Voice of the Jewish News: 25 more years of missed chances?
This week's double editorial reflects on the anniversary of the Oslo accords, before reflecting on the rolling row of Labour antisemitism
Despite all the hope and hype, the Oslo Accords, signed on the White House lawn 25 years ago this week, were an unmitigated failure. A quarter of a century later, peace between Israel and the Palestinians seems even more out of reach than it was back in the dark days of the early 1990s. Both sides have been unable to learn from its harsh lessons.
The Palestinians have grown ever more violent and fragmented, with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas (currently serving in the 13th year of his four-year presidential term) a weak and ineffectual leader. On the Israeli side, the current balance of power in the Knesset is such that any prime minister who calls for the dismantling of West Bank settlements would quickly be relieved of his duties.
The Israeli and Palestinian leadership have not officially met face-to-face since 2010. However, someone, at some point, will have no choice but to heed the terms of the Oslo Accords that cost then Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin his life, and realise that maps must be altered and painful compromises made if Israel is to have any possible reconciliation with the Arab world. For the sake of both sides, it can’t wait another 25 years.
A sweeter future…
The sweetness of the Jewish new year has been tinged with the bitterness of the interminable Labour antisemitism scandal. During these days of reflection, we look back on so many missed opportunities for the party’s leadership to finally show it’s prepared to grasp the initiative and decisively act.
Let’s hope next Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur sees us experience sweetness and hope rather than bitterness and insecurity.
Jewish News wishes all our loyal readers well over the fast. And may we all enjoy a happy and healthy new year.
LISTEN to this week’s episode of the Jewish Views Podcast!
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
