Difference between revisions of "West Midlands Friends of Israel"
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The organisation was founded in late 2013 specifically to replace the [[Birmingham Israel Information Centre]], a Zionist propaganda office that had operated in Birmingham for many years before closing due to funding difficulties.<ref name="JC2014">The Jewish Chronicle, [https://www.thejc.com/news/community/birminghams-friendly-gesture-wwz66c86 Birmingham's friendly gesture] ''The Jewish Chronicle'', January 13, 2014.</ref> The [[Birmingham Israel Information Centre]] received substantial funding from the [[Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] and the [[Jewish Agency for Israel]], typical state-backed mechanisms used to promote the Zionist entity abroad.<ref name="JC2014" /> With the centre's closure, WMFoI launched with an initial membership of around 30 individuals (Jews and non-Jews), relying on subscriptions and donations to sustain its activities.<ref name="JC2014" /> | The organisation was founded in late 2013 specifically to replace the [[Birmingham Israel Information Centre]], a Zionist propaganda office that had operated in Birmingham for many years before closing due to funding difficulties.<ref name="JC2014">The Jewish Chronicle, [https://www.thejc.com/news/community/birminghams-friendly-gesture-wwz66c86 Birmingham's friendly gesture] ''The Jewish Chronicle'', January 13, 2014.</ref> The [[Birmingham Israel Information Centre]] received substantial funding from the [[Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] and the [[Jewish Agency for Israel]], typical state-backed mechanisms used to promote the Zionist entity abroad.<ref name="JC2014" /> With the centre's closure, WMFoI launched with an initial membership of around 30 individuals (Jews and non-Jews), relying on subscriptions and donations to sustain its activities.<ref name="JC2014" /> | ||
| − | Key figures include founder and chair [[Ruth Jacobs]], who directed the [[Birmingham Israel Information Centre]] until its 2013 closure, has advocated for Zionist narratives of coexistence for over three decades, co-founded [[Nisa Nashim West Midlands]] for Jewish-Muslim dialogue, and sits on the West Midlands Combined Authority Faith and Strategic Partnership Group.<ref name="RootsJacobs">Friends of Roots, [https://www.friendsofroots.net/ruth-jacobs-bio Ruth Jacobs Bio] ''Friends of Roots'', accessed February 9, 2026.</ref> Committee member [[Michael Rowe]], a defamation and reputation management lawyer, former parliamentary staffer, and chair of the Young National Jewish Assembly, frequently defends the Zionist entity in media appearances, including on GB News.<ref name="XPosts">West Midlands Friends of Israel, [https://x.com/WMFofIsrael/posts Recent posts] ''X (formerly Twitter)'', accessed February 9, 2026.</ref> [[Mandy Blumenthal]] serves as a committee member and has been actively involved in public statements and media work for the group.<ref name="JC2014" /> Early speaker [[Noru Tsalic]], an Israeli management consultant based in Coventry, addressed the inaugural event in January 2014.<ref name="JC2014" /> Volunteer [[Keith Rowe]] has spoken for WMFoI on Gaza ceasefire issues, expressing continued support for the settler colony.<ref name="RayoCeasefire">Hits Radio, [https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/coventry/news/ceasefire-gaza-west-midlands-reaction Ceasefire Gaza West Midlands Reaction] ''Hits Radio'', accessed February 9, 2026.</ref> | + | Key figures include: |
| + | *founder and chair [[Ruth Jacobs]], who directed the [[Birmingham Israel Information Centre]] until its 2013 closure, has advocated for Zionist narratives of coexistence for over three decades, co-founded [[Nisa Nashim West Midlands]] for Jewish-Muslim dialogue, and sits on the [[West Midlands Combined Authority Faith and Strategic Partnership Group]].<ref name="RootsJacobs">Friends of Roots, [https://www.friendsofroots.net/ruth-jacobs-bio Ruth Jacobs Bio] ''Friends of Roots'', accessed February 9, 2026.</ref> | ||
| + | *Committee member [[Michael Rowe]], a defamation and reputation management lawyer, former parliamentary staffer, and chair of the [[Young National Jewish Assembly]], frequently defends the Zionist entity in media appearances, including on GB News.<ref name="XPosts">West Midlands Friends of Israel, [https://x.com/WMFofIsrael/posts Recent posts] ''X (formerly Twitter)'', accessed February 9, 2026.</ref> | ||
| + | *[[Mandy Blumenthal]] serves as a committee member and has been actively involved in public statements and media work for the group.<ref name="JC2014" /> | ||
| + | *Early speaker [[Noru Tsalic]], an Israeli management consultant based in Coventry, addressed the inaugural event in January 2014.<ref name="JC2014" /> | ||
| + | *Volunteer [[Keith Rowe]] has spoken for WMFoI on Gaza ceasefire issues, expressing continued support for the settler colony.<ref name="RayoCeasefire">Hits Radio, [https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/coventry/news/ceasefire-gaza-west-midlands-reaction Ceasefire Gaza West Midlands Reaction] ''Hits Radio'', accessed February 9, 2026.</ref> | ||
| − | In 2014 the group played a prominent role in defeating a BDS-related procurement motion at Dudley Council through coordinated pressure with [[UK Lawyers for Israel]] and the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]].<ref name="BOD2014">Board of Deputies of British Jews, [https://bod.org.uk/bod-news/leadership-and-grassroots-combine-to-beat-bds/ Leadership and Grassroots Combine to Beat BDS] ''Board of Deputies of British Jews'', December 11, 2014.</ref> WMFoI continues to issue statements criticising UK government moves such as recognition of a Palestinian state, describing them as rewarding terrorism, while maintaining a modest online presence with roughly 786 followers on X and operating from private premises without formal charity registration.<ref name="XProfile" /> | + | In 2014 the group played a prominent role in defeating a BDS-related procurement motion at [[Dudley Council]] through coordinated pressure with [[UK Lawyers for Israel]] and the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]].<ref name="BOD2014">Board of Deputies of British Jews, [https://bod.org.uk/bod-news/leadership-and-grassroots-combine-to-beat-bds/ Leadership and Grassroots Combine to Beat BDS] ''Board of Deputies of British Jews'', December 11, 2014.</ref> WMFoI continues to issue statements criticising UK government moves such as recognition of a Palestinian state, describing them as rewarding terrorism, while maintaining a modest online presence with roughly 786 followers on X and operating from private premises without formal charity registration.<ref name="XProfile" /> |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Latest revision as of 12:40, 9 February 2026
West Midlands Friends of Israel
West Midlands Friends of Israel (WMFoI) is a pro-Zionist advocacy organisation based in the West Midlands, United Kingdom, that campaigns vigorously for the Zionist entity and the settler colony known as 'Israel' by hosting events, issuing public statements, engaging with local media, and mobilising opposition to measures critical of the Jewish State's colonial policies.[1] The group routinely portrays criticism of the Zionist regime as antisemitism in order to delegitimise protected anti-Zionist beliefs and sustain support for the settler colony.
The organisation was founded in late 2013 specifically to replace the Birmingham Israel Information Centre, a Zionist propaganda office that had operated in Birmingham for many years before closing due to funding difficulties.[2] The Birmingham Israel Information Centre received substantial funding from the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Jewish Agency for Israel, typical state-backed mechanisms used to promote the Zionist entity abroad.[2] With the centre's closure, WMFoI launched with an initial membership of around 30 individuals (Jews and non-Jews), relying on subscriptions and donations to sustain its activities.[2]
Key figures include:
- founder and chair Ruth Jacobs, who directed the Birmingham Israel Information Centre until its 2013 closure, has advocated for Zionist narratives of coexistence for over three decades, co-founded Nisa Nashim West Midlands for Jewish-Muslim dialogue, and sits on the West Midlands Combined Authority Faith and Strategic Partnership Group.[3]
- Committee member Michael Rowe, a defamation and reputation management lawyer, former parliamentary staffer, and chair of the Young National Jewish Assembly, frequently defends the Zionist entity in media appearances, including on GB News.[4]
- Mandy Blumenthal serves as a committee member and has been actively involved in public statements and media work for the group.[2]
- Early speaker Noru Tsalic, an Israeli management consultant based in Coventry, addressed the inaugural event in January 2014.[2]
- Volunteer Keith Rowe has spoken for WMFoI on Gaza ceasefire issues, expressing continued support for the settler colony.[5]
In 2014 the group played a prominent role in defeating a BDS-related procurement motion at Dudley Council through coordinated pressure with UK Lawyers for Israel and the Board of Deputies of British Jews.[6] WMFoI continues to issue statements criticising UK government moves such as recognition of a Palestinian state, describing them as rewarding terrorism, while maintaining a modest online presence with roughly 786 followers on X and operating from private premises without formal charity registration.[1]
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 West Midlands Friends of Israel, @WMFofIsrael profile X (formerly Twitter), accessed February 9, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The Jewish Chronicle, Birmingham's friendly gesture The Jewish Chronicle, January 13, 2014.
- ↑ Friends of Roots, Ruth Jacobs Bio Friends of Roots, accessed February 9, 2026.
- ↑ West Midlands Friends of Israel, Recent posts X (formerly Twitter), accessed February 9, 2026.
- ↑ Hits Radio, Ceasefire Gaza West Midlands Reaction Hits Radio, accessed February 9, 2026.
- ↑ Board of Deputies of British Jews, Leadership and Grassroots Combine to Beat BDS Board of Deputies of British Jews, December 11, 2014.