Samuel Hayek

Samuel Hayek
Born1953
CitizenshipBritish-Israeli
OccupationBusinessman
Known forChairman of JNF-UK

Samuel Hayek (born 1953)[1] is a British-Israeli businessman who has been chairman of JNF-UK since August 2008.[2] Hayek was chairman of the Likud youth department.[1]

Biography

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Born in Kfar Saba, Israel, Hayek is a British citizen and splits his time between London and Tel Aviv.[3] He was appointed Director of JNF-UK in August 2008 and has been strongly critical of the Jewish Leadership Council.[4][2]

Controversies

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On 2 December 2021, Hayek conducted an interview with The Jerusalem Post and spoke about what he saw as rising levels of antisemitism in the UK. He claimed that "in 10 years, maybe less, who knows, Jews will not be able to live in the UK."[5] When asked by Jewish News to clarify his reasoning, Hayek claimed that "the demographic of British society is changing [due to] the number of immigrants coming to England". He confirmed that the immigrants he was referring to were Muslims, who he claimed "don't speak English [and] create their own ghettos, their own education, their own process of thinking."[6][7]

The reaction by leaders of the Board of Deputies, Jewish Leadership Council and Community Security Trust all condemned Hayek's comments,[8] as did the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.[9] Jewish MP Alex Sobel, meanwhile, called for either Hayek to resign as chair of JNF UK or the isolation of the JNF UK from communal organisations while Hayek remained in his position.[10]

On 4 January 2022, more than 45 members of the BoD signed a letter calling for Hayek to resign, and stated that they would continue to advise the synagogues do not participate, support, cooperate with JNF-UK as long as he remained chair.[11] On 10 January, another letter signed by 105 Jewish student leaders to suspend all programmes run by the JNF UK and to suspend JNF membership from the Board of Deputies.[12] On 13 January, the Charity Commission for England and Wales opened a regulatory case on JNF UK to assess concerns.[13] On the 21 January Hayek wrote an article in The Jewish Chronicle stating that he stood by his remarks and was "not against any minority or against the Muslims in the UK or Europe, but against anyone who spreads hatred that harms Jews", and that his previous remarks were "misconstrued".[14] On 23 January, the Board of Deputies voted in favour of censuring the JNF-UK, noting the failure of the latter's trustees to condemn Hayek's remarks.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b Blau, Uri (26 February 2009). "The go-between". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2 March 2009.
  2. ^ a b "JNF Chief attacks JLC: New community leaders are 'much needed'". Jewish News. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  3. ^ Pfeffer, Anshel (28 May 2019). "UK-based businessman Samuel Hayek arrives in Israel to mediate as coalition talks crumble". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  4. ^ Paul, Jonny (25 February 2011). "JNF UK resigns from Jewish Leadership Council". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  5. ^ Jaffee-Hoffman, Maayan (2 December 2021). "'Jews do not have a future in England'". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  6. ^ Harpin, Lee (20 December 2021). "Jewish National Fund UK chair: 'Jews have no future in England'". Jewish News. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  7. ^ Harpin, Lee (4 January 2022). "Letter signed by 46 deputies demands JNF UK chair resigns over Islamophobic comments". Jewish News. Retrieved 15 January 2022. During a 25 minute long conversation with Jewish News, Hayek also appeared to be adopting far-right great replacement theory when he claimed that in the UK 'the process is the white Christian majority is shrinking. It shrinks to a degree where there is a point it cannot protect itself anymore.'
  8. ^ Harpin, Lee (22 December 2021). "Charity chief's migrant warning sparks communal outrage". Jewish News. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  9. ^ Harpin, Lee (7 January 2022). "Chief Rabbi condemns JNF UK chair Samuel Hayek's 'no future for Jews' claim". Jewish News. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  10. ^ Harpin, Lee (7 January 2022). "Jewish Labour MP calls for 'immediate resignation or removal' of JNF UK chair". Jewish News. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  11. ^ Harpin, Lee (4 January 2022). "Letter signed by 46 deputies demands JNF UK chair resigns over Islamophobic comments". Jewish News. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  12. ^ Harpin, Lee (10 January 2022). "More than 100 student leaders back suspension of JNF UK schemes over chair's 'Islamophobia and bigotry'". Jewish News. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  13. ^ Rocker, Simon (13 January 2022). "Charity Commission opens 'regulatory case' on JNF UK". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  14. ^ Hayek, Samuel (21 January 2022). "I have always fought prejudice and bigotry". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  15. ^ Harpin, Lee (23 January 2022). "JNF UK censured by Board of Deputies over chair's 'bigoted remarks' about Muslims". Jewish News. Retrieved 24 January 2022.


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