It’s said that this month’s pullout from Gaza has split some Israeli families along political lines.

The same appears to be happening to one prominent Canadian Jewish family.

Several members of the Bronfman clan, children of the late Edward Bronfman, as well as his widow and daughter-in-law, have written a letter to Israeli Prime Minster Ariel Sharon, distancing themselves from a statement attributed to David Bronfman, another of Edward’s children.

The letter, which is to be hand-delivered this week to the prime minister by their cousin Charles Bronfman, tells Sharon that “we totally disagree with [David’s] statements and fully support your government’s efforts to do what is needed to achieve peace in the region, including withdrawal of Gaza and the West Bank settlements.”

The letter goes on to compliment the Sharon government for “making a peaceful and pragmatic effort,” and it states the family are “strong supporters of Israel, peace in the Middle East and of a better world for all. May your government continue to be a greater leader in achieving these objectives.”

The letter was prompted by a widely reported statement in Israel earlier this summer by David Bronfman that he made while visiting the Gaza Strip as part of a mission led by New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind.

During a tour of Neveh Dekalim, Bronfman announced a $100,000 (US) contribution to opponents of the disengagement plan. He said he hoped the funds would “help in the valiant effort of stopping this policy.”

He then went on to say, “Ethnic cleansing is deplorable to the rest of the world, but here it seems acceptable, even commendable, to expel Jews from their homes.”

David’s brother, Paul, said, “I shuddered when I saw that. It left me cold.”

Worried the public might perceive that David was speaking for the family, Paul said,“We wanted to set the record straight that David’s views do not represent the family… He’s entitled to believe what he wants to believe. We believe peace is the main destination, as tough as it is to achieve.

“Our father would roll over in his grave to see the family name used to support the settlements,” he added.

Paul said the disagreement with David is strictly over politics, and the family gets along well on a personal level.

Rachelle Bronfman, David’s wife, said the couple would not comment on the story.

Paul Bronfman said the letter will be sent by courier to their cousin Charles, who lives in Israel during the summer, and he will deliver it personally to Sharon.

Edward and his brother Peter Bronfman, cousins of Charles and Edgar Bronfman, created a business empire that at its peak held assets valued at $100 billion (Cdn). Their holdings ranged from London Life, Royal Lepage and MacMillan Bloedel to Labatt’s Breweries and the Montreal Canadiens.

With files from Ha’aretz Daily Newspaper Ltd.