Lord Polak, president of Conservative Friends of Israel, who also attended, told the JC he was “grateful that colleagues and friends in the House of Lords from all parties and cross benchers enjoyed dinner at Erev”, adding: “It was heartening to see the restaurant full of diners and drinkers”.
Lord Walney, who also attended the dinner, added: “We would always look to support people on the receiving end of vile political intimidation – it is an added bonus that we can selflessly do so by eating delicious food in a wonderful restaurant.”
He added that it was “so good to see the attempt from moronic far-left activists to scare people away from Erev is backfiring spectacularly. I hope many more people will stop by to show their solidarity in the weeks ahead.”
Lord Leigh said: “As soon as we heard about the protest, a group of peers from all parties and denomination wanted to show their support for this Israeli restaurant. It was heartwarming to see them all there.”
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Last month, the JC reported that the west London restaurant had seen a surge in bookings in response to the intimidation by anti-Israel campaigners.
Restaurant owner David Goldstein told the JC at the time: “A lot of people have come here to support a local business they feel is being unfairly targeted, out of principle – and defiance. The response has been heartwarming. It shows people saying ‘enough is enough’ and choosing to stand with us.”
Lord Cryer, the former chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, was unable to attend the dinner, but expressed a desire to support Erev, which he described as an “admired” restaurant which has “faced thuggery and intimidation which is based on nothing less than outright racism”.
The former MP for Leyton and Wanstead, who is married to Ellie Reeves, the solicitor general, added: “The yobs who have been trying to intimidate staff and customers should hang their heads in shame. But I doubt they know what the word means.”
