The exponential rise in antisemitic attacks in the UK, as in many other countries, is a grave cause for concern, not only for the Jewish community but also for those across wider society who cherish multiculturalism and are appalled that any group should be forced to live in fear because of their religion or ethnic background. Sadly, this is what many in the Jewish community are currently enduring.
Without ignoring or belittling other manifestations of racism, including the rise in Islamophobia, the number, frequency and viciousness of antisemitic attacks against such a small community — one that has long been an example of successful integration into British society — reveal how deep-seated this ugly phenomenon remains and how urgently it must be confronted.
One incident that attracted international attention was the stabbing last month of two Jewish men in London. The fact they were dressed in traditional clothing and targeted in an area strongly associated with the Jewish community left little doubt about the attacker’s intentions. The assailant reportedly traveled across the city to Golders Green, an area closely identified with British Jewry, whose continuous presence in the UK dates back to the mid-17th century, and stabbed them repeatedly until he was restrained by police.
Antisemitism will not simply disappear unless society is willing to confront these prejudices head-on
Yossi Mekelberg
There can be no doubt there is a correlation, though absolutely no justification, between events in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza, and the deeply troubling rise in antisemitic attacks. Antisemitism is not a new phenomenon; its roots in Europe are deep and poisonous and many of its modern manifestations are not very different from those of the past.
Living in the UK does not make one immune to encountering antisemitic tropes, sometimes even from people one has only just met, about Jews supposedly controlling politics, the media or global finance. I sometimes laugh off these comments, perhaps out of confidence in my identity, perhaps as a coping mechanism or perhaps because I choose to attribute them to ignorance.
However, when synagogues are targeted in arson attacks, ambulances belonging to Jewish organizations are vandalized and people are assaulted in the streets, no one should remain indifferent. And there is no room for complacency. Antisemitism will not simply disappear unless society is willing to confront these prejudices head-on — prejudices that increasingly conflate opposition to Israeli government policies, or even debates over the existence of the state of Israel, with hostility toward Jews as a whole and as justifying the legitimacy of using violence against innocent people.
The situation in the UK has become so serious that the day after the attack in Golders Green, the government raised the national terrorism threat level from “substantial” to “severe.” Last year alone, about 3,700 antisemitic incidents were recorded in the UK, ranging from online abuse to physical assaults and attacks on Jewish institutions. The government’s pledge to increase the police presence and provide additional resources to protect Jewish communities is welcome. But the issue runs much deeper.
Greater investment is needed in educational programs and interfaith dialogue initiatives for people of all ages and backgrounds. Society must become more aware of the damage caused by prejudice, not only to individuals and families but also to social cohesion itself. Such efforts may not eradicate hatred entirely but they can push it back to the margins of society. And when hatred crosses the line into criminality, it must be firmly addressed by the legal system.
The way antisemitism has become entangled, through distorted logic, with attitudes toward the war in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires several basic truths to be underlined. No one should be verbally or physically abused because of their political opinions. Equally important is the recognition that the Jewish community is far from monolithic. Many Jews are as appalled by the actions of the current Israeli government as any protester marching in the streets, whether or not they choose to participate in demonstrations themselves. Indeed, many Jewish people do not define themselves politically through Israel at all, regarding their Jewish identity as a private or cultural matter rather than a political one.
At the same time, the existence of antisemitic expressions at some pro-Palestinian demonstrations is not a justification for banning such protests. Public outrage over the devastating human toll of the war in Gaza, including the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians and the destruction of entire communities, is a natural and understandable reaction from people of conscience. The overwhelming majority of protesters participate because they genuinely care about Palestinian suffering.
However, it is first and foremost the responsibility of organizers and participants to banish those who display antisemitic placards or chant hateful slogans. Sadly, some speakers at these demonstrations have also resorted to dog whistles that cross the line into questioning Israel’s right to exist or using the term “Zionist” as a coded substitute for “Jew.”
The use of ‘Zionism’ as though it represents a single ideology shared uniformly by all Jews is deeply problematic
Yossi Mekelberg
While the current Israeli government has earned much of the criticism directed at it, and perhaps even more, the use of “Zionism” as though it represents a single ideology shared uniformly by all Jews is deeply problematic. It risks deflecting from legitimate discussion about Palestinian self-determination alongside Israel’s right to exist and creating space for antisemitism to flourish under the guise of political criticism. Although those who engage in such rhetoric remain a minority, they are nonetheless dangerous.
We also cannot ignore the cynical interventions of some Israeli politicians who have sought to exploit rising antisemitism for political purposes. Criticizing the British government for allegedly failing to protect Jewish communities, or even suggesting that recognizing Palestinian statehood contributes to antisemitism, is wrong and is done for domestic political gains.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies, who should first address racism and extremism within their own ranks, have too often used antisemitism abroad to justify policies of occupation, dispossession and oppression against Palestinians.
Equally disgraceful is the willingness of some Israeli politicians to associate themselves with far-right xenophobic figures such as Tommy Robinson. It is especially hypocritical for those Israeli politicians who promote narratives portraying all Muslims as a threat to Europe, or exclude a priori all Arab political parties from legitimate political participation in government, to accuse others of racism.
The answer to antisemitism is not to import the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into our own societies in ways that turn communities against one another. Doing so would only undermine the delicate social fabric of the multicultural society that we should be proud to defend. In my years working with youth interfaith groups, I have seen a genuine thirst among young people to learn about one another and recognize the best in each other. There are disagreements and tensions, certainly, but there is also an honest desire not to bridge them rather than ignore them.
The alternative to standing at each other’s throats is to stand shoulder to shoulder, resisting hatred together and reaffirming what all faiths ultimately share: a belief in our common humanity.
BY:Yossi Mekelberg is professor of international relations and an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House. X: @YMekelberg
Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect The Times Union‘ point of view
