A letter published recently criticizes former Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband for his positions on Israel and his use of Jewish identity in political discourse. The letter, authored by Charles Golding of Ra’anana, Israel, challenges Miliband’s self-identification "as a proud Jew" in public statements concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Golding referenced Miliband’s speech last month and his appearance at a Labour Friends of Palestine reception during the Labour Party conference, where Miliband expressed feeling "humbled" in the presence of Palestinian envoy Husam Zomlot. According to Golding, such declarations, particularly by someone about to criticize Israel or Jews, are problematic because they are used to lend credibility to arguments that oppose mainstream pro-Israel sentiment within the Jewish community.

The letter invokes the late Chief Rabbi Lord Immanuel Jakobovits, who addressed similar issues in his book "Zionism in my Life." Jakobovits criticized accusations of dual loyalty faced by Jews, emphasizing that his loyalty to Britain coexists with his commitment to Israel and the Jewish people. He argued that defending one’s fellow Jews in times of danger is a fundamental duty, and expressed sorrow over what he viewed as betrayals of the Jewish people by some who publicly call on others to do the same.

Golding also noted that within the Jewish community, there is a term, "As-a-Jew Jews," used to describe those perceived as leveraging their Jewish identity selectively or superficially in political arguments. He questioned the authenticity of Miliband’s Jewish identity, asking whether Miliband engages meaningfully with the broader Jewish community, the majority of whom, Golding asserts, are supportive of Israel. He suggested that Miliband’s Jewishness may be limited to occasional cultural references rather than practical association or solidarity.

The letter concludes with a greeting for the Jewish New Year, underscoring Golding’s message of community and identity amid political disagreement. Miliband’s approach and statements continue to stimulate debate about the role of identity in discussions surrounding Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.