B’nai B’rith UK

B’nai B’rith UK welcomes the joint statement issued by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, which states that the forces will act decisively and make arrests if anti-Israel demonstrators use hateful chants in public. For two years, B’nai B’rith UK has spoken with the Metropolitan Police, ministers and MPs, urging them to take forceful action against those who chant for a ‘global intifada’. This phrase is a call to arms against Jews and we saw its lethal consequences at Bondi Beach three days ago. We now hope that the police will translate words into action and that their approach is adopted by police forces throughout the UK. While we welcome any positive development in protecting the Jewish community, we will continue to exhort the authorities to take more stringent measures to reduce antisemitism. This should include enhanced security at all Jewish communal events, preventing all anti-Israel marches near synagogues and prosecutions for preachers who verbally attack Jews and Zionism.

B’nai B’rith UK is devastated to hear of the appalling slaughter at the ‘Chanukah by the Sea’ event at Bondi Beach. We understand that 12 people have been killed and we would like to wish their families a long life, as well as a speedy recovery to the injured. Our thoughts are with the Jewish community in Australia at a time when so many were celebrating a festival of light and joy. For two years, there has been a tsunami of hatred directed at Jews in Australia, as there has been around the world. The authorities must tackle this scourge of hatred and prejudice with robust measures rather than words.