Na'amod

File:naamod 2023 1.jpg

Na'amod (in Hebrew נַעֲמֹד) means 'We Will Stand' in Hebrew, and is taken from the liturgy used to call Jews up to a Torah reading during synagogue services.Na'amod, [https://naamod.org.uk/who-we-are/ "Who We Are"], accessed 5th January 2024 Na'amod was founded in May 2018 in response to the IDF shooting of Gazans in the Gaza Border Protests of that year. A group of 50 Jewish activists protested the shootings by holding a mourning service in Parliament Square, including reciting the Mourner's Kaddish, a Jewish prayer for the dead. This was highly controversial within the Jewish community and the ensuing criticism led some of the activists present to establish what would become Na'amod.{{Cite news|title=We're British Jewry's Newest Anti-occupation Group - and You Can't Dismiss Us|language=en|work=Haaretz|url=https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-we-re-u-k-jews-s-newest-anti-occupation-group-you-can-t-dismiss-us-1.6366813|access-date=2021-12-17}} They drew inspiration from similar movements elsewhere, such as IfNotNow in The United States, which had also recited the Mourner's Kaddish in public to mourn Palestinians and Israelis killed in the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict outside the offices of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.{{Cite news|url=http://forward.com/news/israel/203111/j-streets-gaza-war-support-wins-moderate-praise/|title=J Street's Gaza War Support Wins 'Moderate' Praise — But Alienates Some Backers|work=The Forward|access-date=2017-06-22}} Na'amod's first action took place in Luton Airport in July 2018, where activists approached members of a UJIA Birthright trip with leaflets about alternative narratives, to counter what they argue are the one-sided briefings that British Jews receive on Birthright tours of Israel.{{Cite web |last=Weich |first=Ben |date=16 July 2018 |title=Police escort anti-occupation group away from Birthright tour |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/birthright-kaddish-for-gaza-luton-airport-naamod-ujia-1.467251 |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=www.thejc.com}} Raphi Bloom, Co-chair of North West Friends of Israel, commented, "their attempt to besmirch UJIA is simply malicious".{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-truth-is-just-an-inconvenience-for-naamod/|title=The truth is just an inconvenience for Na'amod|website=blogs.timesofisrael.com}}

In 2022, David Collier, a British Jewish blogger on antisemitism, reported that Na'amod had offered to help Pete Gregson, a left-wing activist who had been expelled from both GMB and the Labour Party for Holocaust denial, arrange a UK speaking tour.{{cite news|url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/labour-bans-activist-who-promoted-holocaust-revisionism/|title=Labour bans activist who promoted Holocaust revisionism|last=Cohen|first=Justin|date=4 April 2016|access-date=22 December 2020|work=Jewish News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/britains-labour-party-expels-activist-over-holocaust-denial-450309|title=Britain's Labour party expels activist over Holocaust denial|website=Jpost.com|date=5 April 2016 |access-date=23 October 2021}} Na'amod initially made a public statement that Collier's allegations were meritless and referred to him as an "extreme right-winger" who was smearing their group due to their support for Palestinian rights. When Collier released emails that confirmed the contacts between Na'amod and Gregson, the group stated that while an initial investigation had turned up no evidence of any such interactions, they would conduct a follow-up review on the matter. Na'amod eventually confirmed the Gregson contacts, stating that the unnamed individual who made them had been dismissed from their ranks to "gardening leave", and apologized to Collier while making a small donation to a UK peace organization.

Throughout the Gaza war, Na'amod called for an unlimited ceasefire, the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip.{{Cite web |last=Omar |first=Ayan |date=2023-10-31 |title=Jewish activists call for Gaza ceasefire outside Foreign Office |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/jewish-ceasefire-gaza-israel-foreign-office-palestine-hamas-b1117115.html |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=The Standard |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CzrJgiYMxR1/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=www.instagram.com}}

Na'amod is a decentralised non-hierarchical organisation made up of six teams which manage different aspects of the organisation. Members make decisions by consensus, and the movement sets policy at quarterly "Big Meetings" and annual Strategy Retreats. In between these, a body called the Strategy Leadership Team meets to oversee the movement and provide strategic direction. Membership is restricted to those who identify as Jewish.{{Cite web |title=Who we are |url=https://naamod.org.uk/who-we-are/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Na'amod |language=en-US}}

Na'amod has campaigned against plans to annex the West Bank,{{Cite news|title=Anti-annexation group projects message at Foreign Office, Board and JNF|url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/anti-annexation-group-projects-message-at-foreign-office-board-and-jnf/|access-date=2021-12-17|website=jewishnews.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US}} UK Lawyers for Israel when they hosted a representative of settler group Regavim,{{Cite web|first=Eliot|last=Cohen|date=2019-12-05|title=Why are British Jews opening their doors to far-right settler groups?|url=https://www.972mag.com/british-jews-regavim/|access-date=2021-12-17|website=+972 Magazine|language=en-US}} the appointment of Tzipi Hotovely as Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom,{{Cite web|date=2020-06-20|title=Outrage as hardliner Tzipi Hotovely is chosen as Israeli ambassador to UK|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/20/outrage-as-hardliner-tzipi-hotovely-is-chosen-as-next-israeli-ambassador-to-uk|access-date=2021-12-17|website=the Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Jewish activists removed from event with ambassador after staging protest|url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/jewish-activists-removed-from-event-with-ambassador-after-staging-protest/|access-date=2021-12-17|website=jewishnews.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Racism isn't Kosher|url=https://naamod.org.uk/campaigns/racism-not-kosher/|access-date=2021-12-17|website=Na'amod|language=en-US}} the Israeli bombing of Gaza in 2021{{Cite web|date=2021-05-21|title=Speaking to Jewish activists leading Free Palestine protests across the UK|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/politics/article/52850/1/speaking-to-jewish-activists-leading-free-palestine-protests-uk-naamod-israel|access-date=2021-12-17|website=Dazed|language=en}} and the evictions in Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem.{{Cite web |title=Sheikh Jarrah violence |url=https://naamod.org.uk/campaigns/sheikh-jarrah-violence-actions/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Na'amod |language=en-US}}

Since October 2023 Na'amod have been engaged with similarly positioned Jewish organisations, such as Jewdas, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Jewish Voice for Labour, Jewish Socialists' Group{{Cite news |last=Hazell |first=Will |date=2023-10-28 |title=Jewish groups that backed Corbyn over anti-Semitism row to join pro-Palestine march |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/28/jewish-groups-corbyn-anti-semitism-row-palestine-march/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} as part of the Gaza war protests in the United Kingdom. Internationally, Na'amod has worked alongside IfNotNow and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice.{{Cite web |title=Freedom For All Seder {{!}} About |url=https://www.freedomforallseder.com/about |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=www.freedomforallseder.com}}

Na'amod have also been involved in organising demonstrations outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office{{Cite web |last=Clifton |first=Mizy Judah |date=2024-04-05 |title=British Jews stage protest demanding Government 'fund aid not arms' in Gaza |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/british-jews-stage-protest-outside-32492764 |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=The Mirror |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jewish Activists Protest at Foreign Office Calling for a Ceasefire |url=https://novaramedia.com/2023/10/31/jewish-activists-protest-at-foreign-office-calling-for-a-ceasefire/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Novara Media |language=en}} and a walk-out in protest of Tzipi Hotovely's appearance at the 2024 Limmud Festival.{{Cite web |last=Wine |first=Gaby |date=2024-12-24 |title=Gaza protesters ejected from Limmud event with Israeli envoy Hotovely |url=https://www.thejc.com/community/protesters-disrupt-israeli-ambassador-talk-at-limmud-o9ar1pvj |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=The Jewish Chronicle |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Harpin |first=Lee |date=2024-12-23 |title=Tzipi Hotovely greeted by walkout after appearing at Limmud |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/tzipi-hotovely-greeted-by-walkout-after-appearing-at-limmud/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Jewish News |language=en-US}}

Arielle Angel, editor of US magazine Jewish Currents, sees Na'amod as one of a number of groups in the US and UK who have "moved the intra-communal conversation around Israel/Palestine".{{Cite web |title=Anti-occupation group protests StandWithUs conference |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/standwithus-focus-on-israel-student-conference-protested-naamod-anti-occupation-british-jews-jewish-1.488429 |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=www.thejc.com}} In January 2022 they were featured in a BBC documentary about antisemitism and the Jewish community.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00130hp/is-antisemitism-on-the-rise-in-the-uk|title=Is Anti-Semitism on the Rise in the UK?|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}

The Jewish Chronicle has dismissed Na'amod as "a fringe left-wing group"{{Cite news |last=Frazer |first=Jenni |date=18 June 2020 |title=Senior community figures challenge incoming Israeli envoy |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/senior-figures-challenge-incoming-israeli-envoy-tzipi-hotovely-1.500770 |access-date=2023-06-26 |work = The Jewish Chronicle}} and "a minor Jewish anti-occupation group".{{Cite news |date=9 December 2021 |title=BBC interviews 'we love death' activist on tackling Jew-hate |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/news/bbc-interviews-%27we-love-death%27-activist-on-tackling-jew-hate-52WPefblECTwTCZ8tswH5P |access-date=2023-06-26 |work = The Jewish Chronicle}} However, Keith Kahn-Harris, a sociologist and commentator on British Jewish affairs has described Na'amod as having an "influence disproportionate to their size" with activists who are "deeply engaged in Jewish life".{{Cite web|url=https://vashtimedia.com/2019/12/09/issues/the-jewish-left/keith-kahn-harris-young-jews-are-reviving-the-left-will-they-succeed/|title=Vashti - Young Jews are reviving the Jewish left - will they succeed?|date=December 9, 2019|website=Vashti}}

• Israel lobby in the United Kingdom – List of British groups which seek to influence UK foreign policy on behalf of the state of Israel or Zionism
• Yachad (UK) – Jewish NGO based in London promoting a two-state solution
• Jewdas – London-based radical left Jewish diaspora group which also opposes the occupation
• Jewish Socialists' Group – British Jewish social group which supports anti-Zionism

{{reflist}}

• [https://naamod.org.uk/ Official website]

{{British Jewry}}

Category:2018 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Jewish anti-occupation groups

Category:Jewish organisations based in the United Kingdom