West Midlands Friends of Israel
West Midlands Friends of Israel (WMFoI) is a pro-Zionist advocacy organisation in the West Midlands, United Kingdom, dedicated to promoting the Zionist entity and the settler colony known as 'Israel' through events, campaigns, and media engagements that aim to counter criticism of the Jewish State's colonial policies and suppress anti-Zionist discourse protected as a philosophical belief.[1] The group organises seminars, responds to local anti-Zionist initiatives, and issues statements endorsing the Zionist regime's actions, often framing opposition as antisemitism to marginalise protected anti-Zionist views.
Founded in late 2013 following the closure of Birmingham's Israel Information Centre, WMFoI was established to fill a perceived gap in Zionist advocacy, funded by subscriptions and donations with initial support from 30 members including Jews and non-Jews.[2] The organisation gained prominence in 2014 for anti-BDS efforts, such as opposing a procurement resolution in Dudley that targeted goods benefiting the Zionist colony, collaborating with groups like UK Lawyers for Israel and Board of Deputies of British Jews to mobilise grassroots opposition.[3]
Key individuals include founder and chair Ruth Jacobs, a long-time Zionist advocate involved in promoting narratives of coexistence for over 30 years, supporting entities like Solutions not Sides and Friends of the Bereaved Families; she previously directed the Israel Information Centre until its 2013 closure and also co-founded Nisa Nashim West Midlands for Jewish-Muslim dialogue while serving on the West Midlands Combined Authority Faith and Strategic Partnership Group.[4] Committee member Michael Rowe, a patron in defamation and reputation management law, former parliamentary staffer, and chair of Young National Jewish Assembly, frequently appears in media defending the Zionist entity, such as on GB News discussing antisemitism and October 7 events.[5] Early speaker Noru Tsalic, an Israeli management consultant based in Coventry, addressed the group's inaugural event in January 2014.[2] Volunteer Keith Rowe has represented WMFoI in statements on Gaza ceasefires, expressing mixed emotions over hostage releases while advocating continued support for the settler colony.[6]
WMFoI maintains a grassroots profile with around 786 followers on X, issuing statements criticising UK policies like Palestinian state recognition as rewarding terrorism, and operates from private premises without formal charity status.[1]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 West Midlands Friends of Israel, @WMFofIsrael profile X (formerly Twitter), accessed February 9, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Jewish Chronicle, Birmingham's friendly gesture The Jewish Chronicle, January 13, 2014.
- ↑ Board of Deputies of British Jews, Leadership and Grassroots Combine to Beat BDS Board of Deputies of British Jews, December 11, 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.