Four men plead guilty to Hatzola ambulance attack
On Friday at the Old Bailey, Hamza Iqbal, twenty, Rehan Khan, nineteen, and Judex Atshatshi and Saif Ali, both eighteen, pleaded guilty to the charge of destroying or damaging property, being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, in relation to the Hatzola ambulance arson attack.
A fifth defendant, Subhan Ahmed, appeared at the same hearing, pleading not guilty to the charge of assisting an offender.
In March of this year, four ambulances belonging to the Jewish community’s volunteer-run ambulance service, Hatzola, which serves Jews and non-Jews alike, were destroyed in an arson attack. The attack was said to have caused around one million pounds’ worth of damage.
The four men will be sentenced in the spring of next year, after the trial of the fifth defendant.
We welcome these guilty pleas, and now the sentence must reflect the severity of the crime. The other alleged arsonists who targeted other Jewish sites must also now be brought to book, and there must be a major crackdown on the foreign and domestic Islamist networks targeting Jewish communities.
Those who pose a threat to Jewish life in Britain must face the consequences of their heinous actions.
Former Chief Constable of West Midlands Police investigated by police watchdog
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has reportedly confirmed that it is launching an investigation into former Chief Constable Craig Guildford over his involvement in the ban on Israeli football fans at the football match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv in November last year. The IOPC is reportedly investigating Mr Guildford for “gross misconduct”.
Under Craig Guildford’s leadership, West Midlands Police lied and obfuscated, victim-blaming Jews instead of taking on the Islamists. When we and our allies exposed the lies, Chief Constable Guildford resisted.
He was then allowed to retire instead of resigning or being fired, and was recently handed £57,000 of taxpayers’ money to compensate him for “loss of office”.
We called for accountability, and we will be closely following the outcome of this investigation. The very fact of this investigation proves what we have said all along: the decision to ban fans was a national disgrace.
No justice over Bob Vylan’s “Death, death to the IDF” chant
The Metropolitan Police has said that no further action will be taken over the “Death, death to the IDF” chant reportedly led by Bob Vylan frontman Pascal Robinson-Forster at an Al-Quds Day rally back in March of this year.
In their statement, the police said that “early investigative advice was sought from the Crown Prosecution Service”, after which “officers have concluded that no further action will be taken.”
This is not the first time that the police have halted proceedings in relation to Bob Vylan. In December, Avon and Somerset Police concluded its investigation into on-stage comments made by the rap duo at Glastonbury Festival that summer, deciding not to bring charges.
It is disheartening that neither the police nor the CPS have taken calls for death and destruction more seriously. Our polling shows that only 7% of British Jews think that the CPS does enough to protect British Jews.
US ban on Palestine Action is decisive victory against extremism
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on Palestine Action, designating it as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organisation. According to the US Treasury, the designation reflects Palestine Action’s support for “numerous acts of terrorism since July 2020,” namely its promotion and encouragement of violent tactics via social media internationally, including within the US and along its border with Mexico.
The organisation was reportedly listed alongside the Italy-based Autistici Inventati and transnational entity Masar Badil, all of which have been described as “far-left terrorist groups”.
This follows the UK Government’s proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation in July 2025.
Palestine Action should be judged on its conduct. An organisation whose sole purpose is to engage in criminal activity has no place operating on British soil. The US designation sends a clear message that concern over Palestine Action’s activities extends far beyond Britain.
It is regrettable that Palestine Action Global is fundraising online, despite the British proscription. The Americans seem to have a better grasp of the threat than our own authorities.
Are the Liberal Democrats and the Greens prepared to stand up to antisemitism?
Liberal Democrat councillors for Liverpool City Council have made comments comparing queuing for an Everton match to being at Auschwitz.
The comments were made during a discussion on the Council’s Planning Committee about supporters travelling to and from the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Cllr Richard Kemp said that holding pens for supporters “were like the greeting area for Auschwitz” while Cllr Pat Moloney said a so-called “corralling area” was “like something out of a horrific death camp in Nazi Germany.”
The Liverpool Liberal Democrats group have refused to suspend the two councillors. Cllr Kemp has “refused to apologise,” according to ITV News.
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey and Liverpool group head Cllr Carl Cashman should make it clear these sickening comments which demean the atrocities carried out during the Holocaust are unacceptable and suspend both men at once, pending an investigation.
In response, the Everton Fan Advisory Board stated that these horrific comments were “Deeply inappropriate, insensitive and entirely unhelpful.” In an open letter, the Board went on to say that “there is no meaningful comparison between football supporters waiting for public transport and the suffering and murder of millions during the Holocaust.”
There is no place for cheap comparisons to the murder of millions of Jews in our public discourse. Everton supporters have shown moral clarity. Will the Liberal Democrats follow?
Meanwhile, over in the Green Party, organisers of the Party’s conference have reportedly refused to allow an event in the fringe programme titled “The Greens and Antisemitism: what does getting it right look like?”
According to The Times, the event was met with resistance over concerns about what it could reveal about the Party’s record on antisemitism.
Is the best way to address antisemitism really to ban a discussion about addressing antisemitism from your Party conference?
76% of British Jews already believe that the Green Party is too tolerant of antisemitism, according to our representative polling. This ludicrous decision will hardly improve that figure.
Gary Lineker appears to associate Zionism with Nazism
Disgraced pundit Gary Lineker has shared an Instagram post saying that “Zionism is in the tradition of the Nazis who persecuted Jews.”
The quote comes from Tony Greenstein, a founder of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, who made the comment outside Kingston Crown Court. The Telegraph reports that, after the brutal 7th October Hamas attacks on Israel, Mr Greenstein had said: “Whatever criticisms one can make of Hamas, we should congratulate them on this well-planned and audacious attack on the Zionist enemy.” He was prosecuted by the authorities – hence his appearance at court.
In 2017 and 2018, we described Mr Greenstein as a “notorious antisemite”. He then sued CAA, but his claim was thrown out by the High Court and he was forced to pay our costs. This led to Mr Greenstein’s eventual bankruptcy.
Last year, Mr Lineker shared an anti-Israel video on his Instagram account which misrepresented Zionism, complete with a rat emoji. CAA polling shows 80% of British Jews identify as Zionist. After we led an outcry, he left the BBC.
Comparing Zionists to Nazis is a breach of the International Definition of Antisemitism.
CAA’s Chief Executive Gideon Falter appeared on TalkTV to discuss the incident. You can watch the interview here.
What does Zionism mean to you?
Notwithstanding what its detractors say, Zionism is a core part of modern Jewish identity.
To set the record straight on Zionism, we asked Jewish people, “What does Zionism mean to you?”
This is what they said.
Antisemites exploit death of beloved singer Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton’s Wikipedia page was vandalised with a swastika and the words “Jew lover” just hours after she died.
These vile edits are no longer there, but the idea that someone would choose to exploit her death to spread antisemitic abuse is utterly despicable.
Anti-Israel activists then lambasted Dolly Parton over her perceived inaction in relation to Gaza. You can read more here.
It takes a truly warped mind to turn a moment of mourning into an outlet for hatred.
In addition to being a music icon, Ms Parton was a renowned philanthropist who donated millions of dollars to those in need. But this doesn’t matter to those obsessed with demonising Israel. To them, your reputation means nothing if you aren’t constantly vocally denouncing the world’s only Jewish state.
Join the fight against antisemitism through education!
We are hiring an Education and Outreach Officer. This is an entry-level position or suitable for someone with up to two years’ experience in the field.
Visit antisemitism.org/jobs for more information and to apply.
The impact of antisemitism, in Jews’ own words
With racism against Jews on the rise, we asked Jews on the streets of Britain how antisemitism has impacted them.
This is what they said.
Write yourself in CAA’s Book of Action
Antisemitism continues to threaten the future of British Jewry. As the shofar sounds this Rosh Hashanah, it calls on us to wake up, reflect and take action.
So for the new year 5787, CAA is inviting you to write yourself into our Book of Action.
As a volunteer-led organisation, there are so many ways that you can get involved in our work:
- If you’re a lawyer, you can join our legal network and help us take action in the courts.
- If you’ve been a victim of antisemitism or a witness, please contact us for assistance.
- If you like our communications work, why not share your experiences of antisemitism and help amplify Jewish voices? Get in touch with us.
- Change also comes about through politics and policymaking. You can introduce CAA to your MP or local councillor and help bring about change.
- When it comes to education, we face an almighty struggle. You can bring CAA into your workplace, university society or school for training and workshops, and if you are a student, consider becoming a CAA Student Ambassador this year.
You can also become a CAA volunteer by applying for a role at antisemitism.org/act/volunteer.
Finally, you can also support CAA with tzedakah (charity) this Rosh Hashanah and help us fight antisemitism in 5787.
Celebrating Jewish pride after the 7th October attacks
Our latest episode of Podcast Against Antisemitism features Nick Rose, a Jewish American photographer and tattooist based in London.
Following Hamas’ 7th October terrorist attacks, Nick launched an initiative offering free tattoos to members of the Jewish community, creating a space to foster pride and process grief together. He has since tattooed hundreds of people for free.
You can watch the podcast here, or listen to it here and here.
Fighting antisemitism is just as much about expressing Jewish identity and supporting those who do – however they choose – as it is about bringing antisemites to justice.
In the coming year, we will continue to do both.
