What more could the government have done? That was the question with which I was presented on Sky News in the aftermath of the Golders Green stabbings.
On the face of it, a perfectly reasonable point. The Prime Minister has been quick and unequivocal in his condemnation of antisemitism, and his administration has increased funding to Jewish security groups.
Scratch the surface, however, and it should be obvious why so many Jews in Britain feel betrayed. Ever since October 8, 2023, when the first Israelophobic march sullied London before the blood had even dried in southern Israel, the authorities have been too cowardly to confront the problem.
Despite widespread and blatant expressions of racial bigotry on these rallies – which, incidentally, were organised by Muslim activists with past links to Hamas – they were only softly policed.
In fact, when Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, dared to call them “hate marches”, she was sacked. By comparison, much smaller protests deemed “far-right” are routinely met with helmets, riot shields and batons.
Antisemitic incitement in mosques and on university campuses has gone unpunished. An East London imam who called for Allah to “ruin” and “destroy” Jewish homes in the aftermath of October 7 faced no police action, for instance, while at Birmingham University, a cleric who called for “jihad” – which he specified meant “armed warfare” against “disbelievers that surround” Muslims in the West – was not even questioned.
Israelophobic propaganda has been allowed to ride roughshod over both British values and our national interest, as increasing numbers of treacherous citizens side with the very jihadis who would murder all of us (after finishing with the Jews).
It should be obvious by now that war has come to Britain | Getty Images
From social media to mainstream media, from the classroom to the boardroom, supporting the backward, authoritarian, corrupt and racist cause of Islamism has been wedded to some mark of progressive politics.
Israelis – the ancient indigenous people of the land – have been absurdly cast as expressions of colonialist Western racism, while the monsters who would execute gays, oppress women and subvert our freedoms are championed as symbols of liberalism.
Antisemitism has been allowed to run riot across media and the arts, through the civil service, in universities and schools, in hospitals and on the streets. Every time, the great and the good shake their heads sadly and stroke their beards. But nothing substantial is done.
In fact, all too often, our leaders pour fuel on the fire. Hell, only a few days ago, Sadiq Khan, who was apparently so upset by the stabbings, posed for a picture with the Spanish leader Pedro Sanchez, who recently said he regretted not having nuclear weapons so he could “stop” Israel. What happened to standing up against hatred, Mr Mayor?
The examples of such betrayal are too numerous to cite. In particular, however, I think back to the Manchester synagogue murders, when David Lammy visited the Jewish community to offer condolences on behalf of the government.
He was roundly heckled and rightly so. After all, just a week or two before, Downing Street had recognised a State of Palestine without preconditions, emboldening the very people he supposedly condemned.
Remember that act of foreign policy genius? The Palestinians were not asked to first eliminate antisemitism from their school textbooks.
They were not required to put a stop to the reward payments they dole out to those convicted of terrorism (that’s the “moderate” Palestinian Authority, not Hamas).
The jihadis were not even required to release the final Israeli hostages, which at the time languished in the catacombs under Gaza. Where was the government’s concern for Jews – indeed, its concern for basic decency – then?
As you’ll recall, after Britain confirmed recognition of Palestine, Hamas celebrated and offered its official congratulations to Keir Starmer. Chances are that they celebrated with equal gusto when the news broke of the deaths of two Jews in Manchester, which Starmer affected to so deeply abhor. Chances are, they are celebrating now.
What has happened to Britain? It’s just not good enough. If the government were serious about addressing the scourge of racism – for that is what it is – in this country, it would take a strong stance against the bigotry that fuels these disturbing attacks. That starts with changing the narrative.
In addition to hard measures, like beefing up security around Jewish targets, ushering in a new era of muscular law enforcement towards Islamist extremists, rooting antisemitism out of the NHS, media and the arts, depoliticising universities, deporting foreign antisemites, and clamping down on those dreadful Gaza rallies, we need to see a powerful counter-propaganda campaign emanating from central government.
No, Jews are not baby killers. No, there was no “genocide” or “famine”. No, Israel is not trying to expand to take over the entire Middle East (it has given away many times more land than it retains).
No, there is no “apartheid” in Israel – where Arabs serve in parliament, the supreme court, the armed forces and in senior business roles – and no, Israelis are not “white” and their country is not a “settler colonial state”.
Instead, Israel is an important British ally, a Western-style democracy which gives equal rights to women, minorities and gays and upholds the very freedoms we claim to hold dear.
It also happens to be on the frontline of the struggle against jihad. Remember the Manchester Arena bombing? The London Bridge stabbing? The atrocities of 7/7? That.
These facts must be boldly shared, and those lies debunked, all with as much passion as we would rouse to counter neo-Nazis or the Ku Klux Klan.
At the core of the Government’s response must be an unashamed defence of truth: the Jews lie at the heart of Christian culture.
An attack on them is an attack on us all. In this age of malicious propaganda and antisemitic brainwashing, people must be reminded of the reality.
Will any of this happen? Of course it won’t. Set your watches for the next attack.
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