Jewish leaders are “deeply concerned” after pro-Palestine demonstrators were allowed to march near a London synagogue on Shabbat despite the Metropolitan Police pledging to protect the community.
Shul-goers on the way home after Saturday service were left badly shaken by having to confront thousands of anti-Israel demonstrators, many also showing open support for Iran at a time of war.
Some demonstrators on the ‘Together Alliance’ march – nominally a demonstration against the far-right – held up the flags of the Islamic Republic as well as of Palestine.
Elsewhere, there were chants of ‘Death to the IDF’ and placards proclaimed ‘Victory to the Palestinian Resistance’.
The situation which left families returning home having to wade through crowds chanting “Free Palestine” was condemned by the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) as “utterly frightening and wholly avoidable”, in particular “at a time of heightened terrorism risk”.
Some affected shul-goers have said they may never return, and have also claimed police officers showed no interest when concerns were raised.
Questions had been raised by the community with the Met before the weekend over the proximity of the march route and “form-up” point to synagogues.
It comes after a recent pledge by Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to the Jewish community: “We stand with you.”
Speaking last week at the Community Security Trust (CST) dinner, shortly after the arson attack on Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green, he added: “Not just in words but visible action.”
There has been repeated concern over the routing of pro-Palestine marches on Saturday near synagogues since October 7, 2023.
The following year a public intervention by the Chief Rabbi and other Jewish leaders accusing the Met of failing to protect synagogues resulted in routes being changed.
But the events at the weekend have again cast doubt on the Met’s judgement over the marches.
David Toube, General Counsel at the JLC said: “It is deeply concerning that crowds were permitted to assemble near a synagogue on the Sabbath. This outcome was an entirely foreseeable consequence of allowing the march to form up in such close proximity.
“At a time of heightened terrorism risk, the presence of large, politically charged gatherings outside places of worship is profoundly unsettling for congregants and should not have been allowed to occur.
“At the conclusion of services, congregants were required to pass through the crowds of people travelling to the march, which many in the Jewish community experience as hostile and intimidating. This was utterly frightening and wholly avoidable, and should never have been allowed to happen.”
A shul-goer who wish to remain anonymous told the JC that the confrontation has led to him not wanting to return.
He said: “Shabbat was meant to be a heartwarming day.
“A friend’s daughter was celebrating her Bat Mitzvah at her London synagogue along with other families celebrating in a special quarterly ceremony.
“But as I left at 1pm I was immediately confronted with a passer by shouting ‘Free Palestine’. Worse was to follow, in the next turning a group of men got out behind me holding a big Islamic Republic of Iran flag. I was scared as our community has been surveilled by Iranians.
“I couldn’t believe what I then saw at the other end of the road.
“Thousands and thousands of marchers with Iranian and Palestinian flags and chants calling for resistance by any means.”
The shul member said that he “couldn’t physically get across the road” and that when he raised his concerns to a police officer “he ignored me and walked the other way”.
He went on to say: “I had heard the stories about these hate marches but couldn’t believe quite how intimidating it would be. I was literally shaking. I certainly won’t be returning to a central London synagogue any time soon.”
Another member of the synagogue said: “A few of us left together and almost as soon as we stepped out the door someone shouted ‘Free Palestine’ at us.
“Then a bit further suddenly there was a Zionist-hating march of Islamists with Iranian regime flags and pictures of the Ayatollah.
"You shouldn't have to go to shul fearing that when you leave you're going to run into a bunch of people who hate you.
"It was impossible to not pass through them. It was the only way to the station. Walking through Hyde Park would have taken half an hour and many members there that day were quite elderly. Why should we be forced to take another route?”
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said: “For over two-and-a-half years British Jews have had politicians and law enforcement leaders offering warm words of solidarity to the community, but not matching this with accompanying action.
“[The march] at the weekend betrays the hollowness of even the words. The police say that synagogues will be protected – so that at least Jews can be Jewish in those confined spaces – but even that was too much to ask this past Shabbat.”
A spokesperson for the Met told the JC that their community contacts “relayed that synagogues and congregants were largely positive and grateful for the steps we’d taken”, adding that the form-up point was half a mile away from the synagogue.
“In addition, we had officers deployed in the vicinity to ensure anyone arriving was directed to the appropriate location and prevented gathering outside the conditioned area.”
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