Prime Minister Gordon Brown's reshuffle this week yielded a mixed bag as far as Jewish and Israeli interests were concerned, with some appointments greeted with quiet satisfaction and others with mild concern.
Aside from obvious comments on the surprise return of Peter Mandelson, who one Israeli diplomat insisted had been "extremely friendly" towards Israel as the EU's trade commissioner, the appointment which drew the most response was that of Sadiq Khan as the new minister for Community Cohesion.
As they will have to work with him closely in the next few months, none of the community leaders who spoke to the JC was willing to be quoted. But they admitted to a certain degree of concern at the arrival of the MP who had fought as a solicitor for antisemitic preacher, Louis Farrakhan to be allowed to enter the UK; who was probed by MI5 for his alleged ties to suspected terrorists; and is a regular participant in events organised by the Muslim Council of Britain.
Mr Khan will be in charge, among other things, of implementing the recommendations of the parliamentary inquiry on antisemitism. Some observers believe that his promotion was a "balancing act" by Mr Brown, who had enraged Muslim groups a day earlier by making outspoken Phil Woolas the new Immigration Minister.