An open letter to the Jewish community - The Jewish Chronicle

The government is appalled by the disgraceful antisemitic incidents of recent days. Particularly the attack on a Rabbi in Essex, the vandalism of a synagogue in Norwich, and the reprehensible threats against Jewish women bellowed from a car in North London by purportedly pro-Palestinian protestors last weekend.

Whatever one’s views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there can be no justification for the racist behaviour we have seen on our streets and on social media. The police have our full support in taking the toughest possible action against those responsible.

We know that at this time, Jewish communities across the country and around the world may feel especially vulnerable. As families gathered this week to mark Shavuot, we want the Jewish community to know that this government stands with you against antisemitism – and always will.

According to the Community Security Trust (CST) there were 1,668 antisemitic incidents in 2020. In addition to violent attacks, the daubing of offensive symbols on synagogues, and the desecration of Jewish cemeteries, we recognise that much of the hate that Jewish people endure is thriving online. Such antisemitism is often dismissed by those that promulgate it as an overly sensitive reaction to something entirely different, uniquely denying Jews the legitimacy of their own experiences of racism.

Many are discovering that non-Jewish friends do not understand antisemitism, refuse to recognise it, or do not care that they are spreading it. Some openly share content supporting Hamas, a terrorist organisation which shows callous disregard for human life and is committed to the violent destruction of Israel.

Every time the virus of antisemitism re-enters our society, or indeed permeates the culture of mainstream political parties as it did with Labour under Jeremy Corbyn, it masks itself as a form of social justice speaking truth to power. We know however, it is simply the same age-old hatred and bile woven into modern garb.

As a government we will do whatever is necessary to protect our Jewish communities, prosecute offenders and stamp out hatred.

Recently, we confirmed the continuation of the £14 million Jewish Community Protective Security Grant for the coming year to support security measures at all Jewish state, free and independent schools, colleges, nurseries and some other Jewish community sites, including synagogues.

Our Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will raise the maximum sentence for criminal damage to a memorial (including Jewish graves that are desecrated) from 3 months to 10 years. The Bill’s protest measures will give police greater powers to prevent highly disruptive protests, such as those that result in the physical boycott of Jewish businesses and intimidation of their owners, employees, and customers.

As recently announced in the Queen’s Speech, we will deliver on our manifesto commitment to stop public bodies from imposing their own approach to international relations, preventing them from advancing boycott, divestment or sanctions against Israel.

The government has been clear: what is unacceptable offline is unacceptable online. We already have robust legislation in place to deal with internet trolls, cyber-stalking and harassment, and perpetrators of grossly offensive, obscene or menacing behaviour. The Online Safety Bill which was published this week will mean that companies are held to account for tackling illegal activity and content on their platforms, including the sorts of anti-Semitic content that we have seen grow exponentially online. Firms that fail to comply will face fines of up to 10 per cent of their annual turnover.

We are committed to understanding what is driving contemporary antisemitism and ensuring that we have the most effective methods to tackle problems at their root. That is why the Prime Minister appointed Lord Mann as the Government’s independent advisor on antisemitism, and Lord Walney as the UK special envoy for countering violent extremism.

We know that education is one of the most powerful tools in tackling this age-old evil, which is why we are encouraging universities and various official bodies to follow our lead and adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism without delay. We also continue to fund organisations such as the Holocaust Education Trust and Anne Frank Trust to deliver programmes at school-level to tackle discriminatory attitudes .

We celebrate the extraordinary contributions that the Jewish community have made to life in the UK over the centuries. We are committed to ensuring that this remains a country where our Jewish friends and neighbours will always feel safe and where Jewish communities continue to thrive. The existence of antisemitism in modern Britain, and the spike in antisemitic incidents that we have witnessed in recent days, should be felt by all as a stain on the UK. It is the duty of every decent person to call out and combat antisemitism wherever it is encountered. This is a government steadfastly committed to doing so.