Paul Calvert spoke with Steven Jaffe, a consultant for the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Israel's existence as a nation is seen by some as miraculous, while others would seek to challenge it's right to Statehood. Paul Calvert spoke with Steven Jaffe, a consultant for the Board of Deputies of British Jews, about the success of Israel as a nation, the threats to its existence and the relationship between Christians and Jews.

Paul: What is the Board of Deputies of British Jews?

Steven: It is a representative body for the Jewish community in the United Kingdom. It's over 250 years old. Every synagogue in the UK sends a deputy to the Board of Deputies, so it's like a little Jewish Parliament, where we discuss issues affecting the Jewish community in the UK and internationally.

Paul: What is the relationship like between Christians and Jews?

Steven: We are living in very interesting times. There are Christians who are supportive of Israel, who are finding their voice. This is something that is hugely important. We have seen it here at the Christian conference Faith Camp, in terms of the encouragement Christians can give. I know that the Deputy Ambassador who was speaking here, is going back to London hugely encouraged. That says so much about what is positive between what is going on between Christians and Jews in the UK today, but unfortunately it's not the whole story. There are elements within the Christian Church turning their back on Israel. They are seeking to isolate and boycott it and weaken it at a time when Israel is particularly vulnerable, with what is going on in the Middle East. It's a very mixed picture. The message I really want to bring to people is to get their voices heard. Let's hear positive Christian voices for Israel in the UK. It's so important.

Paul: The boycott Israel movement seems to be growing stronger, why is this wrong?

Steven: It's importing negativity to a conflict. People should positively engage right across the board between Israelis and Palestinians and between Jews and Arabs. It's not about taking sides. It's not about bringing negativity to a region where there is so much negativity. There is positive work to be done in bringing Jews and Arabs together in peace initiatives, in reconciliation and in breaking down barriers. If people in the UK and Christians in particular were to focus on positive things that they could do to help in the Middle East that would be fantastic. To boycott is negative. It's taking sides and has no contribution to make towards peace in the Middle East. Ultimately it also impacts on the boycotters themselves. If you are so consumed by negativity and hatred, I think that impacts on you as a person. It's wrong for the Middle East and it's wrong for the UK as well.

Paul: Do you think the media is biased against Israel?

Steven: There is a liberal consensus, if I can call it that, that Israel is the dominant power in the Middle East. You only have to look at the map to see how that is a very misleading statement, but the idea that Israel is the regional bully and that other people are being oppressed by Israel, is something that is accepted as the norm by much of the media. If you want to say bad things about Israel, you can find it. Israel is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but the context this is all put in, is one of Israel as the bully and the Arabs as the underdog. There is another side to the story. Israel is a country which is nine miles wide at its narrowest point. It's a country of eight million people surrounded by much bigger countries. I believe the media is giving a very distorted picture. I'm not saying everything in Israel is right, or that they are broadcasting lies about Israel, but the context is often lacking in the UK media in how it deals with Israel.

Paul: Why has Israel been so successful over the last 67 years?

Steven: It is successful isn't it? It's not just that it's survived, it's actually thriving. The Deputy Ambassador made the point that when Israel was established and restored in 1948, the population was 600,000. Today the population in that strip of land is eight million, so that is a tremendous in gathering of Jewish exiles from around the world.

Israel is successful in hi-tech in terms of exporting. It has in many ways an economy of a Western State. It has a democratic political system, which makes it unique in the Middle East. These are all contributing factors. The entrepreneurial style of Israeli society has contributed to the success of the State. It doesn't have oil. It doesn't have natural resources. People had to make the best of it. It is a tremendous lesson to the developing world. Israel has a big part to play in things like agricultural technology, in drip irrigation, desalination of water in parts of the world, which is impacted by climate change. Israel is a successful country and it has a message for the entire world.

Paul: You have threats on every side. Do you feel like God is in charge?

Steven: He has to be, because if you think that Israel can survive that level of threat on its borders, it requires something supernatural. Israel has been invaded on three occasions, by armies much bigger than it, yet it has survived.