The organisation was founded around 17 February 2002[1] by UK academic Irene Bruegel, the daughter of German-Jewish refugees, and her partner[2] Richard Kuper, together with many, mainly female, Jewish friends, just after Bruegel had toured the West Bank.[3] Within six years it achieved as membership of 1,300 out of a UK Jewish population of over a quarter of a million and over that period proved instrumental, according to an obituary, in 'shattering the illusion that all Jews unconditionally support the Israeli government.'[3] It grew out of a reaction to the Al-Aqsa Intifada, which had rapidly led to the formation of a movement of British Jews opposed to Zionism who formed JPUK (Just Peace, United Kingdom) in October 2000.[4] The deployment of the word 'Palestinian' in their name led to some controversy, but was retained.[1] Bruegel's political skills quickly made it the largest organization of this type in its field.[1] It played a significant role in the establishment of a broader organization, the European Jews for a Just Peace.[5]