Essa Suleiman and Several Recurring Themes

 

The Golders Green attacks have raised a number of issues of concern. The growth of anti-Semitism is prominent among them, quite rightly. British Jews see it as another manifestation of hatred directed against them and which has caused a number of British Jews to leave Britain for Israel. Richard Manville (see link) told the BBC:

Richard says he now lives in a constant state of anxiety.

"I don't feel safe walking down the street," he says. "I have to look over my shoulder. I'm constantly aware when I drive my car and I'm checking the wing mirrors."
"This isn't happening in a distant place," Richard points out. "It's the United Kingdom. It's England. It's Manchester. It's Salford. And it's round the corner to me."

Richard is not an isolated case, As The Guardian reported:

"British Jews feel under siege and worry about their children displaying religious symbols in public, community leaders have said. There have been a series of attempted arson attacks at Jewish sites ... including incidents at two synagogues in London and one at a building used by the charity Jewish Futures. Four Jewish community ambulances were also set on fire in north London in the early hours of 23 March. Parents are picking children up from stations, fearing drop-offs at nurseries and schools, and choosing universities based on safety rather than academic fit. Some avoid wearing religious or Hebrew symbols, while many think twice before attending large Jewish events".

The concern for the safety of British Jews is set have political consequences. Keir Starmer has said that there is a case for some protest marches against Israel to be banned. As the BBC reports today:

"Asked if he wanted tougher policing of language used during marches, or if he wanted to stop some protests altogether, Sir Keir Starmer told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think certainly the first, and I think there are instances for the latter."

The "instances" include chants which call for violence against Jews. I doubt that policing of language will go unchallenged, as, unless the chants and slogans are overt calls for violence, forms of words can be interpreted in different ways. But it needs to be discussed.

Another issue is that of the anti-Zionist lobby and their role in promoting, or rather not promoting anti-Semitism. Stop the War Coalition says:

" We believe that the statements by Jonathan Hall KC, suggesting that the Palestine marches should be subject to a ‘moratorium’ because of the series of antisemitic attacks in North London, are unacceptable. 

We condemn unequivocally these attacks, as we do all forms of antisemitism and racism. No one should be attacked for their race or religion. 

...Our marches are against the treatment of the Palestinians in Gaza in protest at the role of the Israeli government, and the complicity of the British government in these attacks. 

These marches are supported by many Jewish people who attend. They are not the ‘hate marches’ described by right wing politicians but expressions of solidarity and support for those under attack".

Now, I have maintained from October 7th, 2023, that the whole Gaza tragedy was deliberately provoked by Hamas, who launched vicious attacks against Israel in the full knowledge that there would be a ferocious Israeli reaction. I believed then, and believe now, that Hamas wanted to lure Israel into a war of attrition which would bring international opprobrium, with the possible beneficial side-effects of (1) widening the conflict and (2)causing political and social turmoil in the lands of Israel's allies. I hardly need to spell out that, thanks to considerable help from Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, the first of these strategic aims has been remarkably successful. The rise of anti-Semitism and pro-Palestinian activity in the UK are examples of the success of the second strategic aim.

Hamas knew they could count on support from pro-Palestinian organisations in the lands of their enemies. This is not to say that organisations such as Stop the War support Hamas directly, but they could be relied upon to side against Israel. After 7/10/23, had Israel held back from retaliation and just fired one artillery shell into Gaza, killing one dog in a Palestinian family's back yard, Stop the War and others would have been demonstrating in London, protesting against this wicked Zionist murder of a family pet.