UK minister writes to London police after officer implies Jewish man’s kippa ‘provoked’ anti-Israel crowd

British interior minister James Cleverly writes to London’s Metropolitan Police after an officer told a man wearing a kippa that he was too “openly Jewish” to approach an anti-Israel march.

The Home Office, or interior ministry, states that Cleverly has written to the Met, but does not offers details of the letter’s contents, saying it was a private communication.

“We welcome the Met Police’s apology, and recognize the complexities of policing fast-moving public protests, but simply being Jewish – or of any other race or religion – should never be seen as provocative,” a spokesperson says in a statement.

“Anyone of any religion should be free to go about their lives and feel safe doing so.”

The charity Campaign Against ­Antisemitism released a video late on Thursday which showed a police officer preventing Gideon Falter, its chief executive, from crossing a road in the capital because of the protest on April 13.

The officer was videoed telling Falter he feared his presence could prompt a “reaction” because he was “quite openly Jewish.”

Falter said he was walking through London after attending a synagogue and was not part of “any protest or counterprotest.”

The Metropolitan Police apologized for the “use of the term ‘openly Jewish’ by one of our officers. We know it will have caused offense to many. We reiterate our apology,” the police said in a statement on the X social media platform on Friday.

“Being Jewish is not a provocation. Jewish Londoners must be able to feel safe in this city.”

“You are quite openly Jewish. This is a pro-Palestinian march. I am not accusing you of anything, but I am worried about the reaction to your presence.”

Enough is enough. It is time for a major change.

On Saturday 27th April — the next anti-Israel march — we are asking you,… pic.twitter.com/lfJr7UZnif

— Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) April 18, 2024