The Jewish Leadership Council and campaign group Muslims Against Antisemitism have taken out a full-page advertisement in The Times today condemning recent surges in anti-Jewish and Muslim hatred.
The advertisement asks Jews and Muslims to not let events in the Middle East cause cross-communal divides in the UK.
It also calls for Jewish and Muslim communities to show solidarity with one another in the face of rising racism directed at both groups.
Today, we at the Jewish Leadership Council together with our allies at Muslims Against Antisemitism @MAAS_UK are proud to demonstrate our unity in a page in today’s @thetimes: “Jews and Muslims: We’re on the same page”. We say no to Antisemitism and to anti-Muslim hate. pic.twitter.com/sMnXeY04Jz
— Jewish Leadership Council (@JLC_uk) May 26, 2021
The advertisement reads: “At a time when emotions are running high over the desperate situation in the Middle East, antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred are spiking alarmingly across the world, and across either side of the political divide.
“We accept there is much to disagree about, whatever side of the argument we sit. But let us disagree without hatred…”
Since the conflict in Israel and Gaza erupted this month, the Community Security Trust has recorded a 500 per cent rise in antisemitic incidents in Britain.
Meanwhile, Tell MAMA, the CSTs equivalent body in the Muslim community, has recorded a 430 per cent rise in instances of Islamophobia.
A spokesperson for the JLC said: “We are grateful to our allies at Muslims Against Antisemitism for inviting us to partner with them in sending a strong message that Jews and Muslims are allies in the fight against bigotry and racism.
“Regardless of what happens in the Middle East it is vital that any tensions never spill over here in the UK.”
