Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has claimed in an interview with the JC that pro-Palestine protests have been “hijacked” by those wanting to spread hate.
Davey, who visited Western Marble Arch Synagogue on Tuesday to show solidarity with the Jewish community six days on from the attack, spoke to the JC about the potential of banning the marches.
“I think you have to look at marches on a case-by-case basis,” he began. “There is an important right of lawful protest in this country but there is no doubt that some of these marches have been hijacked by hate speech and people wanting to sow hatred.
“Police need resources and powers to crack down on that type of antisemitism. They need the training. We won't rest until the government makes that happen."
Laurence Taylor, assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said last week that the force was “reviewing” whether upcoming planned marches should go ahead in the wake of the Golders Green stabbing attack.
Davey went on to speak about what he believes is the “root of antisemitism” in the UK.
“We see influence from around the world, and we see people from our own country that are promoting this divisive hate,” he said, adding: “Too often people ignore it.
“There are many things we need to do to sort it. One thing we have been calling for for years now is for the IRGC to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation.
“The Iranian state [is] sowing hate [against] the Jewish people here in our country [and is] responsible for attacks on Jewish people in our country.”
Davey also accused the government of “failing to [proscribe]” the Iranian paramilitary despite having “the evidence” and he “demands action is taken”.
And when asked about the focus on tackling antisemitism within the British-Muslim community, Davey said: “Wherever antisemitism is coming from, it is unacceptable. There is no doubt there are extremes in some part of the Muslim community who spout this horrible hate speech, but it is not just the Muslim community, unfortunately, who are being anti-Jewish.”
Davey concluded that it is “unacceptable” for Jews to feel unsafe in the UK.
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