The following response to statement on Gaza by the Jewish Board of Deputies (et al.) had 89 signatories as of Sunday afternoon. They include the following prominent people: Max Price (VC of UCT), Anton Harber (journalist), Jonathan Shapiro (cartoonist), Jonny Steinberg (author), Graeme Bloch (activist), Andrew Feinstein (former MP), Deborah Posel (academic), and Lael Bethlehem (CEO of the Johannesburg Development Agency.) The original statement and the names of the signatories can be found here.

Response by members of the South African Jewish community to a statement by the Jewish Board of Deputies, Zionist Federation and Chief Rabbi concerning Israel's attack on Gaza, January 11 2009

The Jewish Board of Deputies, Zionist Federation and Chief Rabbi have issued a statement titled "South African Jewish Community on the Situation in Gaza" (see here). It claims that the "South African Jewish Community firmly supports the decision of the Government of Israel to launch a military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip."

We are members of the South African Jewish Community. While we recognise the existence of communal structures, we are distressed that they purport to speak for us and the many Jews who are uncomfortable with the destruction in Gaza, claiming one collective view for the entire community. Given the divergence of opinion within the community, their approach is irresponsible and we are forced to respond.

We are dismayed by the disproportionate use of force by the Israeli military in Gaza. So far over 750 Palestinians and 13 Israelis have been killed. Many of the Palestinian casualties are civilians -- unarmed and uninvolved in any operations against Israel. We deplore all the lives lost whether in Sderot or Gaza. We are acutely aware that while parts of Southern Israel have lived under the constant threat of Hamas rockets, the residents of Gaza are experiencing significantly greater terror and destruction.

We strongly oppose the rockets Hamas has been firing into Israel before and during this bombardment. These have deliberately targeted civilians and we call on communities and groups vocal in their support for the Palestinians to condemn these, as we do.

As members of the Jewish community we recognise that Israel's response is an inhumane and disproportionate collective punishment prohibited under international law. We also condemn the long siege Israel has inflicted on the people of Gaza and call for this to be immediately lifted to allow food, medical supplies, fuel, electricity and foreign aid to reach credible agencies in Gaza.

We call for an immediate ceasefire by both sides and lifting of the siege of Gaza. We also recognise that Gaza's fate, in the minds of Palestinians and in reality, cannot be severed from the West Bank and that ending the occupation in the West Bank is a critical part of resolving tensions in the region.

Reaching a negotiated settlement between Israelis and Palestinians is an extremely difficult challenge as it is and the attack on Gaza moves us further away from this goal. We also call on the Jewish Board of Deputies not to exacerbate local tensions with statements that demonstrate a lack of compassion for Palestinian lives.

Signed:

1. Nathan Geffen
2. Doron Isaacs
3. Leah Abramsohn
4. Jane Arthur
5. Vanessa Barolsky
6. Sheila Basel
7. Sam Beckbessinger
8. Keren Ben-Zeev
9. Jonathan Berger
10. Kim Berman
11. Lael Bethlehem
12. Graeme Bloch
13. Bradley Bordiss
14. Joel Bregman
15. Daniel Browde
16. Emma Browde
17. Steven Budlender
18. Tali Cassidy
19. Jared Chaitowitz
20. Ivor Chipkin
21. Viv Cohen
22. Liat Davis
23. Gordon Driver
24. Erika Elk
25. Daniel Eppel
26. Merle Favis
27. Judy Favish
28. Andrew Feinstein
29. Joe Fine
30. Meghan Finn
31. Roslyn Fish
32. Adrian Friedman
33. Michel Friedman
34. Shelagh Gastrow
35. Ingrid Gavshon
36. Tessa Frootko Gordon
37. Harris Gordon
38. Lara Granville
39. Anton Harber
40. Jesse Harber
41. Joey Hasson
42. Rebecca Hodes
43. Anthony Hodgson
44. Timothy Fish Hodgson
45. Jonathan Hoffenberg
46. Suzanne Hotz
47. Gilad Isaacs
48. Maureen Isaacson
49. Michel Joffe
50. Elle Katzeff
51. Skye Katzeff
52. David Kaplan
53. Tessa de Kock
54. Emma Levy
55. Leon Levy
56. Lorna Levy
57. Lynne Lomofsky
58. Daniel Mackintosh
59. Lauren Niedel
60. Colin Purkey
61. Jeremy Raizon
62. Steven Robins
63. Philip Krause
64. Robert Krause
65. Deborah Posel
66. Max Price
67. Jessica Price
68. Ariella Raucher
69. Maxine Reitzes
70. Jeff Rudin
71. Charlotte Schaer
72. Kira Schlesinger
73. Minky Schlesinger
74. Julia Shapiro
75. Leonard Shapiro
76. Yvonne Shapiro
77. Rosemary Shapiro-Liu
78. Jessica Sherman
79. Gavin Silber
80. Melinda Silverman
81. Jonny Steinberg
82. Brett Steingo
83. Eitan Stern
84. John Stodel
85. Carly Tanur
86. Tara Weinberg
87. Sean Wasserman
88. Zapiro
89. Kelly Zimbler