Tag: antisemitism

Palestine ‘Death, destruction and dehumanisation on an apalling scale’: UK government to act at last

Foreign Secretary’s oral statement to the House of Commons on Israel-Palestine

 Madame Deputy Speaker, with permission, I would like to make a statement on Israel and Palestine:

I do so as a proud British Jew, someone with the deepest gratitude to the State of Israel for giving a home to my grandmother after she lost her husband, my grandfather, and 60 other family members at the hands of the Nazis.

I remember visiting her in the 1970s in Tel Aviv and seeing the life and the sanctuary Israel had provided. Indeed, some of my most joyful childhood memories were picking oranges as a kid on the kibbutz where my cousins lived.

Madame Deputy Speaker, my personal story and that of thousands of British Jews is one of the many reasons why I say to anyone here or around the world who questions Israel’s right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people: you are wrong and we will call you out whenever you engage in this attempt at the erasure of Israel.

Madame Deputy Speaker, I know what the trauma of Hamas’s terrorist atrocity of October 7th meant and still means to people across Israel and to Jews across the world. It was a murderous act by a murderous terrorist organisation designed to massacre and instil fear across a whole population.

October 7th makes plain the grave threats that Israel faces. And it has every right to defend itself.  We should not only condemn those threats but act against those who carry them out.

Iran continues to threaten Israel and Jews across the world.

We have already designated Iran’s IRGC and we will do more today on Iran’s proxy groups. So today I can also announce we are sanctioning Lebanese Hezbollah’s financing arm, Al-Qard Al-Hassan.

Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. So we are also acting this week to report Iran to the UN Security Council for its nuclear violations, alongside our allies. And I can announce today that we are also reimposing major economic sanctions on Iran in line with the European Union and the United States.

Madame Deputy Speaker, tackling these threats is just one of the important, shared national security interests we have with Israel, on which we will continue to co-operate.

I know too that so many members of the Jewish community now live in fear in the face of rising antisemitism, including here in the UK.

Last week we commemorated the anniversary of the Heaton Park attack—Jews murdered at their place of worship simply for their religion.

An outrage that was followed by antisemitic attacks in Golders Green, including on the Hatzola ambulances.

And the everyday life of Jews in Britain is deeply affected by the climate that such hate creates.

When I went to school in the 1980s, I did so without fear.

Today we need to face the truth: that is not the case for thousands of Jewish children across the UK, children who have to go to school with security guards outside their school.

Mr Speaker, no child should have to go to school facing this. And no teacher should face antisemitism either.

Whether it happens in our schools, universities or workplaces or online or on our streets, antisemitism is a scourge and an evil.

We are rightly putting in place an additional investment of £250 million for community security. But we all have a responsibility to do more.

As part of this, I will in October host representatives of the J7, the countries with the largest Jewish populations from across the world.

We will meet in the UK to discuss the different ways we can work across borders to tackle antisemitism, including tackling online hate.

So Madame Deputy Speaker, I am proud of my Jewishness and unwavering in my support for the State of Israel.

And there is absolutely no contradiction between this and my support for the State of Palestine. Indeed quite the opposite.

The two state solution is based on an explicit belief that the only route to security for both peoples is to live side by side in peaceful co-existence with freedom, security and self-determination.

Securing the two-state solution in its fullest form is the North Star of this government’s policy, and indeed of successive British governments over decades.

And it is precisely this belief in the rights and freedoms of the Israeli and Palestinian people that leads many, including me, to a deep sense of shame about what has unfolded in Palestine under the eyes of the international community.

In Gaza, the most unimaginable trauma and suffering in the last three years – death, destruction and dehumanisation on an appalling scale.

A stain on the conscience of the world and of this country too.

And in the West Bank, the clear attempt to – in the words of Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich – and I quote – “bury the idea of a Palestinian State”.

So Madame Deputy Speaker, there is a deeply painful contrast between our professed commitment to a two state solution, and the reality on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank.

I pay tribute to my predecessors, the current Health Secretary and the Right Honourable Member for Tottenham, for their tireless efforts on this issue as well as my Right Honourable Friend the Member for Lincoln.

We should always be proud that it was a Labour government that took the historic step of recognising the State of Palestine. 

But the Prime Minister is right to say that the Labour government has not done enough in the face of what is happening.

So today marks the beginning of a new approach.

An approach that not only calls out injustice and suffering but acts.

And in taking this stance, I make a very clear distinction – which is crucial for all of us in this debate:

Our argument is not with the people of Israel, with whom the UK has unshakeable bonds. Our argument is with the conduct of its government.

And I also want to say emphatically to people in Britain and across the world:

Holding British Jews responsible for the actions of the Israeli Government is antisemitism, plain and simple.

What we seek today is to salvage the only course for peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians – the two state solution.

Let me start with the situation in the West Bank.

Madame Deputy Speaker, at the time of the Oslo peace accords in 1993, around 270,000 settlers lived in the occupied Palestinian territories. Today it is some 770,000.

More settlements have been approved under the four years of this Israeli government than in the previous twenty years. 

Let us spell out what this has meant for Palestinian communities.

Houses bulldozed. Roads and public infrastructure destroyed. Families displaced from their homes.

Community by community.

Family by family.

Person by person.

Madame Deputy Speaker, sixty-five Palestinian communities completely expelled since 2023 – a total of over 4,000 Palestinians evicted from their homes due to settler violence and state actions.

And in August, the crossing of a long-standing red line: the issuing of E1 tenders for over 1,200 homes.

I visited a community in the area covered by E1 in 2014. The Bedouin communities I met in Khan Al Ahmar had lived on that land for generations.

E1 proposals would evict them and place settlements directly between East Jerusalem and the West Bank cutting through the heart of Palestine.

Let’s be clear what this means: the creation of a set of facts on the ground to make the two state solution unviable.

And on top of official state policy, settler terrorism is rampant.

The UN reports an average of six violent settler attacks against Palestinians per day this year, the highest on record.

Take one example

In Al Mughayir, twenty miles north of Jerusalem, settlers have encircled the village and mounted a campaign of intimidation, largely under the protection of the Israeli military.

Families in the village are increasingly cut off from accessing their land, squeezed into ever smaller areas and have olive trees uprooted and livestock stolen.

In the same community, just last week, two teenagers were shot when settlers entered the village under police and military escort. Both died before reaching hospital. Madame Deputy Speaker five teenagers have now been killed from their school this year.

Ehud Olmert, the former Israeli Prime Minister, has described what is happening as – I quote – “a violent and criminal effort to ethnically cleanse territories in the West Bank’.

The former Minister of Health and retired Brigadier General from the IDF, Ephraim Sneh has said – and I quote again – “this is ethnic cleansing to put it simply”.

Ethnic cleansing is defined by the UN as ‘a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic or religious group from certain geographic areas.’

The British government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank – perpetrated by settler terrorists.

And all too often the Israeli government has turned a blind eye to this and worse, members of it have made statements and taken actions to support the forced displacement of Palestinians.

Now Madame Deputy Speaker, I recognise the gravity of saying this but the truth is, it is the least the people who face such suffering deserve. And it should be the prelude to justice.

Now for a long time, the British government has rightly said settlements are illegal.

But we have remained silent on the question of the legality of the occupation as a whole, which in 2024 the International Court of Justice concluded was unlawful.

Today I announce that the official view of the British Government is that the occupation is unlawful.

Because of Israel’s entrenchment of its control, its intention to extend permanent sovereignty, and its expansionist agenda via illegal settlements.

Madame Deputy Speaker, our position is not just an overdue statement of reality.

The government believes the unlawfulness of the occupation should be reflected in the economic relationships we choose to have with the occupied territories.

I do not believe that the British people want us supporting the occupation by accepting products from settlements in our shops and supermarkets.

So I can announce today that we will introduce an import ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied territories.

To do so, we will introduce a new comprehensive sanctions regime working with my Right Honourable Friend the Business Secretary, with appropriate religious exemptions.

And as part of this regime, we will go further.

We will take action against specific companies and individuals who provide services such as construction, infrastructure, financing, or real estate for settlement expansion.

So to those who finance or facilitate illegal settlements, let me say this, you will face the full force of UK sanctions.

Settlements are illegal. They should not be promoted in our country.

Earlier this year, shamefully, just a few miles from here, we saw an expo advertising illegal settlement land. 

We must and we will ensure this never happens again, so we will ban the advertising in the UK of illegal settlements.

The sanctions regime will target illegal settlements and settlement expansion, not Israel.

We will continue to support important and valued trade with green line Israel precisely because we support the two state solution, including security and prosperity for Israel.

For this reason, I wholeheartedly oppose the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions or BDS campaign.

The legislation I have announced today will be in place within 6 to 9 months and we will also take more immediate steps.

Today we are sanctioning a further set of extremist settlers who have supported or incited acts of violence against Palestinian communities.

And I can also announce that we are extending the existing global human rights regime such that it will enable swifter action to deter settlement expansion, including crucially seeking to present the development of E1.

I also want to address the question of arms sales. We have already suspended over 30 arms licences used by the IDF in Gaza. That suspension remains fully in place.

We will now also refuse all licence applications for arms and other exports that materially contribute to the occupation, in effect a double lock against arms sales. This means the ban on such exports will now remain as long as the occupation persists. 

To advance the two state solution, we also need viable and effective Palestinian governance.

So I urge the Palestinian Authority to accelerate reform and I urge Israel to lift its withholding of revenues that is financially crippling the provision of essential services in the West Bank.

The set of measures I have announced represents a clear message to the government of Israel, to the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, and to the world that we will not acquiesce in the destruction of the two state solution.

I turn now to Gaza.

The horror of October 7th appalled the world and had terrible echoes of the centuries of persecution of the Jewish people.

Men, women, children and babies killed, mutilated, and tortured by Hamas terrorists. People murdered whilst seeking to protect their families. Young people massacred at a music festival. People abducted from their homes.

As the 20 point peace plan for Gaza sets out, this is one of many reasons Hamas can play no role in the future governance of Gaza, it must decommission its weapons and must dismantle its terrorist infrastructure.

Israel has the right not to live in fear of vile terrorism, and the Israeli State has the right to protect its people and defend its territory.

But Madame Deputy Speaker that cannot justify what has happened in Gaza.

Over 70,000 people have been killed, at least 20,000 of them children. 20,000 children.

The vast majority of the population is now displaced – nearly two million people – who are now penned into just one third of the territory.

Life-saving humanitarian aid and access has been routinely blocked.

Hospitals and clinics have been destroyed.

Over 60% of homes are in ruins.

Mr Speaker, international humanitarian law imposes clear rules for states fighting wars – including to ensure access to food and medical supplies, to avoid mass displacement of civilians, and to avoid the targeting of civilians.

Serious and intentional violations of this law, if proven, amount to war crimes.

What has occurred, including the actions of the IDF, have been examined in depth by a number of organisations, including the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry.

The conclusions of these reports represent increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed.

And we support legal processes to determine this.

On the question of genocide, the UK has always supported full, robust and fair judicial processes to consider allegations, with final determinations made by competent courts before the British government reaches a conclusion.

This has been the case for all of the genocides since the 1948 Genocide Convention: Rwanda, Srebrenica, Cambodia, and acts against the Yazidi people.

This will remain our policy. It is right that this issue has been brought before the ICJ and I want to make it clear that we support the Court in coming to its determination.

So accountability for what has happened in Gaza matters.

But even more urgent is action to address the ongoing crisis. 

Because today in Gaza, the death and suffering continue.

Nearly a year ago, Madame Deputy Speaker, a ceasefire was declared. Yet over 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since.

And the people of Gaza are experiencing a totally avoidable humanitarian catastrophe, I am afraid, driven by decisions of the Israeli government.

Last week I talked to courageous doctors and humanitarian aid workers who have served in Gaza. It was a heartbreaking conversation.

They recounted:

Children dying waiting for medical treatment.

People forced to live next to open sewage and without shelter.

And food insecurity rampant.

I’m sure the whole House agrees, this is unconscionable.

So I pledge we will continue to do everything we can to provide all the humanitarian support possible to help the people of Gaza.

UK-supported hospitals in Gaza will enable around 800,000 medical consultations this year and essential health services for patients. 

UK expertise will deliver care to over a thousand child amputees.

And we recently welcomed another wave of students from Gaza coming to study in Britain and we will welcome more.

But in truth, unless Israel changes course, the situation will remain dire.

So we are taking further steps – both ourselves and with others. 

Our extension of the global human rights sanctions regime will enable us to target those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law, whether in Gaza or anywhere else in the world.

And we will at the UN General Assembly in New York later this month shine the clearest and harshest spotlight on what is happening and what must change.

And with Jordan, we will convene countries across the world to lead a call for action on health and humanitarian access.

We will also lend the UK’s voice to the growing global alliance of countries – led by Arab partners in the region – calling for the full implementation of the US-led 20 point plan, the rejection of extremism, and for a lasting end to the cycles of violence.

As we implement the policy measures I have announced today, we will continue to assess the government of Israel by its actions. We want to see a new approach – in both Gaza and the West Bank.

Madame Deputy Speaker, today we refuse to be bystanders to further suffering and to the destruction of the two state solution.

We call out what is unlawful.

We act on the import of goods from illegal settlements.

We ban advertising of illegal settlements

We act on services to prevent new settlement expansion.

We act on settler violence.

We support accountability for what has happened in Gaza.

And we pledge to galvanise the international community to confront the ongoing and urgent humanitarian crisis.

Above all, we say: Britain is not silent in the face of deep injustice and nor is it powerless.

And today we act in concert with others in a broad international coalition.

I can tell the House that today France and Canada are announcing, alongside Britain, that they will also ban the import of goods from illegal settlements. 

Joining the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Spain and Norway – which have either banned goods or are in the process of doing so.

With many other countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden – pledging today they will support further action.

Madame Deputy Speaker, this is what Britain can achieve leading with others.

And this is in our fundamental national interest because if there is one lesson of recent decades, it is that we will never have stability in the Middle East without a two state solution.

And it is also the case that if we fail to stand up for the values that this country has long held and fought for, we lose credibility and influence in the world.

Madame Deputy Speaker, my parents came here as Jewish refugees and found sanctuary and a country that stood up for the rule of law, freedom and self-determination.

Those are the values this government is standing up for today.

And I truly believe that the vast majority of the British people, including in our communities with ties to the region, are united in their desire to see humanitarian suffering end, and all sides commit to a durable peace process.

And just as we want Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side, so we have to live out those values in Britain.

Jews in Britain, Muslims in Britain, people of all faiths and none have a right to live without prejudice or fear.

Madame Deputy Speaker, a Britain that upholds its values at home and around the world.

A Britain that fights against oppression and suffering wherever it occurs.

A Britain that stands up for what is right.

And I commend this statement to the House.

JEREMY CORBYN: Britain must end all support for Israel’s system of apartheid, occupation and genocide.

Starmer convenes antisemitism summit in Downing Street

‘IT IS A CRISIS FOR ALL OF US’

PRIME MINISTER’s OPENING REMARKS:

Thank you all for being here. We have a lot of work to do so it’s very important we gather here to do that work.

Thank you Louis. That was incredibly powerful, and honest, and courageous. I think it’s really important we heard you speak, in your words, saying how you feel, and what it feels like to be Jewish in Britain right now.

And if recent events haven’t given us pause for thought, that really should.

About the responsibility each one of us has to face this challenge head on. And about what’s at the stake in the conversations we have today.

Last October, at Heaton Park, a deadly terrorist attack shocked the nation.

Similarly, last week’s terrorist attack in Golders Green was utterly appalling. But they were not isolated incidents.

It is part of a pattern of rising antisemitism that has left our Jewish communities feeling frightened, angry, and asking whether this country, their home, is safe for them.  

These disgusting attacks are being made against British Jews. But, make no mistake, this crisis – it is a crisis for all of us. It is a test of our values. Values that aren’t guaranteed, they are earned. Every single day. Through our actions.

So, it is not enough to simply say we stand with Jewish communities. Of course we do, but we have to show with action. And that responsibility lies with each and every one of us.

Because it is our fight too. It is about the kind of country that we all want to be.

And that’s what today is about. Because only by working together can we eradicate antisemitism from every corner of society.

I have seen this poison up close. I have seen the damage it does when it takes hold. And I know what it demands to root it out – a coordinated approach, an unwavering resolve and zero tolerance for failure. 

[Political content redacted]. And that is what we must do today. My government is using the full force of the state to that end. We have begun, as we must, with immediate protection.

In recent months, as antisemitic incidents have risen, we have acted decisively to strengthen the safety of Jewish communities. And last week, we announced an additional £25 million in funding. 

That money is being used to increase police patrols, enhance security at synagogues, schools and community centres, and place specialist and plain-clothes officers in communities to prevent serious harm before it occurs.

That is the right thing to do. But what a sad thing to read out that list of acts to you – protecting synagogues, schools and community centres. I repeat those words.

Because of course, we cannot accept a future where communities feel safer only behind higher walls. Security is essential – but it is not enough. We must also deal with the forces that drive this hatred in the first place.

So, we are confronting them directly. One of the lines of inquiry is whether a foreign state has been behind some of these incidents. We are investigating of course all possibilities. And we are clear that these actions will have consequences if that proves to be the case.

Our message to Iran, or to any other country that might seek to foment violence, hatred or division in society, is that it will not be tolerated. That is why we are fast tracking legislation to tackle these malign threats.

And we are clear eyed about the fact that antisemitism does not have one source alone. Islamist, far-left and far-right extremism all target Jewish communities.

That is why this Government has put in place the first coordinated national plan to strengthen cohesion and confront extremism in all of its forms.

This is not about tinkering around the edges. Our plan is a complete step change in how we protect communities: moving beyond piecemeal responses to a sustained, nationwide effort – one that ensures that people across the United Kingdom can live freely and without fear.

We are strengthening our ability to disrupt extremism – stopping those who spread hatred from entering the country and giving the Charity Commission stronger powers to act against organisations that enable it. 

We are holding technology companies to account, requiring them to remove illegal extremist content or face serious penalties. And we have introduced stronger powers to deal with protests, ensuring intimidation is not tolerated on our streets.

And when these vile acts are committed, we are bolstering the response of our justice system – working to speed up sentencing for offences so that consequences are swift and the deterrent is clear. 

But it is also important to recognise that so often this hatred does not begin with violence – it begins with ideas, with misinformation, tropes and conspiracy theories, and with attitudes that, left unchecked, can take root and spread. So, in those spaces where the shoots of antisemitism begin to grow, we are stepping in.

We have commissioned independent reviews into antisemitism in education and health services. Across the NHS, we are rolling out antisemitism training for staff.

And in our schools, colleges and universities, we are investing £7 million to tackle antisemitism, while making sure Holocaust education is taught in all schools.

And, today, we are going further. We already expect universities to set out clear disciplinary consequences for antisemitism, and to enforce them. And so we will hold them to account on that. 

But today, I can announce that we will lift the bar higher: when abuses take place, we are calling on universities to demonstrate action. We will now expect them to publish the scale of the problem on their campuses, as well as the specific steps they have taken to clamp down on it. There will be zero tolerance for inaction.

In our cultural venues and spaces we will also expect more. Where public funding is being used to promote or platform antisemitism, the Arts Council must act, using its powers to suspend, withdraw and claw back funding. 

And, today, we are mandating an independent audit of how allegations are handled. This will be a hard-edged review of where systems are failing and where they need to be strengthened. We will not and cannot accept complacency, delays, or weak enforcement. And where complacency is found, it will be challenged and addressed swiftly.

And we will also address a quieter but no less serious harm: the way rising security costs are forcing Jewish artists and organisations out of public life. That is exclusion – and it is unacceptable. 

We will ensure that the Arts Council and Home Office funding can be used to cover protective security costs, so that participation is not determined by fear.

There is, of course, more work to do – and we won’t stop playing our part. But this is not a task that government do alone.

Every part of society has a responsibility to respond with determination and force. Because there are too many people who don’t see antisemitism for what it is: anti-Jewish hatred, racism, pure and simple.

That is why, today, I am asking you – each and every one of you – to reflect. On what form antisemitism takes in the sectors that you lead. In how it may be allowed to fester and spread. And on the work that you are currently doing to stamp it out.

And then, even more importantly, I am calling on you to act. With urgency. To look clearly at where you are succeeding – and just as clearly at where there is still work to be done. And to commit to the tangible action that Jewish people in this country need to feel safe again.

Because stopping antisemitism is not someone else’s responsibility. It is all of ours. That is the test before us. And only by working together will we meet it.

So, thank you for being here today – we have a lot of work to do – and we’re now going to move through to the Pillared Room to discuss that work further. So please come through and join us in the Pillared Room to continue the work that we have started today.

Golders Green Incident: Muslim Association of Britain statement

An act of violence has been used to justify a dangerous narrative. We reject the weaponisation of fear and the targeting of communities and civil liberties.

Read our full statement:

Indian Community stands with the Jewish Community

The Indian Council of Scotland/United Kingdom stands in full support with the Jewish community especially with the recent terrorist attack on 2 Jewish men at Golders green in London. 

Neil Lal, Chairman and President of The Indian Council of Scotland and United Kingdom, which is the leading organisation representing the 2 million Indian origin people living in the UK, said: “No matter what one’s faith is there must be mutual respect for everyone’s religious beliefs. 

“We are against any form of Anti Semitism, Anti Christianity, Anti Hindu, Sikh, Buddhism or Islamophobia. 

We must all unite as one to stamp out this hatred against the Jewish community and we must support each other”

Neil Lal, Chairman and President of The Indian Council of Scotland and United Kingdom, has also announced a special interfaith prayer vigil in honour of the victims/peace and in solidarity with the Jewish community.

Condemning the attack in the strongest possible terms, Mr. Lal said: “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the horrific attack in Golders Green. Our thoughts and prayers are for a speedy recovery for the victims and are with the entire Jewish community.

“We stand with you, united against hatred and violence. No one should live in fear. Everyone must follow and respect the rule of Law.” 

The upcoming vigil, which will bring together members of Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim and wider interfaith communities, aims to send a clear message of unity and resilience in the face of division and hate.

“This is not just an attack on a single community — it is an attack on all of us who believe in tolerance, peace, and religious freedom,” Mr. Lal added.

“Our vigil/prayers will honour the victims, and reaffirm our shared commitment to harmony, respect, and solidarity across faiths and to stamp out antisemitism.”

Mr. Lal, a prominent leader of the Indian diaspora in the United Kingdom and a long-standing advocate for interfaith unity, has called on community members and leaders across the UK to stand together in condemning acts of hate and reaffirming the nation’s core values of inclusion and mutual respect.

He is also calling for a continued robust action from the authorities/communities to protect all places of worship and especially Synagogues. 

Threat level increase following antisemitic terror attack

National Threat Level increased to SEVERE following Golders Green attack and increasing threat of Islamist and Extreme Right Wing terrorism in the UK

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) has today (30 April 2026) raised the UK National Threat Level from SUBSTANTIAL, meaning an attack is likely, to SEVERE, meaning an attack is highly likely in the next six months.  

The increase in threat comes following yesterday’s stabbing in Golders Green in North London, but it is not solely a result of that attack. The terrorist threat level in the UK has been rising for some time, driven by an increase in the broader Islamist and Extreme Right Wing terrorist threat from individuals and small groups based in the UK.

While the UK National Threat Level set independently by JTAC reflects the terrorist threat in the UK, it comes against a backdrop of increased state-linked physical threats which is encouraging acts of violence, including against the Jewish community. 

This is an independent, systematic, and rigorous process, based on the very latest intelligence and analysis of internal and external factors which drive the threat.

Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: “Yesterday’s abhorrent, antisemitic attack was a vile act of terrorism.  

“My thoughts today remain with the victims, and with the whole Jewish community at a time of deep disquiet and fear.  

“My deepest thanks go to the volunteers and emergency services, a number of whom I met today. Their actions saved lives and they are, and forever will be, heroes.  

“Today, the national threat level has increased to “severe”, which means a terrorist attack is considered highly likely.  

“I know this will be a source of concern to many, particularly amongst our Jewish community, who have suffered so much.  

“The Government has today announced a significant increase in investment to protect our Jewish communities, with record funding for policing and security at synagogues, schools and community centres. And we will do everything in our power to rid society of the evil of antisemitism.  

“As the threat level rises, I urge everyone to be vigilant as they go about their daily lives, and report any concerns they have to the police.  

“And I can assure everyone that our world-class security services and the police are working day and night to keep our country safe.”

The UK was last at SEVERE in November 2021, following the Liverpool Women’s Hospital bombing and murder of Sir David Amess, before being lowered to SUBSTANTIAL in February 2022. 

In light of yesterday’s attack and a spate of vile antisemitic arson attacks in London, the Government is investing an additional £25 million funding to protect Jewish communities against horrific antisemitic attacks.  

This brings the total funding to £58 million this year – the largest investment a government has made in protecting Jewish communities in history.

This funding will go towards increasing police presence and patrols in communities, as well as added protective security in synagogues, schools, and community centres. 

 It will also be invested into the expansion of Project Servator, putting specialist and plain-clothes officers in the community who are trained to spot suspicious activity and identify individuals preparing to commit serious crimes. 

Legislation will also be fast tracked in the coming weeks to clamp down on individuals and groups carrying out hostile activity for foreign states, including those who act as their proxies. 
 
The Home Secretary will be given new proscription-like powers to ban the activities of state-backed organisations who pose a threat to the UK’s national security. It will give police and intelligence agencies stronger tools under the National Security Act to disrupt the activities of anyone acting on behalf of state-backed organisations.

More information about how the threat levels is set and what it means can be found by visiting the Security Service webpage

PM remarks from Downing Street on Golders Green attack: 30 April 2026

Yesterday, Britain’s Jewish community suffered yet another vile terrorist attack. Two men stabbed in broad daylight on the streets of Golders Green because they were Jews. I’ve just come back from Golders Green where I expressed my sadness and solidarity with that community but also my determination to act because the truth is this attack is not a one-off.

There have been a series of attacks including an arson attack in Hendon, an attack on the Jewish Ambulance Service Hatzola, the fireball at Kenton United Synagogue which I visited last week and on top of all this Heaton Park in Manchester last October where two Jewish men were killed in a vile Islamist attack on their synagogue. And so people are scared, scared to show who they are in their community, scared to go to synagogue and practise their religion, scared to go to university as a Jew, to send their children to school as a Jew, to tell their colleagues that they are Jewish, even to use our NHS. Nobody should live like that in Britain but Jews do.

And so yesterday this anxiety that is always there went to another place, to terror frankly. That is the right word. I want to thank the Jewish Security Services who wrestle with this every day and who alongside the police prevented a much greater tragedy yesterday.

I met some of the first responders today and on behalf of the country I thanked them for their bravery. We will strengthen the visible police presence in our Jewish communities. We will increase our investment in those Jewish Security Services.

We will introduce much stronger powers to shut down charities that promote antisemitic extremism. We will prevent hate preachers from entering our country, bar them from our campuses, our streets, our communities. Work with our justice system to speed up sentences on antisemitic attacks so there is a stronger deterrence factor as we do with riots.

And we need stronger powers to tackle the malign threat posed by states like Iran because we know for a fact that they want to harm British Jews which is why we will fast-track the necessary legislation. And yet the truth is while we can and we will bring the full power of the state to bear on this, this is about society every bit as much as it is about security. At moments like this we often say this is not Britain, that these attacks are an afront to British values, to British tolerance, British decency but they keep happening. 

And so today instead I will simply say that our values are not a gift handed down generation to generation. They are something we earn each day through action. They come from us.

Antisemitism is an old, old hatred. History shows that the roots are deep and if you turn away it grows back. Yet far too many people in this country diminish it.

They either don’t see it or they don’t want to see it. Take the marches that happen regularly across Britain. Of course we protect freedom of speech and peaceful protests in this country but if you are marching with people wearing pictures of paragliders without calling it out you are venerating the murder of Jews.

If you stand alongside people who say globalise the intifada, you are calling for terrorism against Jews and people who use that phrase should be prosecuted. It is racism, extremely racism and it has left a minority community in this country scared, intimidated, wondering if they belong. So, I say again this government will do everything in our power to stamp this hatred out.

We will strengthen our security and protect our Jewish community, but I also call on everyone decent in this country to open their eyes to Jewish pain, Jewish suffering and Jewish fear. I call on everyone to come together and fight antisemitism and I call on everyone to fight for the decent, respectful, tolerant Britain that I and millions of people love so that our freedom and our values can still speak loud and true to a community that can no longer take it on faith. Thank you.

YOUR PARTY RESPONSE:

Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign launches Apartheid-Free Zones Map

🚨 Launched: Scotland’s Apartheid Free Zones Map 🚨

SCOTTISH Palestine Solidarity Campaign @scottish_psc has launched a new Scotland-wide interactive map spotlighting 120+ Apartheid Free Zones, including @govanhillapartheidfreezone.

Cafés, shops, unions, musicians, community groups and organisations standing in solidarity with Palestine. 🇵🇸

These spaces have pledged to support the BDS movement, boycott companies complicit in Israeli apartheid, and build anti-racist, ethical communities rooted in justice.

From local workplaces to cultural hubs, AFZs show that while governments stall, people are taking action. An act of solidarity forming a powerful, growing network of hope and resistance across Scotland. ✊

🔎 Explore the map: www.apartheidfree.scot�🏪 Not listed yet? Businesses and organisations are invited to join and help grow the movement.

The Jewish Council of Scotland response to Apartheid Free Zones in Scotland campaign

The Jewish Council of Scotland (JCoS) is alarmed at the announcement reported in yesterday’s media of the Apartheid Free Zones in Scotland campaign – launched by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which aims to achieve a boycott of Israel across Scotland in support of the Boycott, Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement.

The strident hatred and intimidation associated with this movement has a profound effect on Jews living in Scotland, and with ever increasing incidents of antisemitic behaviour towards the Jewish population this activity is of significant concern to us.

JCoS believes the impact of this campaign will build on the fear created by the so-called Leith ‘Zionist Free Zone’ in Edinburgh, which many Jews in Leith regarded as targeting them, regardless of their personal views on Israel.

“Our concern is that Jewish people in Scotland will be branded as racist”, says Timothy Lovat, Chair of JCoS. “This campaign does nothing to attack racism and promote racial equality in Scotland.”

#ApartheidFreeZones

#ApartheidFreeScotland

#SolidarityWithPalestine

#BDS

#EndIsraeliApartheid

Government to tackle antisemitism and other racism in England’s NHS

UK government takes urgent action to tackle antisemitism and other forms of racism in the NHS

  • Steps taken to end scourge of antisemitism in the health service
  • Lord John Mann to lead rapid review into how healthcare regulators tackle antisemitism and racism
  • Mandatory antiracism training to be rolled out to all NHS staff

The Prime Minister has ordered an urgent review of antisemitism and all forms of racism in the NHS, as part of wider efforts to tackle discrimination in the health service.

Following recent incidents of antisemitism from doctors which drew stark attention to problems of culture and the regulation in the health system, Lord John Mann will lead the review, looking at how to protect patients and staff from racism and hold perpetrators to account. 

At the same time, the government announced the immediate rollout of strengthened mandatory antisemitism and anti-racism training across the health service, and NHSE will review its uniform guidance so patients and staff always feel respected in NHS settings. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The discrimination staff and patients have faced because of their race or religion goes against everything our country stands for.

“The NHS was built on the principle that everyone should be treated equally and with respect, and I am determined to restore this to the heart of the health service.

“That’s why I have asked Lord Mann to root out this problem and ensure perpetrators are always held to account.”

Today’s announcement builds on wider efforts across government to stamp out behaviour that seeks to divide and spread hate across the whole of society, following the horrific terrorist attack on Heaton Park Synagogue earlier this month.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: ”The NHS should be there for all of us when we need it – regardless of income, race, or religion. Discrimination undermines everything our health service stands for, and undermines its ability to provide quality care.

“I have been appalled by recent incidents of antisemitism by NHS doctors, and I will not tolerate it. There can be no place in our NHS for doctors or staff continuing to practise after even persistently using antisemitic or hateful language.

“Patients put their lives in the hands of healthcare professionals. They treat us at our most vulnerable. They therefore have a special responsibility to provide total comfort and confidence.

“I am grateful to Lord Mann for taking on this work. I expect his recommendations, and the action we are taking today, to help us enforce a zero tolerance policy to racism in healthcare.”

Lord John Mann said:  “The NHS and the health sector pride themselves on being welcoming, inclusive and professional in dealings with every one of us, as we are all patients at different times and in different ways throughout our entire life.

“Everyone in the country should be confident in these underlying principles at all times.

“This review will look at the issues that can undermine the confidence of individuals when seeking or receiving healthcare.  

“Ensuring that the systems and culture of regulation across the health service match, at all times,  the universal principles and ethics that underpin our NHS will be the sole focus of this work.”

Recently, shocking examples have raised concerns about the operation and efficiency of independent healthcare professional regulators, some of which have been slow to crack down and investigate incidents of hate.   

Lord Mann’s review will examine how the regulatory system for healthcare professionals tackles antisemitism and other forms of racism at every stage, from employment through to professional oversight. 

It will also look at regulatory processes, transparency in investigations, reporting mechanisms, and how zero-tolerance policies can be more effectively implemented across the health service.  

At the same time, all 1.5 million NHS staff will be required to complete updated mandatory antisemitism and anti-racism training, with existing equality, diversity and human rights programmes being expanded to include: 

  • Enhanced content on discrimination and antisemitism
  • New assessment questions to test understanding
  • Training developed with equality and antisemitism subject matter experts
  • Content aligned to core skills training framework

Staff will be asked to refresh their training immediately when the updated content becomes available shortly, rather than waiting for the standard three-year cycle. 

The government is also asking NHS England will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism and set clear expectations that every Trust, Integrated Care Board, and arms-length body does the same. The government is also reviewing the recommendations of the independent working group on Islamophobia.

NHS England is reviewing the uniform and workwear guidance last updated in 2020, in light of recent successful approaches rolled out at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. 

NHS England will engage stakeholders on its proposals and issue new guidance shortly. The guidance will protect freedom of religious expression while ensuring patients feel respected at all times. The guidance will not impact staff’s freedom to protest and speak out on political issues, but it will ensure that the political views of staff do not impact on patient care. 

Andrew Gilbert, Vice President for Security, Resilience and Cohesion, Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “We welcome the new measures announced today to tackle antisemitism within the NHS, particularly the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, a much needed review on regulators led by Lord Mann and an expansion of effective antisemitism training.

“For much of the last two years, Jewish staff and patients have felt let down by the NHS while antisemitism has been allowed to flourish and thrive with hospitals, medical schools and other health spaces becoming unwelcoming for Jews.

“The government’s plans are a step towards addressing these urgent issues that will make the NHS a safer place for Jews to work and receive care, however, these changes should be seen as a spring board for further changes and not a ‘fix-all’ with issues remaining on the classification of Jews as an ethnicity, the lack of repercussions of medical staff accused of antisemitism and health inequalities in the Jewish community.”

Claudia Mendoza, CEO of the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), said: “Antisemitism in the NHS has been out of control. We have seen doctors describe hospitals as cesspits of “Jewish supremacy” and praise Hamas as “legends”, with the regulators and tribunals not taking substantive action.

“It is vital that Jewish patients are able to trust that their healthcare providers will treat them without prejudice. This continued lack of action has severely undermined trust.

“The government’s announcements today including the introduction of mandatory antisemitism training and the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism encouraged across the health service, are a welcome first step but must be the first of many.

“Most importantly, we must see swift action as a result of Lord Mann’s urgent review into how healthcare regulators tackle antisemitism.”

Lord Mann will report to the Health Secretary, with practical recommendations to strengthen protections against antisemitism and other forms of racism in healthcare. 

Patient safety is a priority for this government and the bedrock of an NHS that is fit for the future – that includes ensuring that the NHS is completely free from racism.   

The Jewish Medical Association (JMA) said: “For the past two years the Jewish Medical Association has become increasingly concerned about blatant expressions of antisemitism – simply anti-Jewish racism – that have become widely tolerated across healthcare. British Jewish healthcare students, professionals and patients find this profoundly distressing and intimidating.

“The JMA welcomes Lord Mann’s review of the role of regulators in eliminating this toxic culture for Jews.

“We have long called for IHRA definition adoption, for effective mandatory training for staff in the NHS, regulators and other key players to combat antisemitism, and for implementation of uniform policy, all to help make healthcare a prejudice-free, politics-free environment.”

Daniel Carmel-Brown, CEO of Jewish Care, said: “Jewish Care welcomes the government’s commitment to tackling antisemitism and racism across the NHS and wider society. These measures send a powerful message that hatred and discrimination have no place in healthcare or anywhere else.

“Adopting the IHRA definition, enhancing training, and strengthening oversight are important steps towards ensuring that Jewish patients, staff, and communities feel safe, respected, and valued.

“We look forward to working with government and partners to help build a health service and a society where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.”

Professor Habib Naqvi, Chief Executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: “Tackling antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism involves clear communication of a zero-tolerance stance, implementing systemic changes, and creating a supportive environment for all employees.

“That’s why we fully support roll out of the comprehensive measures announced today by the government. Our diverse workforce is the backbone of the NHS. It must be cared for, celebrated and respected for the outstanding care that it provides.

“At the same time, our patients, colleagues and communities need to be treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve. No one should be subjected to discrimination or abuse of any kind, within or outside of the workplace.”

Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices, said: “Being anti-racist is not about making grand statements, it is about taking consistent action to end discrimination and inequity.

“What the Prime Minister has set out today is an important commitment to action in the NHS, using the levers of training and regulation to build a health and care workforce that is committed to ending racism.

“This can help our sector not just challenge overt racist acts, like violence and intimidation, but also address the underlying systemic issues which means our Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities continue to experience some of the worst access, experiences and outcomes from healthcare.”

‘Long-lasting peace must prevail’

FM marks second anniversary of 7 October attacks

First Minister John Swinney has said unity must prevail to ensure long-lasting peace is secured in the Middle East.  

His words come as the world prepares to remember all those who lost their lives during the 7 October 2023 attacks in Israel, and those who have died in the violence that has followed. 

Reflecting on the two-year anniversary, Mr Swinney said this year will be even more distressing for Scotland’s Jewish communities following the attacks at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester. 

First Minister John Swinney said: “As we mark the second anniversary of the heinous attacks, we must always remember that 7 October resulted in the worst single loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust.  

“Our Jewish communities remain extremely traumatised by these attacks – and the events that have followed – and I know that this year will be even more emotionally distressing after the horrific attack carried out at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester.

“It was an attack made all the more cruel for being perpetrated on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, and my thoughts remain with the victims and their families, and with Jewish communities across the United Kingdom.  

“As we mourn all those who have lost their lives since 7 October, we must stand united in defiance of violent division. We must respond to the devastating conflict occurring across the Middle East by showing that long lasting peace is the only solution.  

“We must see an immediate ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. It is the only way to stop death and displacement, violence and fear, unrest and division. Israelis and Palestinians must be allowed to live safely side by side, with long-lasting peace, prosperity, and security.  

“Events in the Middle East cannot ever justify antisemitism, prejudice or any acts of violence. All of Scotland’s communities must feel safe and protected.  

“Scotland’s diversity and our inclusive outlook is one of our greatest strengths. All of our communities are equally integral, valued and permanent parts of our national life – their members are our friends, our neighbours, our colleagues.  

“In remembering all those who lost their lives on 7 October and since, we do so in equal condemnation of all forms of terror and violence.”

Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, spoke at a vigil for the victims of the terrorist attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Crumpsall:

Friends, we must stand together today.

We must stand in grief, in solidarity and in defiance.  

Grief – for the innocent lives that were taken so cruelly.

Senseless murders carried out on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish year.

Grief that causes so much pain, so much suffering.

Today our hearts, our thoughts, our prayers must be with the families of those who were killed. 

And of course with this Jewish community, both here in Manchester at the Heaton Park Synagogue and right across our nation.    

And as the Member of Parliament for Tottenham, I know that suffering in Crumpsall is the same as the pain and the worry on the frightened faces in my own constituency, in Stamford Hill. 

In that sense the London and Manchester communities are twin communities, grieving as one. 

And, us, the whole nation – with them. 

That’s why we stand in solidarity – with the Jewish people.

Because an attack like this is never felt alone.  

Wherever they are in our country, Jewish people, our friends, our neighbours, our loved ones, are terrified by the events of yesterday.

Of becoming targets, victims of antisemitic hate, simply for who they are. 

But I know this about Britain’s Jewish community: 

A community I have known all of my life.  

You are strong, you are resilient, you will never be cowed.  

And I want you to know today, that your country, those of all colours, all faiths and none, stand with you.  

We stand with you against terrorism. 

We stand with you against those who think bombs and blasts will break us. 

And we stand against all those who would minimise, coddle or obfuscate on anti-Jewish hate. 

We know terrorism in this country. We know it in this city, we saw it at the Arena.

And now we have seen it in Heaton Park. 

We all know terrorism. We all feel terrorism. I lost my childhood best friend, James Adams who was blown to smithereens on the 7/7 bombings. 

And I vow to you, every Christian, Muslim, Jew, every Mancunian, every Brit, we will never stop fighting it. 

That’s why we stand in defiance of those terrorists who seek to divide us.

Who want to pit neighbour against neighbour, to weaken the bonds that bind us together.

As one nation, one people, one United Kingdom, we cannot, we must not let them divide us.  

On days like today, we must show who we really are, not what they want us to believe.

But Britain’s true nature: A tolerant nation, built on mutual respect, common understanding, where people live not in fear, but in freedom.

That is who we are, that is who we will always be and it cannot be eroded by violence.

It cannot be erased by vile acts such as those carried out here yesterday.  

I want to close with this thought: When I have lost loved ones in the past, Jewish friends have often used a phrase to comfort me: ‘May their memory be a blessing.’ 

Nothing will ever take away the pain of what happened here.   

But how we respond now, how we stand together, yes, in grief and in solidarity, but also in defiance and a shared mission: Against terror, in the name of us all.

That response honours those we have lost.

May their memory be a blessing. 

Not just to their families, not just to the Jewish community, but to our entire nation.  

Always.  

And for those that are considering marching over the weekend: 

I ask them to reflect with all human dignity, grace and understanding, to stop and to stand back. 

Attack on Heaton Hebrew Congregation: A Statement

Attack on Heaton Hebrew Congregation: Statement from Timothy Lovat, Chair, Jewish Council of Scotland, Henry Lovat, President, Glasgow Jewish Representative Council and Matthew Shaps, Chair, Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation (written 2nd October 2025, following the conclusion of Yom Kippur):

“We are devastated by the terrorist attack that took place this morning at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Manchester, on Yom Kippur.

The victims, their families, and the entire Manchester Jewish community are in our thoughts and prayers during this time of profound grief and fear.

This awful attack is a tragic reminder of the manner in which hatred and intolerance towards Jewish people – whether put explicitly as such or directed (nominally) at “Zionists” or other euphemisms – can translate into deadly acts of violence aimed at our community.

Sentiments of concern and condolence from those whose words and conduct have previously increased rather than addressed the fears of our community, will inevitably ring hollow.

Rather, to be meaningful any words of concern must now be matched by substantive action to confront and combat antisemitism in all its forms.

Anti-Jewish sentiment and communal fears in the UK have been stoked by our political leaders’ use of inflammatory and irresponsible language about the ongoing, tragic conflict in Israel and Gaza.

With this in mind, we call on political and community leaders across Scotland to act urgently to stop fanning the flames of hatred, and – once again – to work with and alongside, rather than vilifying and alienating, the Jewish community of Scotland, to support rather than undermine community cohesion across our nation. 

We thank Police Scotland for their continued engagement with and support for Jewish communities across Scotland at this extremely fraught juncture. 

Last, we would once again urge all members of the community attending synagogues or other community premises to follow all instructions from police and security, and in particular not to congregate outside communal premises and to keep doors closed at all times.”

Security stepped up following Manchester synagogue attack

TWO people are dead and three more are in hospital with serious injuries following an attack on a synagogue in Manchester yesterday.

In a statement this morning, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed the identities of the two victims: ‘Two members of our Jewish community who sadly died as a result of the incident at Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue yesterday have been named as Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz – our thoughts remain with their families at this difficult time.’

A man, who has now been named as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, drove a car at members of the public before stabbing people. He was shot dead by police at the scene.

The incident at Heaton Park synagogue, classified by police as a terrorist attack, took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

It’s understood that three more people have been arrested in connection with the attack.

The UK’s Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, says the attack is the “tragic result of an unrelenting wave of Jew hatred”.

Sacha Deshmukh, CE Amnesty International UK said: “Amnesty International UK is deeply saddened by the news of this morning’s attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in north Manchester.

“We condemn this horrific act of violence that has taken the lives of two innocent people and injured many more. Our hearts are with the Jewish community and all those affected by this appalling attack on such an important and holy day in the Jewish calendar.

“Acts of violence have no place in our society and only deepen division among communities. It is essential that politicians, leaders and the media ensure their actions in the following days do not stoke hatred and division further.

“We must focus on the solidarity and humanity that connects us all.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “This was a vile terrorist attack that attacked Jews, because they are Jews. Antisemitism is a hatred that is rising, once again. Britain must defeat it, once again.

“To every Jewish person in this country: I promise that I will do everything in my power to guarantee you the security you deserve.”

First Minister John Swinney @JohnSwinney visited Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation to reiterate Scotland’s solidarity with our Jewish Community following the attack at The Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester.

The First Minister also received a security briefing from the UK Government.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood:

Neil Lal, Chairman and President of The Indian Council of Scotland and United Kingdom, has announced a special interfaith prayer vigil in honour of the victims and in solidarity with the Jewish community.

Condemning the attack in the strongest possible terms, Mr. Lal said: “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the horrific attack on the synagogue in Manchester. That such a violent act could occur on Yom Kippur — a sacred day of prayer and reflection — is especially painful.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and with the entire Jewish community, both here in the UK and around the world. We stand with you, united against hatred and violence.”

“The upcoming vigil, which will bring together members of  Indian, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, and wider interfaith communities, aims to send a clear message of unity and resilience in the face of division and hate.

“This is not just an attack on a single community — it is an attack on all of us who believe in tolerance, peace, and religious freedom,” Mr. Lal added. “Our vigil/prayers will honour the victims, and reaffirm our shared commitment to harmony, respect, and solidarity across faiths.”

Mr. Lal, a prominent leader of the Indian diaspora in the United Kingdom and a long-standing advocate for interfaith unity, has called on community members and leaders across the UK to stand together in condemning acts of hate and reaffirming the nation’s core values of inclusion and mutual respect.

He is also calling for robust action from the authorities/communities to protect all places of worship and ensure that those responsible for this hateful act are swiftly brought to justice.

Neil Lal will be writing to the PM to offer his full support and for meeting to bring all faiths together against any from of hate such as anti semitissm and looking at solutions in protective security measures for all places of worship.