What is it with hardline Zionism and its wish to bomb other countries? First Iraq, now discussion about Iran, the Jewish establishment’s embrace of the “war on terror” rhetoric highlights a fundamentally anti-democratic, draconian, insecure and racist mindset (not least because most of the victims of a government’s over-zealous plans are directed against Muslims.) And now in Britain:

Three members of a Jewish human-rights organisation have accused the Board of Deputies of misusing its claim to speak for the Jewish community.

Richard Kuper, newly elected chair of Jews for Justice for Palestinians, and two colleagues, Professor Irene Bruegel and Murray Glickman, have complained about a submission to the Home Office last August by the Board and the Community Security Trust on the Counter Terrorism Bill 2007.

In it, the Board said it agreed with the then head of Scotland Yard’s anti-terrorist branch, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, that terror suspects should be detained for up to 56 days before being charged. Currently it is 28 days.

In a letter to the JC, they questioned why the Board was discussing the subject and complained that in saying it spoke for the Jewish community, it ignored “very real divisions” in it.

Until mainstream Judaism wrestles control of the community away from individuals and groups that do not represent its interests (and consistent polls show this), they should expect to be blamed for disastrous policies hatched in Washington or London.