chairman Mick Davis, who sparked controversy last month after calling for more open debate across the Jewish community on Israeli policy.

Mr Wineman was unavailable for comment. But the Board's senior vice-president, Jonathan Arkush, was "not in favour" of asking Professor Hassassian to the Board. "It is not something I would regard as being helpful or appropriate," he said.