The All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Antisemitism made a series of recommendations to government:
What the report says: “We recommend that the government, together with the CPS, police and other relevant bodies, work with the Jewish community to devise a communications strategy which effectively conveys the work that has been undertaken to combat antisemitism.”
Why it says it: The report highlighted the growing sense of insecurity among British Jews since the Gaza conflict. Several polls have considered whether Jewish people have discussed leaving the UK.
The report said it was important to “avoid the apparent loneliness and isolation felt by French Jewry that has forced so many of them to leave that country”.
Explaining the work being done in Britain would help ensure British Jews “both feel and are confident that their country and fellow citizens will not let them stand alone”.
“We recommend that further research be carried out into the sources, patterns, nature and reach of the antisemitism on social media.”
The inquiry asked a Lancaster University professor to carry out research into the increase in antisemitic activity on social media sites.
Thought to be the only work of its kind, it found a peak in tweets referring to Jews as the violence in Gaza escalated in July. The terms “Hitler”, “Holocaust” and “Nazis” were among the top 35 key words relating to Jews. Jewish individuals and organisations were also singled out for abuse.
The inquiry was “shocked by the ferocity and vulgarity of the antisemitism and the ease with which it was spread” online.
“We recommend that the police establish systems for convening preparatory briefing sessions in advance of major events so that protest organisers and stewards can benefit from expert advice on antisemitism.”
The response of Greater Manchester Police to protests outside the Israeli-owned Kedem store in the city was commended by the inquiry, as were the actions of the Association of Chief Police Officers in handling antisemitic crimes across the country.
But the report found that there was considerable concern in the Jewish community over a failure to make arrests during protests where banners were displayed comparing Israel to the Nazis or where racist flags were flown.
Police must be “as well prepared as they can be” and should have a greater understanding of flags which use Arabic terms or racist analogies.
“We call upon all local councils to do their utmost to bring people together during times of foreign conflict, particularly in the Middle East.”
The inquiry did not believe that local authorities had been motivated by antisemitism in the wake of the Gaza conflict, but said that the decision by some to fly Palestinian flags from prominent buildings could have inflamed community tensions.
“We recommend that an independent council of leading non-Jewish figures from Parliament and across public life be convened to identify long-term trends in antisemitism.”
Evidence had uncovered a “disproportionate approach to Israel” from some bodies — particularly in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — the report said. That could encourage antisemitism from people who conflate Israel with local Jewish communities.
To alleviate fears and to calm tensions, prominent figures should be encouraged to speak out at key times, the inquiry suggested. “When political leaders speak out, their words mean something to the Jewish community.”
“We recommend that the government works with civil society groups to design a simple toolkit that can be distributed in European and international fora.”
Inquiry members travelled around Europe to investigate efforts to combat antisemitism on the continent. They concluded that Britain had much to celebrate in its own work against Jew-hatred, but also that lessons could be adopted from other countries.
The report advises police to learn from the Mayor of Amsterdam’s approach in terms of calming protests and making public statements. British embassies, particularly in France, had failed to sufficiently report back to the Foreign Office when antisemitic incidents and rioting had taken place.
