The crisis of antisemitism in Britain has reached a devastating new low. British Jews have been attacked on the holiest day of their religious calendar. For Jews and their allies in Britain, this attack hardly comes as a surprise.
Many of those reacting with shock to these antisemitic murders do not realise that they represent the latest in a string of incidents where British Jews have been attacked and intimidated. In schools, hospitals, and now even synagogues, Britain has thoroughly failed to protect its Jewish community.
It is time for all of us outside the Jewish community to reckon with this failure and urge our leaders to take antisemitism seriously. Many in the Jewish community have taken time after this heinous attack to stress that it did not come from out of the blue.
Rather, British Jews have suffered a tidal wave of antisemitism since Hamas's October 7 massacre. On October 8, less than one day after the single deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust, the streets of London were filled with ‘protestors’ celebrating the rape and murder of Jews.
Since then, antisemitism, often thinly-veiled as ‘anti-zionism’ has continued apace in infecting public life in the UK.
Jewish schools in London have closed due to security concerns, memorials and vigils for victims of October 7 have been vandalised and attacked, only last month a man in London was arrested after smearing faeces on the doors of ‘seven Jewish premises’, including four synagogues.
These are just a few of the incidents that British Jews have suffered in recent years, most going unnoticed by wider UK society. According to the Campaign Against Antisemitism, a staggering 42% of British Jews have considered leaving in the past two years, 85% of them due to a rise in antisemitism in UK politics.
Even mainstream politics seems to be abandoning the Jewish community. Shortly before the Prime Minister decided to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state, the Board of Deputies of British Jews warned the government that recognition would be seen as a reward for terrorist violence by Hamas and other militant Palestinian groups. The government dismissed these concerns, whilst Hamas leaders bragged about recognition as a ‘victory.’
Manchester's Yom Kippur terror attack must serve as a wake up call
The atrocity that took place on the morning of Yom Kippur must serve as a wake up call, Britain’s Jews are unsafe in the country that they call home.
As words of condemnation continue over the coming days, it is the responsibility of all of us outside the Jewish community to ensure that they are met with action. Action on antisemitism in hospitals and universities, action on hate marches in the streets of London, action which will meaningfully make Jews in Britain safer.
It is of course a basic tenet of free society that people should be allowed to assemble and worship without intimidation, but the problem in the UK is even more substantial.
Antisemitism must be eradicated from every part of public life, British Jews must not become second class citizens. The safety of British Jews is a test for Britain itself, if we cannot secure their safety, their participation in society, or even their very future in the UK, we have become a failed society.
Mackenzie France is the Director of Strategy at the Pinsker Centre, a think tank focused on international relations and Middle Eastern affairs. He is also a Middle East History and Peace Fellow at Young Voices.