🔗 Share this article

The UK's head Jewish cleric has declared that numerous people within Jewish circles and beyond are questioning the reason demonstrations such as those challenging the ban against Palestine Action are authorized to take place.

Sir Ephraim Mirvis commented: “Certain ones of them feature clear hatred of Jews, open backing toward Hamas. Not each individual, however there is an abundance of this, that is obviously risky to many in our society.”

Talking before coming into Manchester last Friday to stand with the bereaved the killings of two men in a violent assault at a synagogue, he stressed an immediate necessity for national soul-searching.”

The incident took place after what he called an “unrelenting wave of hatred targeting Jewish people” across the nation's roads, campuses, online platforms as well as in certain parts of the media, Sir Ephraim informed BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

Emphasizing the phrase “internationalize the uprising” – considered by many as an incitement toward aggression targeting Jewish individuals – he stated the UK had seen “with devastating obviousness” on Thursday what those words meant.

Returning to his earlier description as broadcast in public spaces and online, he commented: “A great deal of this content is extremely hostile and additionally, when there is the unjustified demonisation toward Israel that leads straight into an anti-Jewish sentiment in the atmosphere in the UK and subsequently encourages extremism. National leaders should take note of such risks.”

Upon questioning concerning protests arranged by pro-Palestinian groups calling for a halt to the conflict in the Gaza Strip and rallies calling for the lifting of the prohibition on the prohibited organization the activist network Palestine Action, he answered that “so much” of it was risky to many within the nation.

“Since October 7th, 2023 there have been countless citizens who have questioned for what purpose those protests are allowed to take place in public spaces.”

“It is impossible to disconnect the speech in public forums, the deeds of individuals in such manner and the outcomes necessarily occur … Both elements are directly linked and therefore we urge leaders again to take control on these demonstrations because they are hazardous.”

Spiritual guides also had a distinct responsibility to play, the chief rabbi added, adding: “We must speak regarding restraining our mouths, the perspectives that we express, the way we communicate such opinions and additionally a spiritual figure should promote unity and tranquility across public spaces and in domestic settings.”

His remarks came as the leader of Israel, Isaac Herzog, declared that the day represented a “horrific day” for Jews within the United Kingdom, the wider UK, and the Jewish community around the globe.

“This is a jarring recall about what we’ve been alerting for a long while, that this heatwave of anti-Jewish sentiment and animosity toward Jewish people all over the world at the end leads to violence,” he stated on a national broadcast.

Within the group urging further government action toward combating antisemitism included ex-controller Danny Cohen, the ex-executive from BBC One, who told a radio program we need a “national inquiry on antisemitism set up immediately” since “an issue has turned badly wrong in our society, and it requires urgently addressing.”