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.
