More than 500 leading members of the community have backed Marie van der Zyl’s statement that the British government should move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Religious and political figures from the across Anglo-Jewry have signed an open letter applauding the Board of Deputies president for “representing the vast majority of Jews” when she told the Conservative Friends of Israel last Sunday that she hoped Britain would move its UK outpost to the Israeli capital.

"While we differ in terms of political options and religious practice, we are united in the belief that Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel and the beating heart of the Jewish people. Her importance to Jews brings together religion, culture and peoplehood.

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Baroness Deech

"We therefore note with satisfaction and applaud your call to the British government to relocate the UK embassy. We encourage you to be even more vocal in that respect,” read the letter, which is published in full on thejc.com.

Signatory Baroness (Ruth) Deech told the JC that there had been “too much stress on the negative consequences [of the move] by the Church of England and the Catholic Archbishop. Every country should be able to have embassies situated in its capital. A British embassy in West Jerusalem is unlikely to have any real impact either way on the peace process.”

Maidenhead Rabbi Jonathan Romain also signed the letter and told the JC: “There is no doubt that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and will continue to be so after an agreement [between the Israel and the Palestinians] has been reached. I see no reason why it should not go ahead now."

Other signatories to the letter, sent to the Board president, include Labour Against Antisemitism director Alex Hearn, Brighton and Hove Reform minister Rabbi Dr Andrea Zanardo, former president of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region, Lucille Cohen and Edwin Shuker, chair of the Board's Communities and Education Division.

Meanwhile, the Movement for Reform Judaism this week warned against the move. “We are committed to two viable states as the only just and realistic solution to the present situation. Consequently, we would caution against the government taking action that might undermine peace in the region.”