Statements by Israeli officials that appear to compromise Israeli sovereignty over parts of Jerusalem have infuriated world Jewry and friends of Israel. In the video below, IsraelNationalTV documents some of the anti-Olmert protests held during the Annapolis Summit.



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While Diaspora Jews are usually cautious not to criticize Israeli government policy, recent statements by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his ministers have led to an unprecedented amount of criticism from around the Jewish world.

On Monday, Olmert declared at a news conference that "the government of Israel has a sovereign right to negotiate anything on behalf of Israel," making  clear his position that Jews outside of Israel have no right to participate in decisions about the future of Jerusalem. The prime minister told reporters that the issue had "been determined long ago."

Amongst the organizations which expressed outrage at Israeli government policy was the British Herut. The group's chairman and president issued the following statement:

Likud-Herut UK deplores Monday’s statement by Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to American Jewish leaders that “Jews outside of Israel have no right to participate in decisions about the future of Jerusalem” and his indication that the issue of Jerusalem had already “been determined long ago.”

We regard this as a gross breach of trust committed by the government of Israel against the Jewish nation and an insult to Jews all over the world who have faithfully provided moral and financial support whenever called upon by the State.

Jerusalem was recaptured in 1967 to be held in trust for the Jewish nation. For this government to treat parts of Jerusalem as bartering currency represents the greatest act of treachery in 2,000 years of Jewish history.

We call upon Jews in the UK and worldwide to join in condemnation of this statement and the intentions of this, the most unpopular and discredited leadership in the history of the State of Israel.

Signed, Eric Graus, President and Zalmi Unsdorfer, Chairman