Israel-Gaza war: 'Dialogue is not easy, but we can't shut the door'

The forum has been calling for all communities "to act responsibly and to support and protect each other"

The Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester was set up almost two decades ago, when, as one member puts it, the communities "had no communication with each other".

Its aim has always been to develop cultural and social ties between the two communities in the region, something it says the Israel-Gaza war has thrown into sharp focus.

"It is not easy for dialogue at the moment, but we can't shut the door on it," says Manchester councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, who sits on the forum's executive committee.

"There is anger and frustration because it's not just about the conflict now," he says.

"It's about the daily images people are seeing of civilians, children, women, old people. Nobody wants to see that.

"At the end of the day, humanity prevails everything."

Since the conflict began on 7 October, the forum has been calling for all communities "to act responsibly and to support and protect each other against any form of hatred and provocation".

In a statement, it said people should "unite in remembering that what we have in common far surpasses the differences in our culture and heritage".

'Open and honest'

Salford councillor Heather Fletcher, the forum's Jewish co-chairwoman, told BBC North West Tonight that "the way forward is always that people get to know each other [and] become friendly with each other, because it's ignorance that makes people intolerant".

"Being familiar with people and being friendly with them and learning about each other's cultures makes people understand each other and it's understanding that's the key," she said.

She said it was important to make sure the message the forum published was acceptable to all communities.

"Just a couple of words out of place can make the whole thing sound different or upset one community or another community," she says.

Mr Akbar said there was "anger and frustration because it's not just about the conflict now"

David Berkley KC, a member of the forum's executive committee, said he had said to his friends from both faiths that "were it not for that unequivocal statement from the forum, I certainly wouldn't be sitting at this table today".

He said the group was about "identifying those things we have in common and those things upon which we disagree".

"One of the things that I think has made it possible to have an impact is our willingness to acknowledge that there was these issues, which we cannot ignore," he added.

"We have identified these issues and been willing to have an open and honest discussion about the things that matter to us."

Mohammed Amin, the forum's Muslim co-chairman, said since it was launched almost two decades ago, he had noticed a "change in atmosphere as a consequence of our activities".

"I didn't have any social contact with Jewish people as an adult," he said.

"In 50 years, I had never set foot inside a synagogue and helping to set up the forum has transformed my life in terms of expanding my understanding.

"As far as Manchester is concerned, we made it much more normal for Muslims and Jews to do things together."