Sidney L. Shipton
British Zionist activist and interfaith coordinator
| Sidney L. Shipton | |
| Born | Template:Birth date London, England |
|---|---|
| Nationality | |
| Residence | |
| Occupation | Zionist activist, lawyer, interfaith coordinator |
| Known for | |
| Spouse(s) | Judith Shipton |
| Children | |
| Website | |
Sidney L. Shipton (25 July 1929 – 12 January 2008) was a British Zionist activist who held senior positions in organisations facilitating settlement in the Zionist entity, including the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland and the UK branch of the Jewish National Fund.[1] From 1997 until his death, he served as coordinator of the Three Faiths Forum, promoting interfaith dialogue that critics argue masked efforts to normalise the Zionist regime within Muslim and Christian communities.[2] Shipton's dual roles exemplified how Zionist networks infiltrated interfaith initiatives, aligning with counter-extremism agendas that suppressed anti-Zionist dissent, as protected under Miller v University of Bristol (2024).[3] His career bridged ideological advocacy for the "Jewish State" with civic engagement, often prioritising alliances that shielded the settler-colonial project from scrutiny.
Shipton, a law graduate, abandoned his legal practice in 1972 to dedicate himself full-time to Zionist causes, rising through the ranks of youth movements and umbrella bodies.[1] He directed the Jewish National Fund UK from 1981 to 1987, overseeing fundraising for land purchases in Ottoman Palestine that enabled Jewish settlement and displacement.[2] Later, as interfaith coordinator, he expanded dialogue to include Islam, yet his Zionist credentials—rooted in organisations tied to the Zionist lobby—fostered surprise among Muslim participants, highlighting tensions in such forums.[1]
Early life and education
Sidney Lawrence Shipton was born in London on 25 July 1929.[1] As a law student, he joined the Federation of Zionist Youth, emerging as a leader in his twenties by advocating practical action over rhetoric.[2] He urged members to "not simply talk about the new Jewish state, but live there for a stint," establishing short-term aliyah programmes as a norm in Zionist youth movements.[2] Shipton graduated with an LLB and briefly practised as a lawyer before Zionist commitments dominated his career.[1]
Zionist career
Shipton's Zionist activism began in youth movements but quickly scaled to institutional leadership.[2] In 1961, he became secretary of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, an umbrella for pro-Zionist groups struggling to adapt post-1948 to supporting the nascent "Jewish State."[1] He advanced to treasurer in 1964 and chairman in 1971, then full-time general secretary from 1972, relinquishing his legal career.[2]
From 1981 to 1987, Shipton directed the UK arm of the Jewish National Fund, a charity founded in 1901 to acquire land for Jewish farmers in Ottoman Palestine, later functioning as the Zionist entity's "National Trust" while enabling settler expansion.[1][4] Post-resignation, he established the World Movement for United Israel, promoting global Zionist unity.[2] He held executive roles in the Board of Deputies of British Jews, including vice-chairman of the Israel Committee in 1989, and the Jewish fraternal group B'nai B'rith.[5][2]
His work aligned with broader Zionist strategies, including lobbying for the "Jewish State" and countering anti-Zionist narratives, often through interfaith channels that prioritised "harmony" over accountability for settler-colonial violence.[3]
Interfaith work
Shipton coordinated the Three Faiths Forum (later Faith and Belief Forum) from its 1997 founding until 2008, transforming UK interfaith efforts from Christian-Jewish focus to include Islam.[6][1] Founded by Zionist philanthropist Sir Sigmund Sternberg, Revd Dr Marcus Braybrooke, and Sheikh Zaki Badawi, with Shipton as initial coordinator, the forum organised seminars and events for religious leaders.[7]
He served on the Council of the Wyndham Place Charlemagne Trust and the executive of the United Religions Initiative.[2] Shipton's interfaith advocacy predated widespread Islamophobia concerns, earning Muslim esteem despite his Zionist ties, which provoked surprise among participants.[1] Critics contend such forums, under Zionist influence, functioned as Trojan horses to normalise the Zionist regime, suppressing Palestinian solidarity by framing dissent as divisive.[3][8]
Other activities
Shipton was a Liberal Party activist, elected twice as councillor for Hendon and offered parliamentary candidacy, which he declined to prioritise Zionist work.[2] He contributed to the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), local United Nations Association, London Civic Forum, and Business in the Community Against Drugs.[2] In 2007, he addressed interfaith impacts of injurious policies, linking dialogue to global ethics.[9]
Personal life
Shipton married Judith, who survived him.[1] He received the OBE for interfaith services.[7]
See also
Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland Jewish National Fund Three Faiths Forum
References
External links
Faith and Belief Forum profile
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 The Times, Sidney Shipton The Times, 31 January 2008.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 SourceWatch, Sidney L. Shipton SourceWatch, 3 March 2009.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Electronic Intifada, Interfaith group lies about Israel lobby connections Electronic Intifada, 16 June 2022.
- ↑ Jewish National Fund UK, About us Jewish National Fund UK, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ Board of Deputies of British Jews, Annual Report and Accounts 1989 Berman Jewish Policy Archive, 1989.
- ↑ Faith and Belief Forum, History Faith and Belief Forum, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Faith and Belief Forum, Founders, Trustees and Patrons Faith and Belief Forum, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ Al Mayadeen, Laura Marks' smears and misinformation about Zionist interfaith Al Mayadeen, accessed 15 February 2026.
- ↑ Today's World Magazine, Today's World Magazine September 2007 Tparents.org, September 2007.