From the Liveblog of
Friday, March 8, 2024
UK counterterrorism official: London ‘a no-go zone for Jews’ due to pro-Palestinian protests
The streets of central London are “a no-go zone for Jews every weekend” because of anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian rallies, UK counterterrorism commissioner Robin Simcox writes in The Telegraph.
Describing “skyrocketing” antisemitism in the UK since war erupted in Gaza on October 7, Simcoz says, “Inflammatory and borderline criminal rhetoric widely shared on social media. A sense that the terrorism threat is rising. Protests becoming ever more vociferous, with “from the river to the sea” beamed onto the side of Big Ben during a vote on Gaza. MPs more fearful for their safety than ever.”
He applauds his government’s efforts to tackle extremism on British soil and urges them to also target “the activities of those groups who propagate extremist narratives but who lurk just below the terrorism threshold,” mentioning religious and educational institutions.
Responding to Simcox’s article, the head of UK Jewish security group CST tells Britain’s Radio 4 that he — along with other London Jews — avoids going into the center of the city for fear of violent incidents surrounding anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian protests in the area.
“I don’t go into town when there’s these demonstrations,” CST chief executive Mark Gardner was quoted by the UK Jewish News as saying.
