After coming under fire from local politicians and Jewish leaders, the British architect tapped to redesign the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center has rescinded his association with a group of fellow building designers pressing for a boycott of Israel.

In a terse statement issued yesterday, Richard Rogers said, “My convictions on peace and justice have always been clear. But in view of the published aims of Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine, and particularly in view of the suggested boycott by some members, I am dissociating myself from this organization.”

The London headquarters of Lord Rogers’s architectural firm hosted the group’s inaugural meeting on February 2, and according to a report last month in the London Independent hosted two subsequent meetings. Until yesterday, the renowned architect said through spokespeople that he was withholding for now his support for the boycott.

The organization Lord Rogers hosted, Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine, issued a statement last month comparing the activities of building firms in the West Bank to those construction companies that helped Apartheid South Africa.

His prior association with the group led some prominent New Yorkers to question whether he should be the lead architect redesigning the convention center named for the late Senator Jacob Javits, one of the most pro-Israel members of the Senate when he served there between 1956 and 1981.

A spokeswoman yesterday for the Empire State Development Corporation – which awarded Lord Rogers and two other American firms the $1.7 billion contract in September – yesterday said her bosses were satisfied with Lord Rogers’s announcement.

“We are satisfied with this statement,” Jessica Copen said. “We called to clarify what his position was and that is what he did. He basically said what’s in his statement. He does oppose a boycott.”

But other observers in New York were less impressed with the architect’s contrition. Rep. Anthony Weiner, a Democrat of New York who on Tuesday suggested the development corporation find another architect for the Javits Center job, said he was still uneasy with Lord Rogers’s involvement in the project.

“This is someone who hosts a meeting of an organization that takes a view that I find abhorrent, and might be in violation of U.S. anti-boycott laws. Then when it’s reported in the Sun, in a statement that seems too clever by half, he says he disassociates himself from the organization,” the congressman said. “I am uneasy about his participation in this deal. I would be eager to hear him clarify what some of his earlier statements have meant.”

Last month Lord Rogers was quoted in the Israeli newspaper, Ha’aretz, as saying he supported “targeted activities” against the Jewish state.

The executive director of the Anti-Defamation League had similar concerns.”I welcome that statement, there is something else I would like to hear him say, though,” Abraham Foxman said yesterday.

“I would like to hear Mr. Rogers add one sentence, not only does he disassociate himself form this organization, but he disassociates himself from using creativity, art and architecture as a weapon for people’s views.”

Mr. Foxman added that the organization was singling out Israel’s construction of its security barrier, considering the numerous “architectural monstrosities” that blight the lives of people living in the Third World.

The executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Malcolm Hoenlein, also said the statement yesterday by Lord Rogers is “not enough.” “It’s a subterfuge,” he said, saying that Lord Rogers “clearly” shared the views of the anti-Israel architects whose meeting he hosted. “It’s an affront to the people of New York and certainly to the legacy of Senator Javits.” Mr. Hoenlein said that aides to the governor he had spoken to about the matter were “very disturbed” and are examining what can be done.

City Council Member David Weprin, a Democrat of Queens, called for an investigation into Lord Rogers’s involvement with the organization. While he stopped short of saying Lord Rogers should step down, he said if he does not provide adequate answers to the government entities that are providing financing for the projects, “there should be an issue of whether Richard Rogers should be involved in these projects and whether he should be getting government money.”

“This isn’t a private project. You’re talking about government money in the Javits Center project and in other projects, and I think we have a legitimate right as elected officials as people in government, to question associations of people that are getting government money for major projects and whether they discriminate,whether it be against Israel or other positions,” Mr.Weprin said.

Mr. Weprin’s opinions should matter to Lord Rogers. In addition to his contract for the Javits Center, the British architect is also the designer for a proposed $1 billion expansion of the Silvercup Studios in Queens. The project must be approved by the Queens Community Board and the office of the Queens borough president. A public hearing is scheduled for April 6.

A spokesman for the mayor’s office yesterday declined to comment for the issue.

(With reporting by Jill Gardiner and Ira Stoll).