Strong words from UK leaders won’t tackle antisemitism. We need action - The Jewish Chronicle

This week, Jews around the world celebrated the festivals of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Usually a time of joy and a celebration of renewal, for the last two years, these days have been tainted by the anniversary of Hamas’ murderous attack on southern Israel. This year, however, we delighted in our celebrations in the knowledge that all living hostages have returned home. We celebrated renewal from the last two years of conflict.

There will be those who hope this renewal will also mark an end to the hatred towards Jews that has surged in Britain since October 7; that a pause in hostilities in Gaza will bring respite here. But passive optimism will not suffice. The tragedy of the last two years has not just been the rise in antisemitism, but how predictable that rise was.

While this Simchat Torah marked the beginning of the end of the hostage crisis, Yom Kippur brought a different watershed moment for our community. The Islamist terror attack on Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester, which killed Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz, must mark a turning point for this country, regardless of events in the Middle East.

In the ten days since, we have heard strong words from government and early signs of policy change. Yesterday’s announcement of up to £10 million in emergency funding to protect Jewish communities is a vital step in restoring the peace of mind our community deserves. But for too long, antisemitism has been treated primarily as a security issue. Successive governments have rightly invested in protecting Jewish schools and synagogues. But we must now ask: is the Jewish community safe because our buildings have security or in danger because we require it?

Antisemitism in the UK did not begin on October 7 2023, but what has followed has shown how deeply it runs. We have seen it on our streets, in our schools, universities, workplaces, trade unions, politics, cultural institutions and media. Combating it requires leadership from the top of government and coordinated action across every department.

We must also see change in our laws which have permitted hate marches to become a normality

With such a large challenge, there is a risk that priority will be given to what is easiest, not what is most impactful. Announcements since Yom Kippur have been welcome, but they must form part of a coherent national strategy to root out extremism and antisemitism.

That begins by tackling the ideology that inspired Jihad Al-Shamie to attack Jews at prayer. While the Prime Minister and Home Secretary have used the term, too many still shy away from naming “Islamist extremism.” Unless we are willing to name it, we will never defeat it. Islamist extremism is a threat to us all, and countering it requires government, police, the Jewish community, the Muslim community, and all faith groups to work together.

We must also see change in our laws which have permitted hate marches to become a normality. When the terror of October 7 was still unfolding, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign made their first request for a protest in central London. In response to Manchester, we referenced the link between “intifada” chants on these marches and those who understand this to be a call for terror against Jews. Just days later, we saw the Metropolitan Police posting on social media about a march by a group with “intifada” in its name as if it was any normal protest group. It is fundamentally clear that our current public order framework is failing to protect the Jewish community.

These issues compound a feeling among our community that while we hear supportive words, we are let down by a system which fails to follow through. When arrests are made, they are too often not followed through by the Crown Prosecution Service. Toothless regulators have allowed an environment where antisemitic professionals, such as doctors and lawyers, have escaped punishment for their acts. It is not enough to tell us you are on our side, justice must be seen to be done if there is to be a restoration of trust.

These are major challenges and there are no easy fixes. As we hope for a lasting calm and efforts for a longer-term peace in the Middle East, we will ensure that our ministers here are not distracted by a delusion that these issues at home will go away. This will not happen overnight, and our mission must be to keep it on the agenda without the need for further attacks to remind us why it is so important.

Keith Black is chair of the Jewish Leadership Council and Phil Rosenberg is president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews

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Topics:

Heaton park synagogue attack

The JLC

Board of Deputies

Antisemitism