Community fearful as hate incidents rise

The Community Security Trust has revealed a sixfold increase in reports of antisemitic incidents since fighting between Israel and terrorists in Gaza erupted.

The charity said that between May 8 and 18 it recorded 116 incidents, compared to just 19 in the previous 11 days.  Almost all involved language, imagery or behaviour linked to the conflict in Israel and Gaza. 

Four of the 116 incidents reported were violent, of which the most serious was the assault on a Rabbi in Chigwell, Essex, on Sunday. Two people were charged over the attack, which left the rabbi hospitalised.

Dave Rich, Head of Policy at the CST, said: “It is a depressingly familiar pattern that antisemitism rises whenever Israel is at war. 

“But this does not make it any less disgraceful that British Jews are being threatened, harassed and abused.

“The level of anger and hate that is directed at Israel always spills over into antisemitism at times like this and yet the people stoking this anger, online and on the streets, never take responsibility for this particular consequence.”

Reported incidents included a convoy of cars draped in Palestinian flags seen driving through Jewish areas of north London on Sunday, with one car caught on film appearing to blare out antisemitic abuse at passers-by.

The footage appeared to show a passenger shouting “F**k the Jews, rape their daughters” through a megaphone. Four men were arrested in connection with the footage.

On campus, University College London’s JSoc reported that its Instagram account had received a number of death threats and calls for violence.

To widespread horror, a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor was inundated with antisemitic abuse on social media. 
And in Borehamwood, police investigated after mezuzot were vandalised.  

Pro-Palestinian protests across the UK also featured violence and antisemitic language, including the rally in London on Saturday, at which a group of protesters were filmed chanting: “Jews, remember the battle of Khaybar, the army of Muhammad is returning.”