Prominent British Jews, including actor Stephen Fry and playwright Harold Pinter, had previously spoken out against the Jewish establishment in the UK for supporting Israel above the human rights of Palestinians.
There was also a similar group in Germany called Schalom 5767, which had attracted 7,000 signatures in support.
[2] Independent Australian Jewish Voices was established on 5 March 2007, co-founded by journalist and writer Antony Loewenstein, with the support of 120 prominent Jewish Australians.
They included academics, politicians, and publishers, including ethicist Peter Singer, publisher Louise Adler, and Eva Cox, of the Women's Electoral Lobby.
[1] In 2007, IAJV was criticised by Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, as "dangerous and unrepresentative".