The leading representative Jewish organisations in the UK, France and Germany have announced the formation of a new alliance, known as the JE3.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (Crif) and the Central Council of Jews in Germany (ZJD) confirmed the creation of the new joint project during the Anti-Defamation League’s J7 conference in Berlin.
Modelled on the so-called E3 diplomatic alliance between each of their nations, which coordinates foreign policy matters including Iran and Middle East peace, the JE3 will aim to align the three communities' positions on areas of mutual interest, such as antisemitism, international relations and communal development.
The organisations said the alliance is intended to complement existing structures such as the World Jewish Congress, the European Jewish Congress, and the J7, in the same way that the E3 complements the UN, the EU and the G7.
In a joint statement, the three presidents - Phil Rosenberg of the Board of Deputies, Dr Josef Schuster of ZJD, and Yonathan Arfi of Crif – said: “It is our hope that the JE3 will become a powerful voice for our communities on issues that we care about together.
"It is particularly significant that we brought together the new grouping in Berlin, 80 years after the end of the Holocaust.
"This is a show of intent by our three flourishing communities that we are committed to boosting Jewish life in our respective countries, cooperating in the fight against antisemitism, and enhancing bilateral and multilateral relations between our countries and Israel.
"We look forward to deepening our work together over the coming years.”
All three organisations are also members of the J7, also known as the Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism, which convened the Berlin meeting.
