‘Gaza fighting could lead to more anti-Semitic attacks’

Also in London, newly minted British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has warned that the country could see a rise in anti-Semitic attacks as a result of the fighting in Gaza.

“Of course it’s a concern and we have already seen certainly an upturn in anti-Semitic rhetoric,” he says.

Hammond, speaking to the Sunday Telegraph in his first interview since being promoted to top diplomat last month, says that justifiable anger is growing in Britain over Israel’s actions in Gaza.

“The British public has a strong sense that the situation of the civilian population in Gaza is intolerable and must be addressed — and we agree with them,” he says. “What has struck me most looking at my own constituency in-box as well as the thousands of emails that I’m receiving from the general public here is that it isn’t just the Muslim community that’s reacting to this. It’s a broad swathe of British public opinion that feels deeply disturbed by what it is seeing on its television screens coming out of Gaza.”