Politics
Sadiq Khan meets communal leaders to discuss cohesion and policing
Interfaith issues and ‘resilience’ were among the topics addressed
December 8, 2022 17:19
Interfaith issues and ‘resilience’ were among the topics addressed
December 8, 2022 17:19The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has today held a meeting with representatives from across the city’s Jewish communities.
The mayor was accompanied by Sophie Linden, Deputy Mayor of London for Policing & Crime, and Claire Waxman, London's first Victims Commissioner.
The private gathering focused on cohesion, interfaith relations, policing, mental health, London resilience, and London campuses.
Representatives from communal organisations including the London Jewish Forum, Board of Deputies, Jewish Leadership Council, CST and UJS.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan meets Jewish community representatives alongside Sophie Linden, Deputy Mayor of London for Policing & Crime, and Claire Waxman, London's first Victims Commissioner.
London remains home to one of Europe's largest Jewish communities, with the city's Jewish population numbering more than 145,000.
Co-Chair of the London Jewish Forum Andrew Gilbert said that "this important gathering gave the Jewish community, the mayor, and his team a chance to discuss current concerns.
“The mayor has been supportive of the Jewish community and this meeting showed how focused our mayor is on the Jewish community in London, and how much he understands us and our experiences,” he continued.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I had a fruitful and interesting discussion with Jewish faith and community leaders about the issues facing their communities. Jewish Londoners have made – and continue to make – an immense contribution to our capital city, and as Mayor, I am committed to tackling antisemitism and ensuring community representatives are involved in discussions around the issues and development of policy and services that affect them, both directly and indirectly.
"It is only by working together that we can build a safer, more prosperous city for all," he added.
In July the mayor was criticised for meeting US politician Ilhan Omar, who has been accused of using antisemitic tropes. The Minnesota congresswoman has claimed that “Israel has hypnotised the world". She also suggested that money was the reason for support for Israel, tweeting: “It’s all about the Benjamins baby”, referring to a song about $100 bills and the pro-Israel lobby group Aipac.