A group of prominent Jewish artists, intellectuals and academics yesterday launched a movement aimed at challenging the dominance of Britain's long-established main Jewish organization and opening debate over the conflict in the Middle East.

The group, Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), announced its establishment in ads in The Times and the Jewish Chronicle, and in an article by Oxford philosopher Dr. Brian Klug, one of the group's founders, in the Guardian's "Comment Is Free" blog, entitled "Who Speaks for Jews in Britain?"

Klug wrote that a solidarity rally organized by the Board of Deputies of British Jews during the Lebanon conflict suggested "that British Jewry, speaking with one voice, stands solidly behind the Israeli government and its military operations...It's false. Jews were deeply divided over Israel's campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon last year."

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IJV said it does not intend to replace the centuries-old, well-respected Board of Deputies. But it said the range of thought in Britain's Jewish community is not reflected by "those institutions which claim to represent the Jewish community as a whole."

"We have therefore resolved to promote the expression of alternative Jewish voices, particularly in respect of the grave situation in the Middle East, which threatens the future of both Israelis and Palestinians," the group said in a declaration posted on the Internet.

In response, Board of Deputies of British Jews Chief Executive, Jon Benjamin, said his group is "an umbrella body that includes people with a wide range of views, the Board tries to reflect this broad feeling of support for the people of Israel without passing comment on every Israeli government policy.

"If Brian Klug and the other signatories to IJV chose to engage with the institutions of the Jewish community, rather than shouting from the sidelines, they may find that most Jews disagree with much of what they say," he added.

The 130 signatories to Independent Jewish Voices' declaration include playwright Harold Pinter, actor and director Stephen Fry, film director Mike Leigh and fashion designer Nicole Farhi.

"We wanted to create an atmosphere where people don't feel they will be accused of disloyalty, of anti-Semitism, or breaking ranks," said Jacqueline Rose, one of the group's founders, "and we wanted to appeal to the Jewish tradition of upholding human rights."

Fry, who has made little comment on Jewish issues until now, voiced his support by saying: "I am proud to lend my name to a free-thinking group like this."

The group's founding principles include fighting racism in general, including anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and Arab hatred. The group has not formulated its stand vis-a-vis a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian confict, beyond declaring its support for "Israelis and Palestinians' equal right to live in peace and security" and the need for all parties to obey international law.

Tha Guardian's blog site gave the group ample coverage yesterday, highlighting the argument that the organizations representing British Jews today do not enable any criticism of Israel to be heard. The Board of Deputies, which was formed in 1760 and describes itself as "the voice of British Jewry," was criticized the most.

Klug said the board had no right to speak for the collective Jewish voice. He also criticized Britain's chief rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks, for telling a pro-Israeli rally in London last year: "Israel, you make us proud."

"Others felt roughly the opposite emotion," Klug wrote.