Displaying items by tag: antiSemitism

BBC director-general Tim Davie has told Jewish staff he is 'appalled' by anti-IDF chants during punk band Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury set, acknowledging 'deep upset' among employees. The band led some of the crowd in chanting 'Death to the IDF’, remarks Davie condemned as 'deeply offensive'. Though he attended the festival, the BBC’s livestream of the performance remained online for hours before removal, sparking criticism from staff, the Chief Rabbi, and government ministers. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy demanded rapid reforms, criticising the broadcaster’s handling of the incident and its earlier decision to withdraw a Gaza documentary linked to a Hamas official’s son. Meanwhile, over 400 figures, including BBC staff and prominent artists, signed an open letter accusing the BBC of failing to report critically on Israel’s actions and UK arms sales. The controversy adds to growing internal and external scrutiny of the BBC’s leadership and editorial decisions. Davie insists that there is no place for antisemitism at the BBC.

Two Israeli embassy staff members, Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, were shot dead outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC. The couple, described as being 'in the prime of their lives', were leaving an event when they were attacked. A suspect, Elias Rodriguez, 30, was apprehended at the scene and reportedly shouted 'free Palestine' while being detained. Authorities are investigating potential links to terrorism and antisemitism. The killings have shocked both US and Israeli communities, and are being condemned as a brutal act of antisemitic violence. Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to increase security at diplomatic missions worldwide, while the foreign minister called the attack 'a direct result of toxic, antisemitic incitement’. The incident comes amid intensifying scrutiny of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has triggered widespread global criticism and deepening humanitarian concern.

Australia is investigating allegations that foreign funding is fuelling a rise in anti-Semitic crimes. Prime minister Anthony Albanese revealed suspicions that criminals-for-hire who lack ideological motives are being paid to commit these acts. The authorities are working to trace the sources of funding, whether domestic or international. Anti-Semitic incidents have surged since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023. In Melbourne, arsonists firebombed a synagogue, while in Sydney, vandals targeted Jewish neighbourhoods and institutions, including a childcare centre. The police strike force tasked with investigating these crimes has doubled its manpower. Arrests have been made, and one man has been charged with attempting to burn down a synagogue in Sydney. The police are also investigating the involvement of young people in recent incidents, to see if they had been radicalised online.

There has been severe unrest in Amsterdam since antisemitic violence linked to a football match on 7 November between Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax. The police presence in the city has been strengthened and most protests banned, but the violence has continued. The police have faced targeted attacks, including stones and fireworks. The disturbances have been fuelled by both anti-Israeli and anti-Palestinian sentiments, and Jewish institutions have received heightened security. So far, over a hundred people have been arrested in connection with the riots. Amsterdam’s mayor described the violence as an ‘outburst of antisemitism’: she said the authorities had considered calling the match off because of tensions fuelled by social media, but could find no legal grounds for doing so. The violence has sparked outrage, prompting an emergency debate in the Dutch parliament. In related news, four thousand police will be deployed in Paris on 15 November for a match between France and Israel: see

Michael Gove has addressed the rise in antisemitism in Britain, warning it signals broader societal dangers. In his speech, Gove likened the situation to historical instances where countries becoming unsafe for Jews indicated a descent into darkness, referencing Nazi Germany and others. He criticised the display of anti-Jewish symbols at pro-Palestine marches and called for stricter measures against such displays of hatred. Gove urged the House of Lords to pass a bill preventing public bodies from boycotting Israeli-linked businesses. His comments follow a record 4,103 antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2023.

London police are set to meet with Jewish leaders following concerns raised by the Jewish community over their safety. The discussions are a response to tensions from pro-Palestinian marches, with reports of some participants expressing extremist views. Metropolitan Police commissioner Mark Rowley, under scrutiny for the force's handling of an incident involving an 'openly Jewish' man, will also confer with mayor Sadiq Khan and home secretary James Cleverly. The police apologised after suggesting the man’s presence could provoke demonstrators, a comment they later retracted, clarifying that being Jewish is not provocative. The Met has been actively deploying officers during these events to balance the rights of protesters with the safety of Jewish residents and counter-demonstrators.

Alid Ahmed, a Moroccan asylum seeker in England, is accused of murdering 70-year-old Terence Carney and attempting to murder his housemate Javed Nouri, a Christian convert, citing ‘revenge’ for Israeli actions in Gaza as his motive. Ahmed, who attacked both victims with knives, also assaulted two female police officers during his arrest. He initially targeted Nouri for being a Muslim convert to Christianity, then killed Carney, mistakenly believing both victims were dead. The attacks occurred soon after the Hamas attacks in Gaza, with Ahmed claiming his actions were to ‘free Palestine from the Zionists’. Despite Ahmed's claims of religious and political motivations, including his desire for martyrdom and references to the conflict in Gaza and Israel's actions, the trial is focussing on determining his intentions during the attacks. The prosecution claims his actions were driven by a combination of personal grievances and his perceived religious and political motivations. The case is ongoing.

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to suspend any Labour member who was present at a meeting of activists where antisemitic comments were allegedly made. Mike Katz, the national chair of the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM), criticised those who were present at the meeting but failed to 'call out' comments about Israel. At the meeting, which is understood to have taken place in Hyndburn last year, Labour's original candidate for the Rochdale by-election claimed Israel deliberately allowed the Hamas atrocity of 7 October to take place in order to give it the 'green light' to invade Gaza. The Labour Party initially stood by Mr Ali, but later withdrew support for his candidacy after 'further comments' came to light. Another one of the party's election candidates, the former Labour MP Graham Jones, had also been present at the meeting, and made comments resulting in his suspension. Mr Katz said there was a real problem that nobody raised concerns. He said: 'Well, they're identifiable. They all ought to be suspended pending investigation’. A third Labour MP was spoken to about his attendance at the Hyndburn meeting. See

At London’s Guildhall on Holocaust Memorial Day, Rishi Sunak and others condemned the alarming rise in antisemitism. The day's theme, 'Fragility of Freedom,' highlighted the importance of freedom from fear for all, especially Jewish and Muslim communities. Sunak, in his video address, directly addressed the disturbing increase in antisemitism, emphasising the need to act on the lessons of the Holocaust. He described the resurgence of antisemitism as 'despicable' and 'sickening’. The Chief Rabbi also expressed concern over the ongoing threat of antisemitic attacks. This ceremony comes amid a significant rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia, often connected with the Gaza conflict. Survivors of the Holocaust and other genocides shared their harrowing experiences at the ceremony. Peter Lantos, a Holocaust survivor deported to a Nazi concentration camp at the age of five, recounted the horrors he witnessed, underscoring the day's message of 'never again’.

The heads of three top US colleges, including Harvard's president Claudine Gay, have testified before the House of Representatives in response to accusations that their institutions were not doing enough to combat antisemitism on campus. Jewish students at these universities had reported facing antisemitic threats and assaults, particularly due to the conflict in Gaza. The college leaders acknowledged the rising tide of antisemitism and Islamophobia on campuses but highlighted the challenge of balancing freedom of speech and protest with protecting students from hate. A recent survey found that nearly 75% of Jewish college students had experienced some form of antisemitism during the school year. Muslim and pro-Palestinian students also faced challenges, with instances of doxxing (public identification of people without their consent) and bias incidents reported. The House committee questioned the colleges' response to these issues.