The group Scotland Against Antisemitism says it has delivered an open letter to First Minister John Swinney, warning that recent statements on Israel by the Scottish government could exacerbate antisemitism and increase the risk to the Jewish community.
It says the letter has so far received some 3,000 signatures including from lawyers, politicians, educators, clergy, students and citizens in Scotland and elsewhere.
The group notes that there are some 5,000 Scottish Jews, less than 0.1% of the population, but that hate crimes targeting the community accounted for 17% of all religiously motivated crimes last year.
It says government comments on Israel risks legitimizing hostility and emboldening extremists
It calls on the government to retract provocative statements, consult with the Jewish community and implement concrete steps to safeguard their security.
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From the Liveblog of
Sunday, September 7, 2025
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