David Cameron has told the Jewish community “I love you”, while making the case for remaining in the European Union.
In a speech to 1,200 guests at Jewish Care’s annual dinner last night, which raised £5.1 million for the charity, the prime minister addressed fears on Iran, antisemitism and Europe’s approach to Israel, while attempting to sway the audience before Thursday’s referendum.
He warned that “when Europe is discussing its attitude to Israel, do you want Britain - Israel’s greatest friend - in there, opposing boycotts, opposing the campaign for divestment and sanctions, or do you want us outside the room, powerless to affect the discussion that takes place?”
The prime minister also said Britain was better-placed to “stop Iran getting nuclear weapons” in the EU.
Mr Cameron also recalled the number of Jewish refugees throughout history , calling the “Breaking Point” poster Nigel Farage unveiled last week – depicting crowds of migrants with the slogan “Breaking point: the EU has failed us all” - “the opposite of everything that makes our country great.
“I’m proud that Britain is home to people who fled persecution, including those who fled from the Nazis or from Russian pogroms.”
Prompting loud applause, he told the crowd that “we should say to Nigel Farage and his campaign of division and intolerance: we don’t want your vision of Britain; we don’t want what you’re selling; you’re not describing the kind of country we want for ourselves or our children and grandchildren, and I say on Thursday, we should vote decisively to reject it.”
In reference to the murder of Jo Cox last week, the prime minister said that “where we find intolerance, hatred or division, we should drive them out of our politics and drive them out of our communities.
“And no community understands that better than our Jewish community.”
He asked the community to meet Mrs Cox’s husband’s call to remember her by fighting against hatred, adding that “by doing so, may her memory be for a blessing - or as I believe you might say, ‘yochi zichra baruch.’”
