This is the time for allies to stand with the Jewish community

Over the summer, I visited Israel, including spending a day in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. At the time, I wrote in these pages what a remarkable community it was. As the news filtered in about the fate of the kibbutz on October 7, my heart broke. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for everyone with family and loved ones in Israel.

It’s been over seven weeks since the appalling Hamas terror attacks. Amidst the most harrowing circumstances, it has been remarkable to see how the Jewish community has pulled together.

But it concerns me deeply to see the ongoing impact on communities here at home. Listening to Jewish residents across Chipping Barnet, I’ve heard how many people have experienced more fear, more anxiety and more discomfort in their own city than in a very long time. I’ve heard from parents about their children removing their uniforms on the way to school, adults wary about travelling into town and worshippers being followed on the way to or from synagogue. Antisemitism and hate crimes have soared.

This is unacceptable. British Jews must never feel unsafe on our streets and should never suffer as a result of events in the Middle East. Now, more than ever, we – as politicians and representatives – have a deep responsibility to the Jewish community. This is a time for leadership. We must recognise what we are seeing for what it is: hatred - and we must call it out. We must all say that the fight against antisemitism will never be your fight alone and have the actions to back it up.