Jewish Network for Palestine: JNP has been established in response to a request from Jewish Voice for Peace in the USA to set up a sister organisation in the UK. This request coincided with the increasingly dire situation in Israel/Palestine and the intractable nature of debates over antisemitism within the Labour Party..
Purpose: JNP is an organisation dedicated to promoting progressive politics on the conflict in Palestine and working towards advancing a mutually agreed, just solution in line with UN resolutions and international law. To this end, we will work towards shifting the public debate in Britain and promoting political support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS) in its entirety. JNP is a democratic, grass-roots organisation committed to open debate and discussion on all aspects of the settler-colonial conflict in Palestine, including the historical role played by the UK through the Balfour Declaration and British Mandate. One of the main aims of our group will be coalition building - we intend to connect to a network of faith and secular radical organisations supporting a just political solution in Palestine and to help coordinate activities towards affecting a change in UK orientation towards the conflict.
Statement of Principles: This refers to the attached Statement of Principles as adopted on 2 September 2018 or as subsequently amended under the procedure outlined in Section 10 below.
Membership: Membership is open to people of all faiths or none. The only requirement is an agreement with our Statement of Principles and payment of membership dues. Lapsed members will be readmitted upon payment of dues. The membership fees are: Waged £20 annually Unwaged £10 annually
Steering Group: Made up of between six and eleven members the Steering Group (SG) will be the day-to-day group acting on behalf of the organisation. It is mandated to best advance the aims of JNP in public and through various media channels. The SG is also responsible for the conduct of JNP between general meetings. The SG may co-opt other such members as they deem appropriate. A new SG will be elected at the Annual General Meeting and thereafter at subsequent AGMs. The structure of SG elections at AGMs is described in Section 7 below. Additional members may be co-opted into the Steering Group. All members will be notified of the names and positions of the SG. Also, the dates of SG meetings no less than 2 weeks in advance. Meetings of the SG are open to all members. Members not on the SG cannot vote during these meetings, but may share their advice and opinions and, in this way, prepare for future leadership roles in the organisation. The quorum for meetings of the SG shall be 3; excluding ordinary members. Members interested in attending SG meetings should contact the Steering Group.
Supporters’ Network: The Steering Group is authorised to set up a network of people who support the principles and wish to be associated with the work of JNP but do not wish to become full members. They will all receive relevant correspondence and newsletters.
Annual General Meetings: An Annual General Meeting (AGM) for all members shall be held within twelve months of the inaugural meeting. Subsequent AGMs shall be held at intervals of no less than ten and no more than fifteen months. The AGM will receive a report of the activities of JNP over the previous year. A statement of its financial situation, to be presented by the Treasurer, will be read. The AGM shall also elect a Steering Group of between six to eleven members consisting of a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and any other such positions deemed necessary. Proxy voting will not be allowed. Notice of the AGM shall include a request for nominations to the Steering Group and shall be sent to members no less than 2 weeks in advance.
Special General Meetings: A Special General Meeting (SGM) shall be held at the request of the majority of the Steering Group or at least one-quarter of JNP members. Motions for decision at an SGM may be proposed either by the Steering Group or by five or more members and must be circulated to all members 2 weeks ahead of the date of the meeting. Proxy voting is not allowed. The meeting will consider only the business specified in the notice.
Quorums: The quorum for all general meetings shall be 20% of the membership or 15 people, whichever is smaller.
Changes to this Constitution: Changes to the constitution (The Rules and Regulations and the Statement of Principles) may be made at an AGM or SGM. Proposed amendments must be circulated to all members 2 weeks ahead of the meeting. To pass, they must secure a 2/3rds majority of those voting.
Bank Accounts: The officers shall be empowered to open and operate bank accounts on behalf of JNP and to set membership dues in consultation with the members. Such accounts may be operated by two nominated officers of the Steering Group.
Auditors: Auditing can occur by resolution at a General Meeting. Steering Group members are not eligible for appointment as auditors.
Exclusion from Membership: Any member whose conduct is disruptive to the work of JNP, who expresses views that conflict fundamentally with the Statement of Principles, or who behaves in such a way as to bring the organisation into disrepute may be suspended from membership and recommended for exclusion by the Steering Group. Such a decision is subject to confirmation by majority vote at a Special General Meeting to be called in a timely fashion.
Dissolution: The organisation may be dissolved by a two-thirds majority vote at a properly convened Special General Meeting for which dissolution will be the only item on the agenda. If, after three attempts, it remains impossible to call a quorate meeting, those remaining active members may dissolve the organisation by a majority vote. In the event of dissolution, any remaining assets shall be transferred to another group or body whose purposes and activities are broadly congruent with those of JNP. A decision on the recipient shall be made by simple majority vote by members present at the meeting that decides on dissolution.