The UK's chief rabbi has stated that numerous individuals of the Jewish community and outside it are wondering the reason demonstrations like the ones challenging the prohibition on Palestine Action are permitted to continue.
Sir Ephraim Mirvis stated: “A portion of them feature blatant antisemitism, blatant support of Hamas. Not each person, but there is an abundance of such behavior, which is clearly hazardous for numerous within our community.”
Talking ahead of traveling in Manchester on Friday to stand with those mourning the killings of two victims in a terrorist attack near a synagogue, he highlighted an immediate necessity for national soul-searching.”
The assault happened following what he described as a constant surge of hatred against Jews” on the nation's roads, campuses, social media and within certain parts of the media, the chief rabbi stated on a national radio broadcast.
Highlighting the slogan “globalise the intifada” – which many view as an appeal for violent acts targeting Jewish individuals – he said the UK had experienced “with devastating obviousness” last Thursday the meaning of those words.
Returning to his earlier description as broadcast in public spaces and on the internet, he said: “So much of the material is extremely hostile and also, when there is the unfounded criticism toward Israel that feeds directly into hostility toward Jews in the atmosphere of Britain which then encourages extremism. Our government must be aware of this.”
In response to queries concerning protests staged by pro-Palestinian groups urging a cessation to hostilities in Gaza and protests supporting the lifting of the ban on the outlawed entity Palestine Action, he responded that “a large part” of such activities are dangerous to countless within the nation.
“From October 7th, 2023 we have seen countless citizens who have questioned why those protests are allowed to occur in public spaces.”
“You cannot separate the words on our streets, the actions of participants in this way and the results ultimately follow … These factors are intertwined and so we urge the government yet again to take control regarding these rallies since they prove risky.”
Spiritual guides also had a specific role to undertake, the senior rabbi added, saying: “It is vital to discuss regarding restraining our words, the views that we express, the manner we convey such opinions and additionally a religious leader should promote unity and tranquility in our communities and in domestic settings.”
His statements came as the president representing Israel, Isaac Herzog, stated that the recent day represented a “awful day” for Jews across the UK, Britain at large, and the Jewish community around the globe.
“This is a jarring recall regarding what we have been warning for an extended period, that this heatwave of antisemitism and hostility to Jews across the globe at the end leads to violence,” he told LBC radio.
Within the group demanding further government action toward combating antisemitism were Danny Cohen, the ex-executive of BBC 1, who commented to Times Radio there should be a national investigation on antisemitism set up immediately” because “a problem has gone deeply troubled within the nation, and it requires immediate attention.”
