British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has affirmed his continued patronage of the Jewish National Fund-U.K.
His assurances come on the heels of pressure from pro-Palestinian groups.
The Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign last month demanded Brown resign as a patron of JNF-U.K., saying JNF’s discriminatory practice of not selling land to Arabs was a blight on the prime minister’s reputation.
A spokesman from Brown’s office said, “The Prime Minister supports a number of charities, but does not necessarily support every policy or decision they make. He agreed to become a patron of JNF-U.K. in order to encourage their work to promote charitable projects for everyone who lives in Israel.”
The spokesman added that there was “no question” Brown would continue his patronage of JNF-U.K.
Brown became a JNF-U.K. patron shortly after becoming prime minister last June, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Tony Blair, who is now serving as Middle East peace envoy for the diplomatic Quartet of nations.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
