CAA demonstration outside BBC
, , ,

These BBC resignations must just be the beginning

The resignations of BBC Director General Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness should be seen as an admission through gritted teeth that the much-vaunted impartiality of the BBC has been a sham.

The BBC’s growing bias has extended over many years across a wide array of issues, but for British Jews, the gravest betrayal is that on the watch of Mr Davie and Ms Turness, the BBC has often served as a mouthpiece for Hamas, feeding licence fee payers a diet of propaganda that has been a central feature of the drumbeat of incitement across the West.

Despite being caught out many times, the BBC has gaslit its audience by claiming to be a bastion of ethics and truthful journalism, even as our polling has shown that 92% of British Jews consider BBC coverage to be unfavourable on matters of Jewish interest. Now that the evidence is totally overwhelming and undeniable, Mr Davie and Ms Turness are finally resigning, but the fact that they managed to stay on for so long – even after it was revealed months ago that the BBC had sent money to a Hamas official’s family – is clear proof that there is a wider problem at the broadcaster which it cannot be trusted to fix alone.

The BBC cannot now replace its outgoing Director General and CEO of News with others sourced from the same BBC rotten executive class. There now needs to be an independent inquiry into BBC bias, with its results published for all to see, resulting in a rooting out of those who have hijacked the BBC into a vehicle that serves an increasingly warped agenda. Until that independent inquiry comes, it is unconscionable to force taxpayers to pay for the biased, sanctimonious and unaccountable BBC.

BBC Arabic leaks confirm the worst

According to a leaked internal report by a whistleblower, details of which were published by The Telegraph:

  • BBC Arabic opted to “minimise Israeli suffering” throughout its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war in order to “paint Israel as the aggressor”
  • “Unjustifiable weight” was given by the BBC to death toll claims by Hamas
  • Allegations against the Jewish state were “raced to air” on BBC Arabic, potentially indicating “a desire always to believe the worst about Israel”

In March, Tim Davie, the BBC’s then Director-General, claimed: “We’re the most trusted brand in the world.” The BBC is burying its head in the sand and its executives are clearly out of their depth and in denial. When will the BBC show some accountability?

Having proven to be utterly untrustworthy, external scrutiny of the BBC is sorely needed.

The House of Commons Culture Select Committee has summoned the BBC Arabic whistleblower to give evidence. Lord Grade, the chair of the media regulator, Ofcom, has written to the BBC chair demanding answers. The BBC’s problems are no longer internal – they are a matter of national concern.

At Campaign Against Antisemitism, we believe that accountability will come only with an independent investigation into its bias, including on matters of Jewish concern, and that the licence fee should be suspended until that investigation has concluded and been published.

Almost 30,000 people have added their names to our petition to suspend the licnce fee. If you agree, please add your name now and share the petition website: suspendthelicencefee.com. You can also read our free guide to legally cancelling your licence fee.

Respect international law, rescind recognition now

It has taken nearly two months, but Parliament has now published our petition calling on the UK to rescind its recognition of a ‘Palestinian state’.

Recognition rewards terrorism, undermines peace, and defies the Montevideo Convention, which sets clear criteria for statehood, none of which are met. If it receives enough signatures, our parliamentary petition will force the Government to respond and even trigger a debate in the House of Commons.

The Government must reverse this dangerous and premature decision.

Tensions erupt in Birmingham

Ahead of Aston Villa’s match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Elie visited Villa Park to observe protesters and hear what match-going fans had to say about the ban on away supporters.

He found Villa supporters angry at the presence of ‘free Palestine’ protesters and disappointed that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans had been forced to stay away.

British man faces extradition to Germany

A British man is facing extradition to Germany for allegedly transporting weapons and meeting with a Hamas-linked terror cell.

The 39-year-old, suspected to be the son of a senior Hamas member, was caught during a wider counter-terrorism investigation. Three others were previously arrested for planning violence against Jews in Germany.

The arrest forms part of a wider counter-terrorism investigation in Germany. Three other men were arrested last month on suspicion of preparing acts of violence against Jews in Germany on behalf of the antisemitic terror group.

According to reports, the British man came to the attention of German authorities in June during an investigation into a suspected terror plot.He remains in custody and is due to appear in court next week.

Self-described “Anglo Jihadi” guilty of terror plots

Jordan Richardson, 21, of East Yorkshire, has been convicted of terror offences after plotting attacks with chemical weapons, grenades, knives, and a crossbow.

He glorified terrorism, targeted Jews, and sought to radicalise children. Multiple counts include preparing acts of terrorism, encouraging terrorism, and possessing bomb-making instructions.

During proceedings, the court heard that police discovered a combat knife and crossbow at Mr Richardson’s residence.

It was revealed that he frequently expressed the desire to kill Jews and referred to them as “the money”, “the pillagers” and “the big noses”.

He had also researched how to volunteer for Hamas and said he wanted to “fight Jews”, even joking about entering a synagogue wearing a suicide vest.

Sentencing is expected next month.

UNRWA’s terror links exposed

An investigation by UN Watch found 490 UNRWA staff with ties to Hamas and PFLP, including co-founders of terror organisations responsible for the 7th October massacre.

Terror-affiliated employees held key positions, influencing UNRWA policy. Former hostage Emily Damari testified that she was held in a UNRWA facility during captivity.

We call on the FCDO to publish legal advice obtained before resuming funding to UNRWA to reassure British Jews and the public.

Work with us!

We are looking for an entry-level full-time Education and Outreach Officer, to run our campus and schools programmes and more.

Help make a difference in the fight against antisemitism!

For more information, please visit antisemitism.org/jobs/education-and-outreach-officer.

, ,

Gym instructor who called himself “Anglo Jihadi” found guilty of terror offences

A gym instructor who called himself “Anglo Jihadi” has been found guilty of terror offences.

Jordan Richardson, 21, of East Yorkshire, was arrested on 19th December last year whilst wearing a backpack containing a mustard gas recipe and plans to attack against a crowd. The note read: “Reach hidden vantage point, apply gas mask, outfit, load crossbow, throw all grenades into crowd, shoot bystanders, stab anyone who come [sic] close, do not get taken alive.”

During proceedings, the court heard that police discovered a combat knife and crossbow at Mr Richardson’s residence.

It was revealed that he frequently expressed the desire to kill Jews and referred to them as “the money”, “the pillagers” and “the big noses”.

He had also researched how to volunteer for Hamas and said he wanted to “fight Jews”, even joking about entering a synagogue wearing a suicide vest.

According to the prosecution, Mr Richardson had plans to get married and become a teacher in order to radicalise children.

In November, when discussing “possible locations for an attack”, he had shared a video of a shopping centre in Meadowhall with the caption: “How life feels when you finally give up and just start killing people brutally.”

He also shared content by Al-Qaeda and ISIS, including instructions for making a bomb.

Mr Richardson was found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism by acquiring weapons, researching explosive substances, identifying possible locations and considering the steps required for an attack, three counts of encouraging terrorism and two counts of possessing bomb-making instructions useful for terrorism.

He is expected to be sentenced next month.

Image credit: Counter Terrorism Policing

, , , ,

Is lawlessness increasing?

An analysis by Campaign Against Antisemitism of new Home Office statistics recently released shows that Jews are more than nine times likelier to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

The figures published this year, however, exclude data from the Metropolitan Police Service, which was included in previous reports. According to the report, this was “due to a change in the [Met’s] crime recording system”. The Met covers London, where the majority of British Jews live.

It is therefore likely that the true figures are considerably worse.

Police forces across the country record hate crimes against Jews as religious hate crimes, and these records show that in the year 2024/25, 2,873 hate crimes were committed against Jews, making Jews the target in 28% – almost one in three – of the total number of religious hate crimes.

These figures mean that there is an average of just under eight hate crimes directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales.

Hate crimes against Jews are also still widely believed to be underreported, and also do not reflect the extent of antisemitic material and abuse on social media.

However, when one accounts for the miniscule size of the Jewish population, it emerges that Jews are statistically more than nine times more likely to be the targets of hate crimes than any other religious group, with some 1,060 hate crimes per 100,000 of the Jewish population in 2024/25.

Again, this analysis excludes figures for the capital city, where most British Jews reside.

The statistics paint half of the depressing picture. The other half comprises the actual incidents.

In just the past week, we have seen a number of incidents which suggest that law and order is giving way to lawlessness, with the able assistance of feckless police chiefs and prosecutors.

Met will not investigate masked thugs chanting “Zionist scum, off our streets”

Masked men chanting “Zionist scum, off our streets” and “We don’t want no Zionists here” were allowed to do so at an ‘anti-racist’ rally in Tower Hamlets – after police banned UKIP from holding their own demonstration in the borough.

The Metropolitan Police say that they will not investigate, telling reporters that such chants are “not likely to be criminal offences in most contexts”.

This is even though Downing Street has said that police do have the powers to act against antisemitic chants and should “robustly deploy them”.

Once again, Sir Mark Rowley’s Met refuses to protect British Jews from open Jew-hatred on our streets.

Police “could not remove” UCL protesters

“We were told by UCL security and the Metropolitan Police that they could not remove the protestors.”

And therein lies the problem.

Even when the safety of Jewish students is being threatened by Palestine thugs, who disrupt a campus event about Jewish history, our universities and police forces cower to the baying mob.

Why are our authorities so readily yielding to those who seek to do harm to Jews? Is it not precisely their job to ensure the safety of everyone in this country?

When flash mobs targeting events catering to Jewish students spring up, the answer cannot be to back down and let students fend for themselves. UCL President and Provost Dr Michael Spence has issued an apology, but until action is taken and actual consequences for these actions are dished out to the thugs who participated in this riot, words are meaningless.

Jewish students deserve better than what they are getting.

“You Zionist slave”: Politicians harassed

At an awards event organised by The Spectator, a protester harassed attendees, saying: “You prostitute to Zionists.”

Harassing politicians and MPs with accusations of being a “slave” to “Zionists” is exactly the level of discourse this country has come to expect from so-called Palestine ‘activists’.

This isn’t social justice. This is thuggishness.

A passenger allegedly locked in a bus

The driver of a London bus allegedly locked a Jewish passenger in for nearly an hour, withheld his bank card after it fell into the driver’s cab, and told him that he resembled a “Mossad agent” and that he “doesn’t like Jewish people”.

Allegedly trapping a passenger on a bus and subjecting him to antisemitic abuse is not merely disgraceful conduct; it is potentially criminal.

We welcome urgent investigations by both TfL and the police.

If the allegations are borne out, the driver would clearly need to be fired and TfL would need to issue an apology and offer compensation to the passenger.

We understand that for now the driver has been suspended pending investigation.

CPS declined to prosecute Nazi salutes at victims outside Jewish community centre

“I was exposed to conduct by protestors which made me fear for my immediate safety and for my future in this country as a Jewish woman. I was chased away from my home and my community and received no real reassurance or protection by police.”

So says one of two victims of a baying mob outside a Jewish community centre. Allegedly, Nazi salutes were performed, and these were reported to the police but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reportedly decided to take no action.

Only now that a judicial review has been threatened is the CPS apparently reviewing the decision not to act.

At Campaign Against Antisemitism, we know all too well that it takes this kind of pressure to galvanise the authorities into action – the sort of action that they should be taking without a second thought.

No wonder our representative polling shows that only a minuscule ten percent of British Jews think that the CPS does enough to protect them.

The fight against antisemitism in Britain would be a lot less challenging if police chiefs and prosecutors actually joined it.

Support for Hamas among British youth

The problem on our campuses is part of a wider problem.

Recent polling that we commissioned showed that 10% of young people in Britain have a favourable view of Hamas.

So, Elie hit the streets to hear people’s thoughts on the terror group.

Listen to what people said here.

Sometimes the police do act – but it would be better if they didn’t

Barely 36 hours before his case was due to be heard, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped its charges against Mark Birbeck — a non-Jewish campaigner against antisemitism — nearly fourteen months after the incident.

Mark had been arrested while holding a placard stating “Hamas are terrorists” in front of a Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) march in September 2024. He was accused of assaulting police officers while handcuffed, despite video evidence contradicting the police’s account.

Mark’s experience shows how anti-Israel activists have been able to weaponise policing against pro-Jewish voices.

Campaign Against Antisemitism is proud to have supported Mark throughout by providing legal support and representation.

Mark’s voice of solidarity would have been silenced. We will continue to support those who stand up for Jews in the UK and hold authorities to account.

Synagogue bomb hoaxer sent to prison

Days after the deadly Manchester synagogue terror attack, a hoax bomb threat was called in to a synagogue in Leeds.

The perpetrator has now been jailed for ten months.

Markel Ible, 32, called Sinai Synagogue in Roundhay, Leeds, four days after the attack, claiming that he had left a bomb in the building that would detonate the following day.

Mr Ible pleaded guilty to the charge of communicating false information via a bomb hoax.

Work with us!

We are looking for a full-time entry-level Education and Outreach Officer, to run our campus and schools programmes and more.

Help make a difference in the fight against antisemitism!

For more information, please visit antisemitism.org/jobs/education-and-outreach-officer.

, , , , ,

The police have no shame

Two-tier policing laid bare

Concerns of serious disorder recently prompted the Metropolitan Police to ban a demonstration from taking place in Tower Hamlets over this past weekend.

The event, initially advertised as a march and subsequently as a static protest, was organised by the UKIP political party as part of a series of events reportedly billed as a ‘mass deportations tour’.

The British Government’s former independent adviser on political violence and disruption was as astonished as we are by the contrast of this decision in comparison to the Met’s policy on Palestine marches for the past two years.

For two years, hate march after hate march has coursed through London. They have called for “Jihad”, which the police explained away, and chanted “Globalise the intifada”. They have dressed as terrorists and chanted ancient battle cries warning Jews: “Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews! The army of Mohammed is returning”.

For two years, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has gaslit Londoners, telling us that he lacked legal powers and that the marches were peaceful anyway. He has spent approaching £100m of our money ‘policing’ these marches by threatening to arrest people like CAA Chief Executive Gideon Falter for being “quite openly Jewish” and interrogating a man for wearing a “provocative” Star of David necklace.

The Met’s decision about the march in Tower Hamlets, whatever its specific merits or otherwise, was made in response to “significant community concerns.” Our community’s concerns have been so significant that people are avoiding town completely and even emigrating, but that has not swayed the Met’s policy even after two long years.

Enough is enough. This is two tier policing. Sir Mark Rowley must resign immediately or be sacked.

CAA Director of Investigations and Enforcement Stephen Silverman discussed the use of police powers hitherto unused in relation to the regular hate marches on GB News.

Doctor whose interim suspension was lifted is arrested

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan has been arrested.

We have submitted numerous complaints to the General Medical Council (GMC) regarding this doctor, who is a prolific poster of the most deranged material and claims about Jewish people, and is self-evidently unfit to serve as a regulated professional. Nevertheless, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) inexplicably disagreed, allowing her to continue to practice as a trainee pending further investigation, and we threatened legal action.

But now even the Met Police — hardly the most proactive institution in the fight against antisemitism — believes that her conduct is so incendiary as to have potentially crossed the criminal threshold.

What an absolute embarrassment to our medical regulator, and what a disgrace that it cannot see what ordinary people and even the Met Police can. Clearly, the GMC and the MPTS are unfit for purpose.

A day after we threatened legal action, the doctor was re-referred to the tribunal, and a hearing was held on Friday, at which it was decided to hold a new, full hearing on the matter of the interim suspension.

We are continuing to monitor developments and doing everything that we can to ensure that all of the relevant authorities – from the police to the regulators – uphold their duty.

Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of CAA, spoke to Julia Harley-Brewer about antisemitism in the NHS

Threats to behead a Jewish academic

Threats to chop off heads.

Nazi accusations.

Genocidal chanting.

That is what Professor Michael Ben-Gad has recently faced at City St George’s, University of London.

His lectures have also reportedly been disrupted by activists claiming that he has blood on his hands, supposedly because he served, as part of the mandatory draft, in the IDF decades ago.

To his credit, Prof. Ben-Gad says that he will not be cowed by the activists, whom he reportedly and justly compared to Hitler’s Brownshirts.

But this sort of horrific environment has also become an everyday reality for too many Jews on too many campuses across this country.

Since the 7th October 2023 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel, a deluge of abuse and intimidation has overwhelmed Jewish students and staff on university campuses across the country.

The vicious campaign to target Professor Ben-Gad is the latest manifestation of this alarming and dangerous rise in antisemitic harassment within these environments. It is generally recognised that the normalisation over the last two years of the kind of hateful rhetoric being directed at him was a factor in the terrorist atrocity in Manchester at the beginning of this month, in which two Jews were murdered while attending synagogue on Yom Kippur.

The behaviour of the students involved was not only reprehensible, but the incident demonstrates the environment that has been allowed to develop at City, as well as on campuses across the country. Something is desperately wrong.

City St George’s must investigate these incidents immediately and report them to the police where necessary.

We are in touch with Prof. Ben-Gad and are writing to the University.

Join our team and help us fight the menace of campus antisemitism

We are recruiting a full-time, entry-level Education and Outreach Officer, to run our campus and schools programmes and more.

Help make a difference in the fight against antisemitism!

For more information, please visit antisemitism.org/jobs/education-and-outreach-officer.

CAA Student Ambassadors induction

Following the success of our Student Ambassador programme last year, this past week we hosted our newest cohort of Student Ambassadors from universities across the country.

Our ambassadors – a mix of Jewish and non-Jewish students – took part in a full-day induction designed to introduce them to their roles, explore examples of campus antisemitism and provide an in-depth understanding of the various elements of our work.

The day provided an opportunity for Ambassadors to connect with each other and our team while preparing to confidently advocate against antisemitism on their campuses.

They left the induction equipped to make a real difference to the welfare of their peers and in the fight against antisemitism.

We wish them every success and are confident that they will be a fantastic cohort of current and future leaders.

A shocking betrayal of the Jewish community in Brighton

Brighton’s Jewish community appeared to be censored and silenced at a recent full meeting of Brighton and Hove Council.

A Jewish deputation arguing against a proposed Israel boycott measure and condemning Hamas had its speaking time slashed in half, and references to the 7th October Hamas attack were removed. The deputation was labelled “genociders.”

Mayor Amanda Grimshaw intervened as Sue, one of the representatives, attempted to deliver her deputation. What followed was a series of speeches from Labour Leader Bella Sankey and others that strongly criticised Israel, with only Cllrs Lyons and Meadows speaking in defence of the Jewish community.

Members of the community have said that the censorship appeared intended to clear the way for the Council to pass a motion repeating false allegations of genocide in Gaza and calling for divestment from Israel — a move that departs from official Labour Party policy.

According to our representative polling of the Jewish community, 84% of British Jews agree that boycotts of Israeli artists, academics or businesses selling Israeli products constitute intimidation — making Brighton’s motion particularly alarming.

This is a profound betrayal of the local Jewish community. Brighton Council has chosen political posturing over the concerns of its residents. These performative gestures contribute to the toxic atmosphere in our country that enables antisemitism.

For shame.

Former Lib Dem Harrogate councillor reportedly arrested

Former Liberal Democrat Councillor Pat Marsh has reportedly been charged with racial hatred.

She was arrested in early 2024 and was rightly removed from the Lib Dem group on the Council, after we and others publicised posts from her social media.

She then sat as an independent for a short while before resigning from the Council.

We understand that a complaint was submitted to the Lib Dems against her, but the Party decided only to issue her with a formal warning, despite the grievous allegations.

We are now asking the Lib Dems to clarify if she is in fact still a member of the Party.

Can’t decide what to wear this Halloween?

While we haven’t quite branched out into costumes yet, we do have a fetching selection of t-shirts and hoodies that enable you to declare your opposition to antisemitism in style.

Visit antisemitism.org/shop to find out more!

The shamelessness of the police continues to astound us

To have spent two years denying that they have certain powers that we have urged them to apply against the Palestine marches, only to apply them now in relation to a demonstration impacting a different minority community, is an insult to the Jewish community and all Londoners who believe in a single tier of justice for everyone.

We were the first to call out policing failures within weeks of 7th October 2023. Some criticised us then for doing so, but everyone now sees what we already saw then: police chiefs who did not take the concerns of the Jewish community seriously. It is appalling that none of them have faced any repercussions or had the decency to resign.

, ,

Brighton and Hove Council appears to try to silence Jewish community

Brighton and Hove City Council has come under severe criticism after appearing to censor and silence the local Jewish community during the full council meeting on 13th October.

Jewish & Proud, a Brighton-based Jewish community group, submitted a deputation to defend Israel and condemn Hamas, challenging misleading statements equating Israel with genocide. The Council drastically reduced the deputation’s speaking slot from five minutes to around two, and forced them to remove all references to Israel, the Hamas massacre of 7th October, and any defence of the Jewish state. Members of the community were labelled “genociders” while trying to speak.

Mayor Amanda Grimshaw appeared to attempt to silence Sue, a Jewish representative, as she delivered the shortened presentation, inviting a shocking display of hostility within the chamber. What followed was a torrent of anti-Israel rhetoric from Labour Leader Bella Sankey and several other councillors, with only Councillors Ivan Lyons and Anne Meadows having the courage to speak up and set the record straight.

The apparent censorship appeared to be intended to clear the path for the Council to pass a motion doubling down on the false narrative of genocide in Gaza and approve divestment from Israel — a motion that deviates from official Labour Party policy.

According to our representative polling of the Jewish community, more than four-fifths (84%) of British Jews agree that boycotts of Israeli artists, academics or businesses selling Israeli products constitute intimidation. This finding is particularly pertinent given the rising incidence of boycotts over the past two years.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Brighton and Hove Council’s handling of this matter has left Jewish representatives feeling silenced and unfairly treated. The Council appeared to impose a political agenda that targeted Israel while disregarding the effect on local Jewish residents. Many in the community view this as a profound betrayal and part of the toxic atmosphere in this country that enables antisemitism.”

, ,

Doctor with history of inflammatory rhetoric about Jews arrested

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, who has a history of using inflammatory rhetoric about Jews, has been arrested.

It is understood that she has been arrested for three counts of malicious communications and one count of inciting racial hatred.

Dr Aladwan rose to notoriety earlier this year as some of her earlier rhetoric was revealed.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We have submitted numerous complaints to the General Medical Council (GMC) regarding this doctor, who is a prolific poster of the most deranged material and claims about Jewish people, and is self-evidently unfit to serve as a regulated professional. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) inexplicably disagreed, allowing her to continue to practice as a trainee pending further investigation, and we have threatened legal action.

“But now even the Met Police — hardly the most proactive institution in the fight against antisemitism — believes that her conduct is so incendiary as to have potentially crossed the criminal threshold.

“What an absolute embarrassment to our medical regulator, and what a disgrace that it cannot see what ordinary people and even the Met Police can. Clearly, the GMC and the MPTS are unfit for purpose.”

, , , , ,

We are challenging the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club

We have notified Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police of our intention to bring a judicial review of the decision to ban away fans from attending the match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv next month.

Aston Villa’s Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv is due to take place without Israeli fans in attendance—banned from Villa Park on “safety” grounds—as a result of the decision.

Our lawyers have written to the Council and Police in accordance with the pre-action protocol for judicial review.

Police forces and local councils must do whatever it takes to ensure that Britain is safe for everyone. The decision has rightly been condemned by the Government and opposition parties. We understand that the decision was not made by Aston Villa.

We will do whatever it takes to overturn this pernicious ban which has humiliated and angered the whole country.

Britain is increasingly waking up to the extremism in our midst but now we must all fight the instinctive appeasement within the authorities and our law enforcement.

Is it a crime to wear a Star of David?

It has been revealed that a Jewish man was arrested in late August after wearing a Star of David pendant, which police alleged had “antagonised” anti-Israel demonstrators.

The man, who is a lawyer, said that he was at the protest as an independent legal observer. He accused the Metropolitan Police of trying to “criminalise the wearing of a Star of David”.

The context does not matter. There can be no context ever that justifies calling a Magen David provocative.

Our authorities are paralysed by appeasement and two successive Governments have failed to muster the courage and policy to act.

The recipe is simple: End the appeasement. Enforce the law. The only missing ingredient is resolve.

But this has not been the only policing controversy that has come to light in relation to the protests.

Mark Birbeck and others from Our Fight UK were recently arrested after displaying signs reading: “We stand with Britain’s Jews.” The arrests came after they were pushed and abused by hate marchers.

Campaign Against Antisemitism provided solicitors to represent Mark and others who were arrested. We are proud to have the back of those who stand up for us.

There is a ceasefire now, but these marches were never really about a ceasefire. The marchers say that they are ‘anti-Zionist’, but this was never really about ‘Zionists’.

After Jews were murdered at a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, those brave and decent people daring to stand with us face abuse and arrest on the streets of London, because the ‘Free Palestine’ mobs cannot stand the sight of them.

These are hate marches, pure and simple. This cannot go on. We need action now.

These protests have taken over our streets for more than two years. Money well spent? Or should it go elsewhere?

Elie asked people how much they think the Palestine marches cost police forces. Hear what they have to say here.

The Prime Minister is starting to understand, but will he now act?

Last week, the Prime Minister affirmed what we and the Jewish community have been saying for two years but which the police, regulators and universities have hesitated or refused to acknowledge: calls to “Globalise the Intifada” represent a call to attack Jewish communities around the world.

He also told the JC that he believes the phrase “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” is antisemitic, and disagrees with the Mayor of London, who recently said that it depends on the context.

Our polling has shown that 95% of British Jews consider the chant “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” to be an antisemitic call to destroy the Jewish state. Only 2% do not.

We are grateful to the Prime Minister for affirming what the Jewish community has long known. But what is he going to do about it?

It is now up to the criminal justice system and regulatory bodies to catch up and take action when people use this racist language. Based on the experience of the past two years, they will not act unless made to.

Ofcom finds BBC committed “serious breach” of broadcasting rules

Ofcom has ruled that the BBC committed a “serious breach” of broadcasting rules after it failed to disclose that the narrator of its Gaza documentary was the son of a Hamas official.

The regulator found that the programme, which was broadcast earlier this year, was “materially misleading” and that this failure “had the potential to erode the significantly high levels of trust that audiences would have placed in a BBC factual programme about the Israel-Gaza war.”

The BBC will be required to broadcast a statement about Ofcom’s finding in a prime-time slot.

This was not a minor oversight — it was a grave lapse in editorial standards from our national broadcaster, just one of repeated antisemitism scandals that have recently engulfed the BBC, from paying licence fee funds to the family of a Hamas official to having to part ways with Gary Lineker after he posted an antisemitic meme and from refusing to call Hamas terrorists to broadcasting incendiary rhetoric about ‘Zionists’ and calls for death and destruction at Glastonbury.

We are long past talk of merely restoring trust.

The BBC needs fundamental reform. That must begin with an independent investigation into its coverage of Israel and matters of Jewish interest, and pending the outcome of that investigation the licence fee must be suspended.

Change cannot come soon enough to British medicine

The Government has announced that it is taking urgent action to tackle antisemitism and other forms of racism in the NHS.

We have been calling out severe regulatory failures in the NHS for two years now.

It is tragic, not to mention aggravating, that it has taken two dead Jews murdered in a terrorist attack for the authorities to begin to wake up to what our country has become.

Jewish staff and patients in NHS institutions are feeling intimidated at places that are supposed to be equally welcoming and inclusive to everyone. Regulators have been asleep at the wheel, where they haven’t made the problem even worse, while doctors’ unions have utterly failed their Jewish members. There has been nobody to turn to, which is why people have to turn to us.

Any steps by the Government, however belated, that force regulators to do their jobs quickly and efficiently will be welcome, as are rules that prohibit political accessories, which obviously have no place in our hospitals.

Our private prosecution against David Miller

At a hearing on Friday at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in the private prosecution against Dr David Miller brought by Campaign Against Antisemitism, a fourth charge was added to the existing three.

All four charges allege the sending of menacing communications on X by the Defendant contrary to section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

The charges relate to the following posts:

  • A post on 8th November 2024 relating to violence in Amsterdam after a football match involving an Israeli team, calling for “material deZionisation on the streets” and the expunging of “Zionist terrorist entryists” from European institutions.
  • A post on 20th March 2025 stating that “every Zionist Jew must be held accountable and de-Zionised,” while stating that anti-Zionist Jews would be kept safe.
  • A post on 24th March 2025 calling for “the entire Zionist movement globally” to “live in fear of accountability until it is dismantled and its ideology eradicated,” and urging readers to “find out where” Zionists are.
  • A post on 4th May 2025 calling for a person in Manchester to be located and “held accountable,” stating that “what has been done has a price… that price is justice”. This is the post which was the subject of Friday’s additional charge.

Last week’s hearing mainly related to a detailed list of requests for disclosure made by the defendant. The judge ordered certain limited further disclosure, noting: “I am keeping it narrowly to that area; anything more would be a fishing expedition.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism exists to ensure that those who unlawfully harass, intimidate, or threaten members of the Jewish community online or offline face justice through the proper legal channels.

Workshopping hatred

Samuel Williams, a University of Oxford student, has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after being filmed at a pro-Palestinian march leading a chant to “put the Zios in the ground”.

Footage appeared to show Mr Williams saying, “I don’t want to yap for too long, but a chant that we’ve been workshopping in Oxford that maybe you guys want to join in,” before leading the chant.

Oxford University has confirmed that a student has been suspended following the arrest and reiterated that there is “no place for hatred, antisemitism or discrimination” on campus.

We are monitoring the situation closely and will continue to press for robust action against those who spread or incite antisemitic violence, whether in the streets or at our universities.

Nazi-inspired extremists jailed

Three Nazi-inspired extremists have been jailed for up to eleven years for plotting terrorist attacks on synagogues and mosques.

Christopher Ringrose, Marco Pitzettu and Brogan Stewart – who had never met in person – amassed over 200 weapons, 3D-printed firearm components, and formed an online group called Einsatz 14 to “go to war” against minority communities.

Court documents revealed a dossier of their online activity glorifying Hitler, antisemitism, and mass killers, and filled with violent white supremacist ideology. Mr Stewart, the self-styled “Führer” of the group, recruited others with vetting forms asking who they hated most.

One message from Mr Stewart warned about then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: “For Britain to have a p*** and Zionist in charge of the country is absolutely outrageous.”

Ms Justice Cutts noted that Mr Stewart had discussed torturing a Muslim leader. She warned that the extremists remain dangerous, handing down extended sentences and licence periods, noting that an attack “was likely in the not too distant future” but was thankfully thwarted by counterterrorism police.

A fourth man, Claudiu Cristea, was also jailed for possessing terrorist-related documents.

The case serves as a reminder of the danger still posed by neo-Nazi thugs so many decades since the defeat of Nazi Germany. We are grateful for the critical work of specialist police in thwarting these dangerous terrorists.

We are hiring!

Do you want to use your communications skills to raise awareness of antisemitism?

If so, this is the job for you.

Apply now at antisemitism.org/communications-and-research-officer/.

By omissions and commissions, police forces across Britain are making this country a place where people cannot be Jewish in public.

Want to walk on the street? Don’t be openly Jewish.

Want to go to a football match? Sorry, not as a Jew.

Want to go to synagogue? You take your life in your hands.

The antisemitism of the mob is no longer only the fault of the perpetrators but also increasingly of law enforcement officials who are enabling and indeed encouraging and rewarding it.

Two years of the worst antisemitism in living memory, antisemitic hate crimes on unprecedented levels, no end in sight, and not a single police chief has been held accountable by two successive governments for this monumental failure to keep one of Britain’s oldest minorities safe.

There is some hope, however. At last, the British public is awakening to this and they are furious. They want action too, and they want it now.

Image credit: Google

, ,

Nazi-inspired extremists jailed for plotting terrorist attacks on synagogues and mosques

Three Nazi-inspired extremists have been jailed for up to eleven years for plotting terrorist attacks on synagogues and mosques.

Christopher Ringrose, 34, Marco Pitzettu, 25, and Brogan Stewart, 25 – who had never met in person – amassed over 200 weapons, 3D-printed firearm components, and formed an online group called Einsatz 14 to “go to war” against minority communities.

Court documents revealed a dossier of their online activity glorifying Hitler, antisemitism, and mass killers, and filled with violent white supremacist ideology. Mr Stewart, the self-styled “Führer” of the group, recruited others with vetting forms asking who they hated most.

One message from Mr Stewart warned about then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: “for Britain to have a p*** and Zionist in charge of the country is absolutely outrageous.”

Sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday, Ms Justice Cutts noted that Mr Stewart had discussed torturing a Muslim leader. She warned that the extremists remain dangerous, handing down extended sentences and licence periods, noting that an attack “was likely in the not too distant future” but was thankfully thwarted by counterterrorism police.

Mr Stewart was sentenced to eleven years’ imprisonment, Mr Ringrose to ten, and Mr Pitzettu to eight. They will also be subject to Serious Crime Prevention Order for five years on release and to Terrorism Notification Requirements for 30 years.

A fourth man, Claudiu Cristea, was also jailed for possessing terrorist-related documents.

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Counter Terrorism Policing North East

Villa Park
, ,

CAA to seek judicial review of decision not to allow Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Aston Villa match

We are today notifying Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police of our intention to bring a judicial review of the decision to ban away fans from attending the match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Aston Villa’s Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv is due to take place without Israeli fans in attendance—banned from Villa Park on “safety” grounds—as a result of the decision.

Our lawyers are writing to the Council and Police in accordance with the pre-action protocol for judicial review.

Police forces and local councils must do whatever it takes to ensure that Britain is safe for everyone. The decision has rightly been condemned by the Government and opposition parties. We understand that the decision was not made by Aston Villa.

We will do whatever it takes to overturn this pernicious ban which has humiliated and angered the whole country.

Britain is increasingly waking up to the extremism in our midst but now we must all fight the instinctive appeasement within the authorities and our law enforcement.

,

Ofcom says BBC documentary on Gaza was “serious breach” of broadcasting rules

Ofcom has ruled that the BBC committed a “serious breach” of broadcasting rules after it failed to disclose that the narrator of its Gaza documentary was the son of a Hamas official.

The regulator found that the programme, which was broadcast earlier this year, was “materially misleading” and that this failure “had the potential to erode the significantly high levels of trust that audiences would have placed in a BBC factual programme about the Israel-Gaza war.”

The BBC will be required to broadcast a statement about Ofcom’s finding in a prime-time slot.

The BBC previously published its own long-awaited report into its decision to broadcast and then take down a documentary purportedly about children’s lives in Gaza. The film was removed from iPlayer after it was revealed that its thirteen-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official.

In February, the BBC apologised after an interim report identified “serious flaws” in the making of Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone, which was made for the BBC by production company Hoyo Films.

This report, which sheds little additional light, has been led by Peter Johnston, the BBC’s Director of Editorial Complaints and Reviews, which is reportedly independent of BBC News and reports directly to Director General Tim Davie.

In February, BBC Two broadcast a documentary called ‘Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone’. It was directed by Yousef Hammash and Jamie Roberts and purported to follow the lives of four young people during the current Hamas-Israel war in the Strip. It was found that the narrator of the film was the son of a senior Hamas official.

Only days later, the BBC provided a stage for stomach-churning claims from the very same antisemitic genocidal group. As Jews across the world watched Ariel and Kfir Bibas – an infant child and a baby who were murdered in cold blood in Gaza – being returned in coffins on our screens, the BBC led its updates with the headline: “Hamas says it did ‘everything in its power’ to keep hostages alive.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism organised two protests at Broadcasting House, where we called for the BBC to stop whitewashing terrorism and stop serving as spokespeople for Hamas. The second protest was organised following the BBC’s admission of “serious flaws” relating to the documentary, and confirmation that licence fee payers’ money was handed to the family of the senior Hamas official.

We also launched a campaign across national newspapers, calling for the suspension of the licence fee, pending an independent investigation. Our petition making that demand has received tens of thousands of signatures.

In March, BBC Chair Dr Samir Shah admitted to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that “There’s a dagger to the heart of the BBC’s claim to be impartial and to be trustworthy.” Director General Tim Davie admitted that there was a “serious failing” but still insisted: “We’re the most trusted brand in the world.”

After the BBC released its report, Ofcom said that it would be conducting its own investigation, which has now concluded with this finding.

92% of British Jews rate the BBC’s coverage of matters of Jewish interest as unfavourable, according to our representatives polling, while 57% of the British public back an independent investigation into the BBC Gaza film scandal; only 21% do not, according to polling commissioned by Campaign Against Antisemitism and conducted by YouGov earlier this year.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This was not a minor oversight — it  was a grave lapse in editorial standards from our national broadcaster, just one of repeated antisemitism scandals that have recently engulfed the BBC, from paying licence fee funds to the family of a Hamas official to having to part ways with Gary Lineker after he posted an antisemitic meme and from refusing to call Hamas terrorists to broadcasting incendiary rhetoric about ‘Zionists’ and calls for death and destruction at Glastonbury.

“We are long past talk of merely restoring trust. The BBC needs fundamental reform. That must begin with an independent investigation into its coverage of Israel and matters of Jewish interest, and pending the outcome of that investigation the licence fee must be suspended.”

, , , , ,

A time to celebrate, but we cannot rest on our laurels

The return of the hostages

The return of the living hostages today is an extraordinary occasion. To have secured the release of over 250 hostages in these circumstances has few, if any, historical parallels, and reflects the Jewish commitment to life. That this unprecedented achievement should come as part of the fight against global antisemitism is humbling.

The hostages are returning home from the most barbaric captivity on the eve of the festival of Simchat Torah – during which they were abducted two years ago to the day, in the Hebrew calendar. It is truly wondrous that they can celebrate this festival again, after it was desecrated and be spoiled in the most unspeakable fashion by crimes against humanity committed by antisemitic genocidal terrorists.

Not all of the deceased hostages have been returned yet, and members of proscribed antisemitic Islamist terror organisations are still armed in Gaza. They have not renounced their genocidal antisemitism and, as we have seen in recent days, their supporters in Britain and around the world are doubling down on their racist hatred against Jews.

That is why, as Jews in Israel and around the world rejoice, our attention must also shift to the UK and other countries of the West, where antisemitism rages unabated and the position of Jewish people is very different to what it was two years ago.

We cannot and will not rest on our laurels, even as we savour this incredibly significant victory in the fight against the oldest hatred.

At Downing Street, we called for action, not words

Last Thursday evening, Campaign Against Antisemitism led a demonstration of the Jewish community and its allies outside Downing Street, one week after the Manchester terrorist attack that left two British Jews dead.

Watch as Demonstrators cry “Shame!” and “Actions, not words!” outside Downing Street at the demonstration.

The crowd, several thousand strong, was addressed by five speakers:

Broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer said: “What happens in the next few days, weeks, months, or even years in the Middle East, we need to deal with what is happening right now, right here in Britain as well, because even if a full ceasefire is declared, the hostages return, and the war in Gaza ends, the battles on our own streets will just carry on.

“The never-ending marches by the pro-Palestinian activists won’t just suddenly stop… They aren’t pro anything. They’re anti-Israel and yes, anti-Jew.”

Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Here we are two years after 7th October, mourning the deaths of Adrian and Melvin whilst others sit in hospital praying for their loved ones’ recoveries. This is a Jewish community that has clamoured for two years in the face of mounting hate.

“We watched as this country did nothing as people celebrated the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Shame. We have been betrayed and we have been abandoned by politicians whose job it is to uphold the ways of this land. Why has it taken the murder of British Jews for our politicians to start to pay attention? Actions not words. We’re fed up of thoughts and prayers.”

Journalist Camilla Tominey told the crowd: “I stand beside you as an ally… Stopping antisemitism is not just about protecting one community. It’s about protecting the very values that hold our society together.

“Our universities should be centres of excellence, not agencies of Hamas propaganda… This hatred has never truly gone away.”

A friend of Adrian Daulby, one of the victims of the terrorist attack in Manchester, also took the stage: “Adrian was a friend of mine. I can’t believe it’s happened. We have to do something about it: we can’t stand back anymore.”

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “The last two years have been an awful stain on this great country of ours that we love so much. We have seen warm words, we have seen statements that antisemitism has no place in the country. Well, I’m sorry Prime Minister: it very clearly does.”

In advance of the protest, Stephen also wrote in LBC about how, “after the Southport terrorist attack, protests were banned overnight. Yet when Jews face intimidation in London, suddenly nothing can be done and the authorities are reduced to begging the purveyors of hatred to show some compassion.”

The protest was covered widely, including by BBC News, ITV News, Sky News, GB News, and others, and trended across social media.

Elie also interviewed demonstrators outside Downing Street on why they felt it important to be there. 

Remembering Manchester

Our Chief Executive, Gideon Falter, stood with Mancunian Jews in the wake of the devastating terrorist attack.

The revelation that the Manchester Islamist terrorist was heard saying during the attack that “this is what they get for killing our children” affirms how the blood libel – the trope that Jews gratuitously kill children – pumped out daily by the British media has real-world effects.

If you keep telling people that the Jewish state wantonly murders children, you are radicalising people to hate Jews, and the blood of slain British Jews is also on your hands.

The Manchester terrorist reportedly attended a mosque where the imam called Jews “treacherous”.

When are regulators going to wake up?

It will no longer do just to give mosques like these a regulatory slap on the wrist. They must be severely sanctioned, and the message that radical extremism in the name of religion will no longer be tolerated must be broadcast loud and clear.

And still, the protests continue

Despite the ceasefire in the Middle East, the hate marches in the UK continue.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, spoke to LBC about the meaning of these persistent protests.

At this weekend’s march, Mark Birbeck and others from Our Fight UK were pushed and abused by hate marchers, then arrested by police. Their only “crime” was displaying signs reading, “We stand with Britain’s Jews.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has provided solicitors to represent Mark and others who were arrested. We are proud to stand behind those who stand up for us.

There is a ceasefire now, but these marches were never really about a ceasefire. The marchers claim to be “anti-Zionist”, but this was never about “Zionists”. A week after Jews were murdered at a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, those brave and decent people daring to stand with us face abuse and arrest on the streets of London. These are hate marches, pure and simple.

Watch: Counter-protester Mark Birbeck is arrested by police.

Campaign Against Antisemitism launches private prosecution of Nick Griffin

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a private prosecution against Nick Griffin for an alleged offence under sections 18 and 19 of the Public Order Act 1986.

Mr Griffin, the former Chairman of the British National Party and a Member of the European Parliament, is due to appear in court within the coming weeks.

This is one of several cases currently being privately prosecuted by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism writes to Bar Standards Board about conspiratorial barrister

We have written to the Bar Standards Board regarding Sham Udin, the barrister who posted a video of himself claiming that “it is rumoured that the Israeli Government orchestrated the attack in the synagogue in Manchester.”

Day after Campaign Against Antisemitism threatens legal action, GMC announces re-referral of Dr Rahmeh Aladwan to tribunal

The General Medical Council (GMC) has announced that it is re-referring the case of Dr Rahmeh Aladwan to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS).

The decision came a day after Campaign Against Antisemitism notified the GMC of our intention to challenge, via judicial review, the decision not to impose conditions on Dr Aladwan while she is under investigation for misconduct. That decision also drew condemnation from Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who said that he has no confidence in the medical regulator following the ruling.

Despite Dr Aladwan’s repeated use of social media and public appearances to wage what amounts to a campaign of hatred against British Jews, a hearing of the MPTS on 25th September determined that she had done nothing to “undermine public confidence in the medical profession,” and that her abusive rhetoric did not “amount to bullying or harassment”.

Dr Aladwan has:

  • Expressed support for the atrocity carried out by Hamas on 7th October 2023;
  • Promoted propaganda published by the Al-Qassam Brigades;
  • Called for the eradication of “Jewish supremacy”;
  • Described the Royal Free Hospital as “a Jewish supremacy cesspit”;
  • Asserted that over 90% of the world’s Jews are genocidal; and
  • Posted “GLOBALISE THE INTIFADA” in response to the Manchester synagogue terrorist attack.

It is extraordinary that the tribunal could have come to the conclusion that it did.

The Manchester terrorist attack took place in no small part because of cataclysmic failures in enforcement by the authorities – from our streets to the professions. It is evident to any reasonable person that this doctor is wholly unfit to practise medicine. Let us hope that the system delivers the correct result this time, and that the myriad other medical cases are finally addressed with the urgency that they require.

“Dead Jews don’t count, it seems.”

The failure by the FA to observe a moment of silence at last week’s England–Wales match, notwithstanding tributes for other causes in other games, is scandalous.

Recently, our nation witnessed a terrorist attack in which two people were murdered and others injured simply for being Jewish.

Football has a long history of standing against racism and extremism. A national commemoration would have sent a clear message that Jewish lives matter, that the Jewish community has equal standing to others in the beautiful game, and that such attacks will be publicly recognised and condemned. The absence of that commemoration sends an even clearer message, and it is a terrible one. Shameful.

Last week, we gathered outside Downing Street to tell the Government that the double standards and cowardly appeasement of extremists must end.

It may be two years and two dead Jews too late, but the authorities in this country must now finally take action. They must recognise incitement to violence and genocidal language for what it is and bring the full force of the law to bear on wrongdoers.

The hate marches must be banned. Criminals and terrorist-sympathisers must be arrested and jailed. Extremist professionals must be struck off. Mosques that host radical preachers must face the most severe regulatory action. University students who glorify terror must be expelled. Media organisations that promote antisemitic tropes must be sanctioned — and more.

The Jewish community has been scarred forever, and Britain must never be the same again.

The return of the hostages is wonderful news for the Jewish world and decent people everywhere. It is particularly meaningful that it happens on the eve of the festival when they were so brutally abducted.

It is notable that the agreement has come about because Hamas’ patron, Qatar, has finally been compelled to force Hamas to come to terms. It is shameful that two successive British Governments made effectively no effort to bring this about sooner, despite their promises to do everything possible.

The deal shows that at any time Hamas could have given up the hostages and brought an end to the fighting. Those — from politics to the streets — who have been claiming to care about ending the war whilst making no demands of Hamas at best totally misunderstood why the fighting was happening or, worse, simply supported Hamas. It is despicable and unforgivable.

The persistence of the protests even as a ceasefire comes into effect reveals what this was always about, and the continuing failure of the authorities to take drastic steps even after the Manchester terrorist attack shows just how much more there is to do.

Today, however, is a day of celebration, and as the Jewish world enters the final festival of this season, we wish everybody celebrating a truly joyous Simchat Torah.

, ,

Jews over nine times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group, CAA analysis of home office stats shows

An analysis by Campaign Against Antisemitism of new Home Office statistics released this week shows that Jews are more than nine times likelier to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

The figures published this year, however, exclude data from the Metropolitan Police Service, which was included in previous reports.

Police forces across the country record hate crimes against Jews as religious hate crimes, and these records show that in the year 2024/25, 2,873 hate crimes were committed against Jews, making Jews the target in 28% – almost one in three – of the total number of religious hate crimes.

These figures mean that there is an average of just under eight hate crimes directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales. Hate crimes against Jews are also still widely believed to be under-reported, and also do not reflect the extent of antisemitic material and abuse on social media.

However, when one accounts for the miniscule size of the Jewish population, it emerges that Jews are statistically more than nine times more likely to be the targets of hate crimes than any other religious group, with some 1,060 hate crimes per 100,000 of the Jewish population in 2024/25.

CAA demonstration outside Downing Street, 9th October 2025
, ,

CAA leads demonstration of Jewish community and allies outside Downing Street a week after Manchester terrorist attack

This evening, Campaign Against Antisemitism led a demonstration of the Jewish community and its allies outside Downing Street, one week after the Manchester terrorist attack that left two British Jews dead.

The crowd, several thousand strong, was addressed by five speakers:

Broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer said: “What happens in the next few days, weeks, months, or even years in the Middle East, we need to deal with what is happening right now, right here in Britain as well, because even if a full ceasefire is declared, the hostages return, and the war in Gaza ends, the battles on our own streets will just carry on.

“The never-ending marches by the pro-Palestinian activists won’t just suddenly stop. They’ve already said they will go ahead on Saturday with no end in sight. The threats to Jewish schoolchildren won’t stop. The intimidation of Jewish students won’t stop. The attacks on Jewish businesses won’t stop. They won’t go away, and we can never be sure there won’t be another deadly terror attack on Jewish worshippers in a synagogue, and we all know why, because none of this is actually about the people of Gaza. Because the organisations and the people behind these things and doing these things, cheering them on, aren’t pro-Palestine. They aren’t pro anything. They’re anti-Israel and yes, anti-Jew.”

Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Here we are two years after 7th October, mourning the deaths of Adrian and Melvin whilst others sit in hospital praying for their loved ones’ recoveries. This is a Jewish community that has clamoured for two years in the face of mounting hate. We watched as this country did nothing as people celebrated the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Shame. We have been betrayed and we have been abandoned by politicians whose job it is to uphold the ways of this land. Why has it taken the murder of British Jews for our politicians to start to pay attention. Actions not words. We’re fed up of thoughts and prayers.”

Journalist Camilla Tominey told the crowd: “I stand beside you as an ally. Jewish people, our neighbours, our colleagues and our friends have to think twice before wearing a Star of David, or attending a public event such as this. This is not the Britain we want to see. Stopping antisemitism is not just about protecting one community. Its about protecting the very values that hold our society together…The media must now shift its focus from events thousands of miles away to the raging radicalisation here at home. Our universities should be centres of excellence not agencies of Hamas propaganda…Antisemitism is not new. For centuries, Jewish people have been blamed for problems they did not cause. This hatred has never truly gone away.”

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: ““The last two years have been an awful stain on this great country of ours that we love so much. We have seen warm words, we have seen statements that antisemitism has no place in the country. Well, I’m sorry Prime Minister: it very clearly does.”

A friend of Adrian Daulby, one of the victims of the terrorist attack in Manchester, also took the stage at the demonstration: “Adrian was a friend of mine. I can’t believe it’s happened. We have to do something about it: we can’t stand back anymore.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Tonight, we gathered outside Downing Street to tell the Government that the double standards and cowardly appeasement of extremists must end.

“It may be two years and two dead Jews too late, but the authorities in this country must now finally take action. They must recognise incitement to violence and genocidal language for what it is and bring the full force of the law to bear on wrongdoers. The hate marches must be banned, criminals and terrorist-sympathisers must be arrested and jailed, extremist professionals must be struck off, mosques that host radical preachers must face the most severe regulatory action, university students who glorify terror must be expelled, media organisations that promote antisemitic tropes must be sanctioned, and more.Jihad

“The Jewish community has been scarred forever, and Britain must never be the same again.”

Photo credit: Nathan Lilienfeld/Campaign Against Antisemitism

, ,

Campaign Against Antisemitism launches private prosecution of Nick Griffin

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a private prosecution against Nick Griffin for an alleged offence under sections 18 and 19 of the Public Order Act 1986.

Mr Griffin, the former Chairman of the British National Party and a Member of the European Parliament, is due to appear in court within the coming weeks.

This is one of several cases currently being privately prosecuted by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

,

GMC decides to re-refer doctor to tribunal after our threat of legal action

The General Medical Council (GMC) has announced that it is re-referring the case of Dr Rahmeh Aladwan to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS).

The decision comes a day after Campaign Against Antisemitism notified the GMC of our intention to challenge in court, via judicial review, the decision not to impose conditions on Dr Aladwan while she is under investigation for misconduct. That decision also drew condemnation from Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who said that he has no confidence in the medical regulator following that ruling.

Despite Dr Aladwan’s repeated use of social media and public appearances to wage what amounts to a campaign of hatred against British Jews, a hearing of the MPTS on 25th September determined that she had done nothing to “undermine public confidence in the medical profession,” and that her abusive rhetoric against British Jews did not “amount to bullying or harassment”.

The tribunal also concluded that “a reasonable and fully informed member of the public would not be alarmed or concerned to learn that Dr Aladwan had been permitted to continue in unrestricted medical practice.”

Dr Aladwan has:

  • Expressed support for the atrocity carried out by Hamas on 7th October 2023;
  • Promoted propaganda published by the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas;
  • Called for the eradication of “Jewish supremacy”;
  • Described the Royal Free Hospital in London as “a Jewish supremacy cesspit”;
  • Asserted that over 90% of the world’s Jews are genocidal; and
  • Posted “GLOBALISE THE INTIFADA” in response to an article about the fatal terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester.

Rhetoric of this sort on her social media platforms is absolutely prolific. It is extraordinary that the tribunal could possibly have come to the conclusion that it did.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Just one day after we notified the GMC of our intention to launch a legal challenge of the decision not to impose conditions on Dr Rahmeh Aladwan while she is under investigation for misconduct, the regulator is re-referring her case to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.

“The Manchester terrorist attack took place in no small part because of a cataclysmic failure in enforcement by the authorities – from our streets to the professions. It is evident to any reasonable person that this doctor is wholly unfit to practice medicine. Let us hope that the system delivers the correct result this time around, and that the myriad other medical cases are finally addressed with the urgency that they require.”

,

CAA launches legal challenge after GMC lets notorious doctor under antisemitism investigation continue practising

Campaign Against Antisemitism has today notified the General Medical Council (GMC) of its intention to challenge in court, via judicial review, the decision not to impose conditions on Dr Rahmeh Aladwan while she is under investigation for misconduct.

The decision has also drawn condemnation from Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who has said he has no confidence in the medical regulator following this ruling.

Despite Dr Aladwan’s repeated use of social media and public appearances to wage what amounts to a campaign of hatred against British Jews, a hearing of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) on 25th September determined that she had done nothing to “undermine public confidence in the medical profession,” and that her abusive rhetoric against British Jews did not “amount to bullying or harassment.”

The tribunal also concluded that “a reasonable and fully informed member of the public would not be alarmed or concerned to learn that Dr Aladwan had been permitted to continue in unrestricted medical practice.”

Dr Aladwan has:

  • Expressed support for the atrocity carried out by Hamas on 7th October 2023;
  • Promoted propaganda published by the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas;
  • Called for the eradication of “Jewish supremacy”;
  • Described the Royal Free Hospital in London as “a Jewish supremacy cesspit”;
  • Asserted that over 90% of the world’s Jews are genocidal; and
  • Posted “GLOBALISE THE INTIFADA” in response to an article about the fatal terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester.

Rhetoric of this sort on her social media platforms is absolutely prolific. It is extraordinary that the tribunal could possibly have come to the conclusion that it did.

The letter before action sent to the GMC today sets out the grounds for Campaign Against Antisemitism’s challenge:

  • The unlawful or unreasonable failure to properly consider whether Dr Aladwan’s posts qualified for protection under Article 10 ECHR;
  • The failure to suspend or consider suspension;
  • The unreasonable failure properly to consider and apply relevant guidance;
  • An unreasonable (perverse) conclusion on the evidence; and
  • Failure to provide adequate reasons for the decision to impose no order.

In order to avoid this matter proceeding to court, the GMC is required to confirm that it will withdraw the MPTS’ determination and re-make it in accordance with relevant legal principles and guidance as soon as possible.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Just one day after we notified the GMC of our intention to launch a legal challenge of the decision not to impose conditions on Dr Rahmeh Aladwan while she is under investigation for misconduct, the regulator is re-referring her case to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service. Why does it take the threat of legal action from us to get regulators in Britain to do their duty?

“The Manchester terrorist attack took place in no small part because of a cataclysmic failure in enforcement by the authorities – from our streets to the professions. It is evident to any reasonable person that this doctor is wholly unfit to practice medicine. Let us hope that the system delivers the correct result this time around, and that the myriad other medical cases are finally addressed with the urgency that they require.”

, , ,

We have no words. The Government has only words.

We have no words to describe our anguish at the terrorist attack on Yom Kippur.

We mourn the deaths of Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, and we pray for the recovery of the injured. We are in touch with some of the families of the victims and are providing any support that we can.

We are also offering support to anyone affected by the atrocity, who should e-mail us.

More details have emerged about the perpetrator, Jihad Al-Shamie, 35.

It is believed that he was the eldest of three sons, and that he was born in Syria and came to the UK as an infant. He appears to have been living in council accommodation and was out of work and, according to reports, possibly on benefits, at the time of the attack. He had reportedly written “full-time father” on his son’s birth certificate, suggesting that he has not been working professionally for some time.

There is apparently no record of him having gone to university or holding full-time employment. Our online investigators also believe that he was holding himself out as an English tutor for children of all ages, which raises serious questions about whether he radicalised impressionable youth.

He had been arrested on a rape charge earlier this year and was out on bail at the time of the attack. He reportedly had minor criminal convictions on his record as well.

There is limited evidence of social media activity, but in 2012, a person using the e-mail address “Jihad Alshamie” sent death threats to a Conservative MP following comments that the MP had made defending Israel. It is believed that, while security arrangements for the MP may have been altered, there was no investigation.

He had not been under active investigation by counterterrorism police or security services at the time of the attack.

His father, Faraj Al-Shamie, a Syrian-born surgeon who arrived in the UK in the 1990s, reportedly described Hamas as “God’s men on earth” on social media in Arabic in the wake of the 7th October attack and celebrated the prospect of the destruction of Israel, amidst other inflammatory rhetoric. He is reportedly involved in the International Red Cross and travels abroad to deliver medical assistance.

The family has issued a statement distancing itself from the terrorist attack in Manchester.

It has been reported that two other individuals have been arrested in connection with the attack.

The biography of the terrorist raises enormous questions about the abysmal failures of the British state in a number of areas, ranging from immigration and integration to sexual offences and criminal justice, to say nothing of the utter failure to address antisemitism.

Join us outside Downing Street to demand action, not empty words

To mark one week since the atrocity in Manchester, we will be demonstrating outside Downing Street.

This is not the time for platitudes, ‘dialogue’ and lip service. Britain can no longer afford excuses while our Jewish community faces terror on our streets.

Join us at 19:00 on Thursday 9th October outside Downing Street to demand action, not empty words.

The blood of British Jews is on the hands of politicians who have appeased extremists, police chiefs who have failed to enforce the law, universities and media who have turned a blind eye, and regulators like the Charity Commission who have done too little for too long.

Downing Street must act — now.

19:00. Thursday 9th October. Outside Downing Street.

Honouring the victims, and remembering the hostages

On 7th October 2023, genocidal, antisemitic Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, where they committed barbaric, twisted acts of terror. They murdered some 1,200 innocent people in cold blood, raping and torturing along the way, and took more than 250 hostage, ranging in age from babies to the elderly.

Two years on, and while their release seems imminent, there are still hostages in captivity being held in unspeakably inhumane conditions. Their families endure unthinkable anguish, and the Jewish world continues to grieve.

The Gregorian anniversary of this horrific event took place on Tuesday, during Sukkot. The community therefore came together yesterday to remember the victims and the hostages.

Following the terrorist atrocity in Manchester last week, these vigils assumed an added poignancy.

Campaign Against Antisemitism staff and volunteers were proud to join the vigil in Manchester – as well as in Trafalgar Square in London – where a sombre, mournful but defiant crowd demanded action and accountability from the Government and the authorities for the abysmal failures over two years and the refusal to heed our warnings.

What must come next

“We knew this day would come, made inevitable by radicalisation, Islamism and far-left extremism that have been allowed to spread by successive governments ignoring every warning and doing practically nothing to tackle them. It was inevitable, but also preventable. Now, the blood of British Jews cries out from the ground.” So wrote Gideon Falter, our Chief Executive, in The Sunday Telegraph. 

But what should our Government actually do about it?

The prescription is simple:

  • Incitement: Start with the BBC and universities, depriving them of state funding until they reform
  • Enforcement: Ban the hate marches, fix the farce of two-tier policing and force the regulators and professional bodies to do their jobs and act against hate preachers in mosques through to extremist doctors and lawyers
  • Proscription: Stop being such a miserably soft touch and ban support for the Muslim Brotherhood, Iran’s IRGC, the Houthis, and Palestinian terrorist groups like the PFLP involved in the atrocity of 7th October 2023

On Sunday, the Home Secretary announced that she may introduce some of these measures. Some is not enough.

If the UK restricts the hate marches but does not address two-tier policing, appeasement amongst regulators, hate preaching in mosques, and Islamist organisations such as the Muslim Brotherhood operating freely in the UK, we will have treated one of the symptoms, not the cause.

If all we do is reduce the hate marches, there will be more dead Jews in pools of blood outside synagogues.

Open support for a proscribed terrorist organisation this weekend in London, a capital city that is evidently becoming lawless.

The Home Secretary is reportedly to introduce new restrictions on protests and will give police more powers to consider the ‘cumulative impact’ of repeated demonstrations.

We welcome this announcement and urge its immediate implementation, given that we have been calling for exactly these reforms for two years.

What a tragedy that two Jews had to be murdered for the authorities to heed those calls. Had they done so earlier, things may have been different.

There are many other desperately needed changes across the political, legal and regulatory terrain that we have been calling for and we urge the authorities to enact those changes now – rather than wait for another atrocity to galvanise them into taking action.

None of our policy proposals are new. 

We told the previous Government, providing it a document with policy proposals. Not one of the policy proposals were executed by the then-Home Secretary.

The current Government has not engaged with us on our policy proposals either. It is utterly infuriating that action is only now being ‘considered’ now that Jews have been murdered.

Challenging the BBC on air

We have been on every major broadcaster and in print over the past several days, explaining the significance of the Manchester terrorist attack and explaining what needs to happen next. You can watch a sample of those interviews below.

But the interview with the BBC was particularly notable.

“In your statement you singled out the BBC. You said ‘It is the bias and moral collapse of the broadcaster that has essentially turned them into spokespeople for Hamas.’ You can’t seriously think that the BBC is a mouthpiece for Hamas?”

That is the question that the BBC put to Campaign Against Antisemitism Chief Executive Gideon Falter just before Friday night in his last interview of the day.

Watch here to find out how he responded.

,

CAA announces demonstration outside Downing Street following Manchester synagogue terrorist attack

Campaign Against Antisemitism has announced a demonstration outside Downing Street on Thursday, marking one week since the terrorist attack outside Heaton Synagogue in Manchester yesterday.

The protest will take place at 7pm on Thursday 9th October outside Downing Street, London.

The attack happened during Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Other synagogues in the area cancelled Yom Kippur services following the news.

It is understood that two were killed in the attack, with four in hospital with serious injuries.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The time for dialogue, platitudes, and lip service has passed. Britain can no longer afford excuses while our Jewish community faces terror on our streets. On Thursday evening, we will be protesting outside Downing Street to demand action, not empty words.

“Those murdered yesterday were simply going to synagogue to pray on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Their deaths were made inevitable by the radicalisation and Islamist extremism that successive governments have allowed to fester — ignoring warnings, tolerating incitement, and failing to act. If you reward terrorism, you get terrorism; if you appease the mob, the mob is emboldened.

“Now Britain must show that it truly wants to keep its Jews safe. The Government must ban extremist protests, hold police chiefs accountable, compel regulators to step up, and ensure universities and media accept responsibility for the environment of hatred they have tolerated. No more double standards: the mobs must be treated like those at Southport — with the full force of the law.

“The blood of British Jews is on the hands of politicians who have appeased extremists, police chiefs who have failed to enforce the law, universities and media who have turned a blind eye, and regulators who have done too little for too long.

“Downing Street must act. Not tomorrow, not after another attack — now.”

, , , , ,

Recognising a ‘Palestinian state’ is Sir Keir Starmer’s Neville Chamberlain moment

The British Government has recognised a ‘Palestinian state’. This is Sir Keir Starmer’s Neville Chamberlain moment.

Apparently the promises to do ‘everything possible’ to bring the hostages home meant nothing. The Government could have made recognition conditional on the return of the hostages — at the absolute very least — but Sir Keir refused even to do that, so urgent apparently was the need to delight terrorists and their supporters while betraying the families of the hostages whom he had looked in the eye and earnestly pledged to help.

The message could not be clearer: murder, rape, kidnapping and indoctrination are legitimate paths to diplomatic gain — Hamas leaders have called this moment “the fruit of 7th October”. Additional sanctions against Hamas will have zero impact and do nothing to blunt the delight amongst Hamas’ leaders. This is not statesmanship or peacemaking; it is the deliberate betrayal of those taken hostage and slain on 7th October 2023 and a reward that has delighted Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and their supporters.

This morally reprehensible decision was explicitly made in the context of a war between Israel, on which conditions were placed, against antisemitic terrorists, on whom no conditions were placed. It will surely prolong war by encouraging those terrorists to continue to hold hostages and to perpetrate further antisemitic terrorism because this act of recognition is a declaration that the UK rewards violence against Jews.

All but a small minority of British people recognise this and do not support this shameful betrayal of this country’s values, with a new poll showing that almost 90% of the British public do not back Sir Keir’s recognition of a ‘Palestinian state’.

We fear that our Government’s virtue signalling will have an impact here at home too, as Islamist terrorists around the world digest the lessons from this betrayal. History shows that appeasement eventually brings the aggressor to your door.

So why did Sir Keir announce it? “Because,” as the Prime Minister of Israel said at the UN, addressing him and the other Western leaders who made similar announcements, “you don’t have the guts to face down a hostile media and antisemitic mobs demanding Israel’s blood.”

Last weekend, the Prime Minister made his priorities clear.

We displayed outside Parliament the words of senior Hamas leader Ghazi Hamed: “The initiative by several countries to recognise a Palestinian state is one of the fruits of October 7.”

Sir Keir Starmer’s recognition of a ‘Palestinian state’ hands Hamas the reward it craves and tells the world that terrorism pays.

We have published an open letter to Sir Keir Starmer regarding the announcement.

Add your name and stand with the Jewish community.

Sir Keir Starmer decided to recognise a Palestinian state even as Jewish hostages continue to suffer in the hands of murderous Hamas terrorists.

Is this decision a reward for terror or a positive, overdue step?

Elie went onto the streets to find out. Watch the full video here.

Sir Keir’s Rosh Hashanah message to the Jewish community almost felt like he was trolling British Jews.

He was among the last people that the Jewish community were wanting to receive Rosh Hashanah greetings from, given his act of betrayal just days prior.

You cannot reward the Hamas rapists and murderers who carried out the worst pogrom against the Jews since the Holocaust and then the next day tell Jews that you “stand shoulder to shoulder” with us as though nothing had happened.

The man who vowed to “tear out antisemitism by its roots” has betrayed Britain’s Jews and poured fuel on the fire. It is unforgivable.

Is British taxpayer money going to Hamas?

We have previously written about how British taxpayer money not only may be going to Hamas, an antisemitic genocidal terrorist organisation that seeks to murder Jews, but could actually be one of its main sources of funding.

Now, the Daily Express has reported that a Foreign Office official met with Hamas terrorists just three months after the group was proscribed in full, and assured them that the newly extended ban would not prevent the continuation of British funding.

Although this meeting took place under the previous Government, it confirms recent reports about British aid money being transferred to Hamas-controlled entities and raises yet more questions about whether the Foreign Office is complying with the law.

Kneecap case thrown out after latest CPS debacle

The terrorism charge against Kneecap’s Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been thrown out.

The charge related to the alleged display of a flag in support of Hizballah, a proscribed antisemitic terrorist organisation, at a concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on 21st November last year.

Footage of the concert in question appeared to show a member of the band, draped in a Hizballah flag, shouting to the crowd, “Up Hamas, up Hizballah.”

Hamas and Hizballah are both proscribed terrorist organisations in the UK.

The Chief Magistrate threw out the charge because the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had failed to get the consent of the Attorney General to bring the case within the legal timeframe.

This is a matter of utter incompetence by the authorities.

For the avoidance of doubt, this does not mean that Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh is innocent of the charge: far from it. The Chief Magistrate underscored that point.

Rather, it means that the CPS has once again botched an antisemitism case. The list of bungled CPS prosecutions of antisemitic hate crimes is rapidly growing longer than the sparse list of successful ones. A minuscule ten percent of British Jews think that the CPS does enough to protect them, according to our representative polling. The CPS gives them little reason why they should not think that.

What good is our criminal justice system if it cannot get its act together in a case of a man stood draped in the flag of a proscribed terrorist organisation that wants to annihilate all Jews shouting “Up Hamas, up Hizballah”?

This is a prime example of how difficult it is for British Jews to get justice in this country. Not long ago, the CPS dropped all charges after men drove through London in broad daylight with a megaphone shouting “F*** the Jews…rape their daughters.”

A lot of Jewish people are starting to throw up their hands in despair at the dire state of our criminal justice system, which clearly is incapable of delivering justice.

At a time of raging antisemitic hate crime, the response of the criminal justice system has been beyond woeful, and its priorities have been embarrassing.

British Jews despair of their safety in Britain. That is not only because of the racist wickedness of the perpetrators but also because of the fecklessness of those we are all paying to protect us.

Heads should roll over this latest humiliating debacle. But they won’t.

It’s just the Jews, after all.

Goldsmiths: an antisemitism investigation

Goldsmiths, University of London has a reputation for producing some of Britain’s most successful creatives, and its arts degrees are consistently ranked highly across the board.

Earlier this year, however, it released the findings of a years-long independent investigation into antisemitism at the University following reports of anti-Jewish racism targeting students and staff.

Among the horrendous incidents cited in the report was graffiti on campus containing swastikas and the text, “Gas the Jews” and QR codes on campus with the text: “What you need to know about the Jews”. The QR code led to images of concentration camps. You can read more about the report here.

The report confirmed what the Jewish community had long known: Jews at Goldsmiths were facing antisemitism, and the University failed in its duty of care for them.

We decided to investigate for ourselves. Watch the full video here.

One NHS doctor suspended as another inexplicably has interim suspension lifted

A doctor who was photographed holding a placard with the Israeli flag and the words “rape”, “steal”, “cry”, “lie”, “cheat” and “kill” has reportedly been suspended over alleged social media activity.

Here are just some of the posts that were reportedly discovered:

  • “The ‘non-civilians’ are Hamas and whether they are 1% or 18% of the Palestinians slaughtered, they should not have been killed either. Do not inadvertently white wash the murder of Hamas members. They are a political party and oppressed resistence [sic] fighters. NOT terrorists.”
  • “Jews who do not oppose Zionism have feelings of superiority by definition. Anti Zionist Jews mostly STILL centre their identity. Feelings of superiority is a minority view in each group. Amongst Jews; vast majority. They are a privileged group, yet moan about anti-semitism etc.”
  • “And anybody saying ‘not all Jews’ doesn’t get it. You are like the ‘not all men’ (Me Too protests) and ‘all lives matter’ (BLM protests) brigades. Clutching your pearls and deflecting from the evil that is going on; Jews slaughtering non Jews.”
  • Clearly this rhetoric – some of which attempts to sanitise Hamas, an antisemitic genocidal terror group – is beyond the pale to any reasonable person.

Not only would Jewish staff and patients feel deeply uncomfortable working with or being treated by practitioners who openly espouse such deranged and inflammatory views, but so, frankly, would anybody else.

We want doctors who are level-headed, sober and professional and anyone who published posts like these are clearly anything but.

Meanwhile, in a total dereliction of duty, it has been decided that Dr Rahmeh Aladwan will be allowed to continue to practise despite being under investigation.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) ruled that Dr Aladwan, who uses her social media and public appearances to wage a campaign of hatred against British Jews, is fit to continue practising medicine while she is under investigation by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Dr Aladwan rose to notoriety earlier this year as some of her earlier rhetoric was revealed.

This is an inexplicable and disgraceful decision—one that marks the UK’s continued descent into the abyss, as institutions that carry the responsibility for protecting people from extremists are seemingly bending over backwards to appease and turn a blind eye to them.

The MPTS has failed spectacularly in its duty. It is staggering that it believes that a doctor who appears to defend armed jihad and violent attacks on Jews, posted a photo of a Hamas terrorist and described a hospital as a ‘cesspit of Jewish supremacy’ should continue to practise.

We will be closely following the GMC’s investigation, which must now proceed apace.

In the meantime, we are in discussion with our legal advisors with regard to the options open to us.

Following the decision, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that he has no confidence in the medical regulation system.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Director of Investigations and Enforcement, Stephen Silverman, appeared on GB News to discuss the case.

The BBC: jokes and boycotts?

The BBC and Britain’s other public sector broadcasters have reportedly united to demand of Ofcom new regulations to force YouTube and other online platforms to give them more prominence in part to “combat misinformation”.

Is this a joke, we wondered?

Regardless of the merits or otherwise of regulating YouTube, anyone in the Jewish community – and many other groups besides – will find this from the BBC absolutely laughable.

When it comes to matters concerning the Jewish community and the Jewish state, the BBC is one of the biggest spreaders of misinformation in the UK, and has played an outsized role in fanning the flames of antisemitism in our country.

The notion that its journalism – some of which is so transparently biased as to barely deserve the name – should have even more advantages than it already receives is an insult to those of us who have long campaigned for fundamental reform at our national broadcaster, for which (unlike any YouTube channel) we are forced to pay.

Here are three examples from just the past week.

First, as Lord Austin courageously pointed out in the House of Lords, the BBC – and Parliament – largely ignored the Government’s assessment that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza, but lavished attention on the conclusion of a UN Human Rights Council taskforce that it is.

This matters, because these slanders fuel hatred of Jews in Britain.

Second, the BBC has reportedly refused to rule out boycotting Eurovision 2026 if Israel is allowed to take part.

Eurovision is supposed to be a celebration of togetherness, using music to bring nations closer. Excluding the world’s only Jewish state represents the antithesis of this sentiment.

At this year’s Eurovision contest, Israel’s National Security Council was forced to issue a warning advising Jews and Israelis visiting Switzerland, the host country, to “avoid displaying Israeli and Jewish symbols in public” for their own safety.

More than four-fifths (84%) of British Jews agree that boycotts of Israeli artists, academics or businesses selling Israeli products constitute intimidation, according to our representative polling.

When antisemitism is at record levels, capitulating to those who hate the world’s only Jewish state does nothing to help. Quite the contrary, in fact.

Third, the BBC has ruled that Bob Vylan’s chant of “Death, death to the IDF” and antisemitic slurs at Glastonbury broke its rules on harm and offence — but ludicrously decided that this was not incitement to violence.

This absurd decision is yet another an insult to British Jews from our national broadcaster. The BBC had a chance to put right some of the harm that it caused by broadcasting this vile performance. Instead, it has betrayed the Jewish community yet again.

If openly calling for “death” is not incitement, then the BBC has abandoned all pretence of protecting the public – or at least the Jewish public. Until there is a full, truly independent inquiry, the BBC simply cannot be trusted.

We are continuing to write to venues intending to host musical duo Bob Vylan, requesting that they reconsider their invitations to the rappers.

In addition to chanting “Death to the IDF” and ranting about “working for f***ing Zionists” on stage at Glastonbury Festival, Pascal Robinson-Foster – one of Bob Vylan’s members – has also proclaimed: “The only good pig is a dead pig.”

Now, in a recent performance, reports claim that Mr Robinson-Foster said: “F*** the fascists, f**** the Zionists, get out there and fight there, get out there and meet them in the streets, get out there and let them know that you do not f***ing stand by them, you understand me?”

At that same concert, footage appears to show Mr Robinson-Foster mockingly dedicating a song to Charlie Kirk, a prominent political activist murdered last week: “The pronouns was/were. Cause if you chat s**** you will get banged. Rest in peace Charlie Kirk, you piece of s****.”

Join our team!

We are looking for a Communications and Research Officer, early in their career, to join our team and help us raise awareness of the reality and impact of antisemitism.

For more information, please visit antisemitism.org/jobs.

Become a Student Ambassador!

We are looking for Student Ambassadors for the coming academic year!

Apply now at antisemitism.org/become-a-student-ambassador.

Please share this link with anyone who may be interested in this role.

Let’s make a difference to campus life in the UK.

Help us expose.
Help us report.
Help us support.

Places are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so don’t wait to apply!

Saying goodbye to Holocaust survivor Ruth Posner

We were heartbroken this week to learn of the passing of Ruth Posner BEM, Holocaust survivor and educator, and her husband Michael.

Ruth was forced into the Radom Ghetto as a child but, thanks to a plan created by her father, she managed to escape with her aunt. She later discovered, however, that her remaining family were murdered in the Treblinka extermination camp.

Ruth made her way to the United Kingdom as a teenager. Years later, she would meet her loving husband, Michael, and go on to live a remarkable life travelling and working across the world, becoming an accomplished dancer and actor, performing and teaching at some of the world’s most prestigious venues and institutions.

She would also go on to speak publicly of her experiences during the Holocaust, educating future generations and never shying away from taking part in the fight against antisemitism. Ruth was also a great friend of Campaign Against Antisemitism, standing proudly alongside us in this vital work.

We were honoured to have been able to feature her on Britain’s first-ever national billboard campaign against antisemitism in 2023.

We were also privileged to have interviewed her on an episode of Podcast Against Antisemitism. You can listen to her remarkable story here.

You can read her obituary in The Times here (paywall).

Thank you, Ruth. You were an inspiration and a shining example of how to use one’s voice for good in this world. You will be greatly missed.

May their memories be a blessing.

Our incredible supporters

Many of you have written to us thanking us for organising Britain’s March Against Antisemitism and telling us why it was so important to you to attend.

Here is just one of the myriad extraordinary messages that we received:

“You ask why I came to the March. I am a 79-year-old Scottish woman living in Sutherland. When I was fourteen I came across a book ‘Lest We Forget’ in the corner of a room we used for sports equipment, train sets, etc. I got halfway through and was sick.

“I could never go into that room again nor talk about what I saw for the next 30 years. I had and still have intrusive thoughts almost daily. Until very recently I could never watch or read anything about the Holocaust and still can’t look at any images.

“I now have terminal cancer and thinking of a lot of ‘doing one last things’. Attending the march came at the top.

“I asked a friend to look after my dogs but when she knew where I was going and why she refused. So I had to make the journey to and from London in one day as I couldn’t find a replacement dog sitter!

“I am a practicing Christian. I am so proud I did this! And I’m not afraid to speak up.”

You can find photographs of the march here, interviews with attendees here and videos of the speeches here.

You can also show your support for Campaign Against Antisemitism and the fight against the oldest hatred by wearing our merchandise and displaying your love for Jewish friends and opposition to Jew-hate.

Visit antisemitism.org/shop.

It is also customary at this time of year around Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) to make donations to charity.

Please consider supporting Campaign Against Antisemitism and safeguarding the future of Jewish life in Britain.

This week, Jews across Britain and around the world will be observing Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

It is a time to reflect on shortcomings and missed opportunities, and commit to doing better in the coming year.

We hope that our Prime Minister atones for and reverses his morally reprehensible decision to recognise a ‘Palestinian state’ while Jewish hostages languish in dungeons.

To those celebrating next week, we also wish you a joyous Sukkot, albeit tempered by the second anniversary of 7th October as our thoughts remain with the hostages and their families and we all continue to endure the surge of antisemitism unleashed by the Hamas massacre.

,

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan allowed to continue to practise despite investigation

Yesterday, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) ruled that an NHS doctor who uses her social media and public appearances to wage a campaign of hatred against British Jews is fit to continue practising medicine while she is under investigation by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Campaign Against Antisemitism has submitted several complaints to the GMC regarding social media posts that appear to have been published by Dr Rahmeh Aladwan.

Below is just a selection of the posts that were referenced in the complaints:

  • Responding to another user’s post regarding the GMC, a post, which was published on 25th April, read: “Hey @gmcuk, the world sees you kneeling before your Jewish supremacist masters and the ‘Israeli’ lobby. This is a betrayal of your doctors. Stand with them – not with supremacy, genocide and apartheid.”
  • Another post, published on 29th April, read: “I will never condemn the 7th of October.”
  • A post, published on 5th July, partially read: “Britain is totally occupied by Jewish supremacy.”
  • Another post, which was published on 6th July, read: “Let’s make this crystal clear: anti-Zionism means ‘Israel’ has no right to exist. No debates. No exceptions. ‘Israel’ is genocide. Its supporters are genocidal—and that includes over 90% of Jews on earth.”
  • Addressing the Chief Rabbi, a post, published on 6th July, read: “Why do you lie so much Rabbi genocide? Palestinians are Semites, and you support our mass murder you criminal.”
  • Another post, published on 13th July, read, “Calling them Zionists instead of Jewish supremacists only helps the mass murder continue,” and “If Jews want to be seen as separate from this horror, they need to stop perpetrating it. Until then, the world sees what they are doing, and no amount of deflection, rebranding, or moral posturing will change that.”
  • One post, published on 13th July, read in part: “Jews can deny it all they like but at some point you will have to accept that Jewish supremacy is what is murdering us.”
  • Responding to another user, a post was published on 30th July, which partially read: “The Royal Free Hospital in London is a Jewish supremacy cesspit.”

Other posts can be found here.

Dr Aladwan rose to notoriety earlier this year as some of her earlier rhetoric was revealed.

Among the alleged posts were:

  • In a reel entitled ‘Resist’, alongside an upside-down red triangle icon, she wrote: “We never condemn the Palestinians. We back their struggle, including armed struggle.” In recent months, the inverted red triangle and its emoji variant have been used by some anti-Israel activists to signal support for proscribed terrorist organisations such as Hamas, inspired by the appearance of the symbol in Hamas propaganda videos to indicate targets for attack.
  • Captioning a photo of a Hamas gunman: “A picture of AlQassam a day keeps the Z’s [Zionists] locked away.”
  • In reference to the antisemitic Amsterdam pogrom of November last year, she posted a hand-drawn graph with the words “f*** around” along one axis, and “find out” along the other. The caption reads: “You provoke. You pushed. You prodded. You play victim. You deserve to pay. You parasitic pariah. Settlers should feel welcome nowhere. And if they tried that crap in the UK, they’ll be met with resistance too. Seems justice is found on the streets.”

Since then, her rhetoric has escalated.
Despite all this, the MPTS’s Interim Orders Tribunal, in a shocking abdication of its responsibility to protect the public, found that Dr Aladwan had done nothing to “undermine public confidence in the medical profession,” and that there was nothing in the abusive rhetoric she employs against British Jews that “amounts to bullying or harassment.”

Disregarding the copious evidence placed before it, the Tribunal determined that there was nothing to indicate that Dr Aladwan is a risk to patients and that “a reasonable and fully informed member of the public would not be alarmed or concerned to learn that Dr Aladwan had been permitted to continue in unrestricted medical practice…”

In justifying its decision, the Tribunal cited Dr Aladwan’s right to freedom of expression under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). In so doing, it chose to ignore the legal precedent established in the Court of Appeal in one of the GMC’s own cases, and pointed out to it by Campaign Against Antisemitism, that demonstrated the limitations of speech that a doctor must respect in order to remain in the profession.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This is an inexplicable and disgraceful decision—one that marks the UK’s continued descent into the abyss, as institutions that carry the responsibility for protecting people from extremists are seemingly bending over backwards to appease and turn a blind eye to them.

“The MPTS has failed spectacularly in its duty. It is staggering that it believes that a doctor who appears to defend armed jihad and violent attacks on Jews, posted a photo of a Hamas terrorist and described a hospital as a ‘cesspit of Jewish supremacy’ should continue to practise. We will be closely following the GMC’s investigation, which must now proceed apace. In the meantime, we are in discussion with our legal advisors with regard to the options open to us.”

, ,

Sir Keir Starmer recognises ‘Palestinian state’

Sir Keir Starmer has today announced that the United Kingdom will recognise a Palestinian state.

The first act of any Palestinian “state” recognised by Britain will be to hold Jewish hostages in the dungeons of Gaza, nearly two years after the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. The UK has decided to recognise statehood without demanding the release of the hostages as a condition. It has not required that Palestinian leaders stop radicalising schoolchildren to murder. It has not required that they cease their “pay-for-slay” stipends paid to terrorists and their families depending on how many Jews they kill. Britain has not even demanded that a Palestinian state recognise Israel as the Jewish state.

Instead, the only conditions have been placed on Israel — the victim of Hamas’ pogrom — not on the perpetrators. Recognition is thus being used as a punishment for Israel and a reward for Hamas terrorism.

This decision also makes a mockery of the standard set by the Montevideo Convention, which requires that to be recognised as a state, an entity must have a permanent population, defined territory, effective government and the capacity to engage in relations with other states. The current Palestinian leadership meets none of these requirements.

What Britain intends to recognise, therefore, is not a state, but a terror enclave.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This is Sir Keir Starmer’s Neville Chamberlain moment. Apparently the promises to do ‘everything possible’ to bring the hostages home meant nothing. The Government could make recognition conditional on the return of the hostages — at the absolute very least — but Sir Keir refuses even to do that, so urgent is the need to delight terrorists and their supporters, while betraying the families of the hostages whom he has looked in the eye and earnestly pledged to help.

“The message could not be clearer: murder, rape, kidnapping and indoctrination are legitimate paths to diplomatic gain — Hamas leaders have called this moment ‘the fruit of 7th October’. Additional sanctions against Hamas will have zero impact and do nothing to blunt the delight amongst Hamas’ leaders. This is not statesmanship or peacemaking; it is the deliberate betrayal of those taken hostage and slain on 7th October 2023 and a reward that has delighted Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and their supporters.

“This morally reprehensible decision will surely prolong war by encouraging those terrorists to continue to hold hostages and to perpetrate further terrorism because this act of recognition is a declaration that the UK rewards violence against Jews. Polling shows that all but a small minority of British people recognise that and do not support this shameful betrayal of this country’s values.

“We fear that our Government’s virtue signalling will have an impact here at home too, as Islamist terrorists around the world digest the lessons from this betrayal. History shows that appeasement eventually brings the aggressor to your door.”

, , , ,

This Rosh Hashanah, 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 5786, Campaign Against Antisemitism 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.

You can support our Litigation and casework by seeking our advice and support if you’ve faced antisemitic discrimination or answering our witness appeals to help bring perpetrators to justice. If you are a lawyer, please consider joining our legal network and donating your expertise.

If you like our communications work, why not share your experiences of antisemitism and help amplify Jewish voices? If you spot antisemitism in the media, send it to us. We often run campaigns, publish petitions and organise protests, which are easy ways to show your support and help bring about change.

Change also comes about through politics and policymaking. You can introduce us to your MP or local councillor, monitor and report Government action that impacts Jewish life and take part in our polling and surveys.

When it comes to education, we face an almighty struggle, particularly among our nation’s youth. You can bring Campaign Against Antisemitism into your workplace, university society or school for training and workshops. If you are a teacher, you can access resources or arrange impactful school sessions, and if you are a student, consider becoming a Student Ambassador this year.

You can also become a volunteer by applying for a role at antisemitism.org/act/volunteer.

Finally, you can also support Campaign Against Antisemitism with tzedakah (charity) this Rosh Hashanah and help us fight antisemitism in 5786 here.

Why did you march with us?

On Sunday 7th September, 70,000 marched against antisemitism and extremism.

The march did not escape the attention of the President of Israel, who observed on a visit to London last week: “This is the antisemitism that you all marched to protest just this Sunday, proudly declaring ‘Enough is enough!’ We know this comes against the backdrop of a terrible rise in antisemitism that this community has suffered in recent years, facing threats, intimidation and hatred on the streets, in the media, and online. Yet you have stood up bravely, refusing to be silenced.”

Elie spoke to many of those in the crowd to ask them why they felt it was so important to defy the tube strike and attend Britain’s March Against Antisemitism. Watch the full video here.

We are so grateful for the many kind messages and positive feedback that we have received about the march. It is a privilege to empower British Jews and allies to raise their voices and show the authorities the strength of our feeling.

You can access photographs of the march at antisemitism.org/photos.

All of the speeches from the concluding rally at Parliament Square are available to watch here.

One in five British people hold entrenched antisemitic views

Campaign Against Antisemitism commissioned YouGov to survey British adults’ attitudes towards Jews. The findings show that antisemitism has risen to the highest levels on record since we began these surveys.

Here are some key takeaways from the polling:

Entrenched antisemitism

  • An astounding 21% of the British public affirmed four or more antisemitic statements, compared to 16% last year. In 2021, the figure was 11%.
  • In other words, the number of people in Britain holding what we consider to be entrenched antisemitic views has doubled in less than five years to over a fifth of the British population.
  • These are the highest figures since we began these surveys a decade ago.

Young people

  • Almost half (49%) of 18-24-year-olds are uncomfortable spending time with people who openly support Israel; only 18% are comfortable.
  • Only 31% of young voters agree that Israel has a right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people; 20% (one fifth) of them say that it does not.
  • 58% of young people believe that Israel and its supporters are a bad influence on our democracy, compared to 29% of the overall population.
  • Over a quarter (26%) of the British public believes that Israel can get away with anything because its supporters control the media, up considerably from 18% last year. Among young people, the figure skyrockets to 42%.
  • Bearing in mind that the overwhelming majority of British Jews identify as Zionists and with the Jewish state, these attitudes among young Britons have enormous implications for young Jews on campus, on social media and starting out in the workplace.

You can find the full results and methodology here.

The extremely troubling findings received front page coverage in The Sunday Telegraph and were covered in the Daily Mail, Express, Spectator, numerous columns in The Times and elsewhere.

These are the highest antisemitism figures that we have ever recorded, having doubled in less than five years. Our young people are being radicalised into adopting hateful ideologies before our eyes. Britain will lose its soul to extremists unless the silent majority wakes up.

A reward for terrorism

In one of his last acts as Foreign Secretary, David Lammy met with the families of eight British and British-connected hostages.

They asked Mr Lammy whether the UK may recognise a Palestinian state while Hamas continues to hold hostages.

He said yes.

That means that the first thing that a newly-recognised State of Palestine will do is hold Jewish hostages.

That Britain would even consider recognising a state that has held and continues to hold Jewish hostages captive for nearly two years flies in the face of everything this country values and holds dear.

This policy sends a message that the UK rewards terrorism and is a chilling signal to Britain’s own Jewish community.

Clearly, the lessons of history have not been learned.

Excrement arrest in Golders Green

After a spate of stomach-churning cases in which faeces were smeared on Jewish nurseries, homes and synagogues over several days in Golders Green, a 37-year-old man from Hendon has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of religiously motivated property damage.

We are pleased that police have taken swift action but this takes place amidst a climate of incitement against Jews in Britain.

Anyone with further information should contact the Metropolitan Police on 101, quoting reference 1071/03SEP.

The authorities must continue to act decisively against Jew-hatred as extremism becomes further embedded in British society.

Any confirmed perpetrator must face the full force of the law for this abhorrent campaign of vandalism.

Also last week around the corner in Temple Fortune, a man stood on a busy street corner yelling “f*** you” at Jewish passersby and shouted a lot about Hitler.

This video captures only a snippet.

From synagogue desecrations to abuse shouted in public, this is the hatred that Jews are facing in Britain today.

Supporters of Palestine Action start to feel abandoned

A day before our march, at least 425 people were arrested at a protest in support of Palestine Action, a proscribed terrorist organisation.

According to the Metropolitan Police, frontline officers were subjected to high levels of abuse, which included “punches, kicks, spitting and objects being thrown, in addition to verbal abuse.”

A key activist group behind the protest is Defend Our Juries. It is extraordinary how many people Defend Our Juries has convinced to show public solidarity with Palestine Action, proscribed under the Terrorism Act, only for those people to discover that being arrested or charged in relation to a terrorism offence can result in serious consequences, such as losing their jobs and being refused entry to some foreign countries.

With more and more figures within Defend Our Juries themselves having been arrested and being barred from communicating on this topic, ordinary activists now feel abandoned, having apparently been led to believe that a terrorism arrest is no big deal and that there would be a support structure in place for them, neither of which has apparently turned out to be the case.

We’ve gotten used to police forces treating activists with kid gloves for the past two years. But the proscription of Palestine Action has forced their hand and they are finally doing the job that they should have done from the start.

If activists go out and show support for a proscribed terrorist organisation, they are playing with fire. That is how it should be.

The Green Party has new leadership

The Green Party has new leaders.

We congratulate Zack Polanski on becoming Leader of the Green Party.

Mr Polanski has previously expressed support for the International Definition of Antisemitism. Yet the Greens remain the only major party not to have adopted it in full, instead relegating it to an “advisory document” alongside other statements.

Over the past few years, every other major political party has adopted the Definition. Meanwhile, British Jews are facing the highest levels of antisemitism in living memory.

Will Mr Polanski now stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and encourage his party to formally adopt the Definition?

Mothin Ali, a member of Leeds City Council, has also been elected as co-Deputy Leader of the Green Party.

On 8th February 2024, a video was published on Cllr Ali’s TikTok account in which he is seen addressing a Jewish university chaplain, who, as an Israeli citizen, had been called up to serve in the war against Hamas following the 7th October attacks.

Shortly after the video was published, it was reported that the chaplain had been forced to go into hiding with his family owing to the volume of death threats and menacing messages that he had received in the wake of the campaign to have him removed from his position.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. You can find more of what has appeared on Cllr Ali’s social media channels here.

It says something serious about the direction of the Green Party that a councillor who recently faced calls to be suspended because of his outrageous conduct has been elected deputy leader. It is as if the EHRC report into antisemitism in our politics never happened.

It is all very well for the Green Party to claim to care about our planet, but there is less and less evidence that they care about the Jews who live on it.

BBC upholds complaint against calling Hamas terrorists

The BBC has upheld a complaint against a presenter who referred to Hamas as “the terror group”, purportedly contrary to the BBC’s editorial policy.

The complaint relates to a segment on the BBC News channel on 15th June.

For the BBC to uphold a complaint against a presenter for daring to call Hamas a ‘terror group’ is nothing short of Orwellian. That is exactly what Hamas is, and it is proscribed as such in the UK. The police arrest counter-protesters for saying it, and now the BBC is penalising a journalist for doing so. When did Britain become a country in which we censor the truth and deny the law of the land?

The BBC has a duty to report accurately. Calling Hamas terrorists is to discharge that duty; doing the opposite is a dereliction. It risks obscuring the truth, misleading audiences and undermining public understanding of terrorism and world events.

The broadcaster has referred to other organisations as terrorists in the past, so why the double standard?

Hamas committed the worst antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust and still holds hostages in Gaza: what more does it need to do to Jews for the BBC to acknowledge that it is a terrorist group?

Why did Gary Lineker win?

Gary Lineker has won the best TV presenter prize at the National Television Awards, which are selected by the public.

Did he win last week despite posting something antisemitic this year, or because of it?

Unfortunately, in contemporary Britain the answer really isn’t clear.

This is how you send a message

You may remember when, a few weeks ago, two Israeli women were brought on stage at a Coldplay concert before thousands as frontman Chris Martin awkwardly told them: “I am treating you as equal humans on Earth, regardless of where you come from or don’t come from. Although it’s controversial, maybe, I also want to welcome people in the audience from Palestine.”

He was happy to welcome the two Coldplay fans from the world’s only Jewish state, who were simply there to enjoy the show like everyone else, but not as Israelis: only as human beings.

Well, at a recent Coldplay concert, one fan decided to attend and send a message.

Proudly wearing one of our t-shirts, he came to say unequivocally, in no uncertain terms, that he loves his Jewish friends.

Farhad is not Jewish, and he understands just how powerful his voice is in combatting antisemitism.

Thank you, Farhad.

If you want to purchase one of our shirts, head over to antisemitism.org/shop.

We are recruiting!

We are looking for a Communications and Research Officer, early in their career, to join our team and help us raise awareness of the reality and impact of antisemitism.

For more information, please visit antisemitism.org/jobs.

The past year has been challenging for British Jews, and the hatred and extremism that the Jewish community has faced is now impacting wider society.

With the Jewish New Year upon us, we rededicate ourselves to the righteous and patriotic fight against antisemitism and the effort to protect and restore the imperilled values that made Britain great.

We wish all of those celebrating a happy Rosh Hashanah. May the new year bring better tidings for us all.

,

Who is Mothin Ali?

Mothin Ali, a member of Leeds City Council, has been elected as co-Deputy Leader of the Green Party.

On 8th February 2024, a video was published on Cllr Ali’s TikTok account in which he is seen addressing a Jewish university chaplain, who, as an Israeli citizen, had been called up to serve in the war against Hamas following the 7th October attacks.

Shortly after the video was published, it was reported that the chaplain had been forced to go into hiding with his family owing to the volume of death threats and menacing messages that he had received in the wake of the campaign to have him removed from his position.

So what else appears on Cllr Ali’s social media channels?

On 30th January 2024, a post was shared on his Facebook account which included an image listing various Labour MPs who had supposedly received donations from the Jewish British businessman and philanthropist Sir Trevor Chinn, with the caption: “All bought and paid for – those who took backhanders from the Israel Lobby”.

Cllr Ali’s account commented: “Labour, bought and paid for.”

On or around 20th January 2024, a post was reposted on Cllr Ali’s X account from rapper Lowkey. The post included a speech by the Labour MP David Lammy being disrupted by anti-Israel protester, with the comment: “Israel lobby-funded MP David Lammy has his speech disrupted today and runs away.”

On 16th January 2024, a video was published on Cllr Ali’s TikTok account in which he was heard stating: “So there you have it. Keir Starmer’s official position now is that Labour is no longer going to recognise Palestine. So one of the Labour policies has always been to recognise a state of Palestine, an independent state of Palestine, especially under Jeremy Corbyn. And this is why a lot of people supported Jeremy Corbyn and a lot of people came to the Labour Party because Jeremy Corbyn pledged to support and recognise Palestine immediately. I told you when Keir Starmer got in, Keir Starmer was an extreme Zionist and here’s his proof. Here’s the proof that Labour under Keir Starmer has turned into an extreme Zionist proxy.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had announced that a future Labour Government would not recognise a Palestinian state pre-emptively or unilaterally (a policy inherited from Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership), but as part of a peace process including numerous nations. His Government has since announced that it will now be recognising such a state.

On 17th October 2023, a video was shared on Cllr Ali’s Facebook account from his TikTok account, in which he appeared to respond to claims that Israel had bombed a hospital in Gaza by stating: “This isn’t an act of self defence, this is an act of pure revenge. This is an act of bloodthirst. So the Israelis are thirsty for blood and they’re going to get their pound of flesh. And until they get their pound of flesh, they’re not going to be happy. You can see the fanatics out there celebrating every death, every death strike.”

Whilst many news outlets were quick to blame Israel for the hospital strike, subsequent analysis indicated that the cause of the explosion was a misfired missile by a terrorist organisation from within Gaza. The phrase “pound of flesh” was popularised by the Jewish villain of the Shakespeare play The Merchant of Venice.

On 10th October 2023, a video was shared on Cllr Ali’s Facebook account from his TikTok account, which appeared to be in response to Keir Starmer’s description of the 7th October assault as “an appalling attack on Israel, a terrorist attack.”

In the video, Cllr Ali is heard saying: “Now, this is exactly the type of person Keir Starmer is. He’s an extreme zionist. He’s a supporter of Israel.” Further, he is heard saying: “Yeah, all they’re saying is black and brown people don’t matter as long as these white supremacists in Israel can do whatever they want in order to establish their colonial power, in order to take over the indigenous population, in order to extract the resources that they want, in order to kill and to maim and to destroy whatever culture that was there before in order to establish their western colonial power.”

A comment was published on his account which read: “I’ll remind you that this did’’t [sic] start a few days ago, it’s been 75 years of occupation.”

75 years (which is around the age of the Jewish state) is a reference to Israel’s entire history, indicating that its very existence is illegitimate.

On 8th October 2023, a video was shared on Cllr Ali’s Facebook account from his TikTok account with the text: “This didn’t start yesterday, it started nearly 80 years ago by European settler colonialists! Never forget that the Western media will always portray indigenous people defending themselves as barbarians, however they dress it up, it’s just another manifestation of white supremacy!”

80 years (which is around the age of the Jewish state) is a reference to Israel’s entire history, indicating that its very existence is illegitimate.

On 7th October 2023, a video was published on Cllr Ali’s TikTok account in which he is heard saying: “So right at this very minute, Israel has launched one of the biggest attacks against the civilian population that we’ve seen for many years. Now they’re going to use the pretext of the fight back by Hamas fighters, or supposedly Hamas fighters, this morning. Now, remember the situation in Palestine, and especially the situation in Gaza. It’s an open-air prison. It’s the biggest concentration camp the world has ever seen.”

He is also heard saying: “Every single person, every single people have [sic] a right to fight back. Every single people have a right to live free of occupiers.”

And further, “You see western propagandists on [sic] the media presenting some kind of victim narrative. They’re not victims, they’re occupiers. They’re colonialists. They’re European colonialists. It’s one of the last European colonies in the world. And that’s why the European people don’t want to let it go. Use the weapon of antisemitism so effectively that anyone who criticises Israel is labelled an antisemitic. We see through those lies, we see through that propaganda. People of the world, stay strong. Support Palestine. Support the right of indigenous people to have freedom and to fight back against occupiers.”

The same day, a post was published on his X account, which read: “White supremacist European settler colonialism must end! #Palestine #freedom #طوفان_الأقصى” The translation of the Arabic hashtag is “Aqsa flood”: the name given by Hamas for its brutal attacks on Israel that day.

On 9th November 2022, a post was published on Cllr Ali’s Facebook page which read: “Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine.” In the comment section, another user wrote: “The Zionist government is reenactment of Hitler’s Holocaust. The difference is then we we’re [sic] defending humanity now wiping (Muslims) Hamas from the face of the earth.” Cllr Ali’s account ‘liked’ this comment.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “It says something serious about the direction of the Green Party that a councillor who recently faced calls to be suspended because of his outrageous conduct has been elected deputy leader. It is as if the EHRC report into antisemitism in our politics never happened. It’s all very well for the Green Party to claim to care about our planet, but there is less and less evidence that they care about the Jews who live on it.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism advocates for zero tolerance of antisemitism in public life. To that end we monitor all political parties and strive to ensure that any cases of concern are properly addressed.

BBC upholds complaint
,

BBC upholds complaint against calling Hamas terrorists

The BBC has upheld a complaint against a presenter who referred to Hamas as “the terror group”, purportedly contrary to the BBC’s editorial policy.

The complaint relates to a segment on the BBC News channel on 15th June.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “For the BBC to uphold a complaint against a presenter for daring to call Hamas a ‘terror group’ is nothing short of Orwellian. That is exactly what Hamas is, and it is proscribed as such in the UK. The police arrest counter-protesters for saying it, and now the BBC is penalising a journalist for doing so. When did Britain become a country in which we censor the truth and deny the law of the land?

“The BBC has a duty to report accurately. Calling Hamas terrorists is to discharge that duty; doing the opposite is a dereliction. It risks obscuring the truth, misleading audiences and undermining public understanding of terrorism and world events.

“The broadcaster has referred to other organisations as terrorists in the past, so why the double standard? Hamas committed the worst antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust and still holds hostages in Gaza: what more does it need to do to Jews for the BBC to acknowledge that it is a terrorist group?”

,

Leeds students reportedly post images which appear to glorify terror attack

Leeds students reportedly posted images which appear to glorify a terror attack in Jerusalem, in which six people were murdered.

The posts reportedly feature a Carlo machine gun draped in a keffiyeh and Al-Aqsa Mosque with a giant gun.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The celebration of a brutal attack by a proscribed terrorist organisation is not ‘political expression’ but extremist propaganda and it endangers Jewish people everywhere.

“Our latest polling shows that one in ten young people in Britain now hold a favourable view of Hamas. Posts like this illustrate that statistic and demonstrate that this dangerous extremism is pervasive.

“Leeds must expel the students responsible for this post. Our lawyers are also reviewing this material. Those who glorify antisemitic terrorism in Britain must be held to account.”

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].

Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court
,

Woman sentenced for vile online abuse directed at Holocaust survivor

A woman has been sentenced for sending grossly offensive online abuse to a Holocaust survivor.

Ms Suana Zembo targeted Dr Agnes Grunwald-Spier MBE, 79, with antisemitic and degrading messages online, branding her a “Nazi wh0re [sic]” and even denying that she had survived the Holocaust.

Dr Grunwald-Spier, who was rescued from the Budapest Ghetto as a baby and went on to become a respected historian and author on the Holocaust, was attacked after she posted on social media thanking Sir Elton John for continuing to perform in Israel.

Ms Zembo responded: “Fck off thieving, murdering, Nazi wh0re [sic].”

After learning that Dr Grunwald-Spier was a Holocaust survivor, Ms Zembo escalated her abuse, writing: “If you are 79, you were born in 1945. You survived nothing, you lying bit*ch.”

She went on to post: “You are a thieving, Zionist Nazi wh0re. Genuine survivors of the Holocaust do not enable and perpetrate genocide. Fck off [sic],” and “You are the same kind of Holocaust survivor as [leading Nazi] Albert Speer.”

Ms Zembo was due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 13th June but failed to attend. She appeared at a rescheduled hearing on 14th July, having sent an undated apology to Dr Grunwald-Spier beforehand.

On 8th August, Ms Zembo pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court to sending a communication of an indecent or offensive nature.

On 9th September, Ms Zembo was sentenced at the same court to a £480 fine. The offence was found to be both racially and religiously aggravated, and the court applied the highest level of financial penalty. She was also ordered to pay a £192 victim surcharge and £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). In addition, a restraining order was imposed, prohibiting any direct or indirect contact with Dr Grunwald-Spier until 8th September 2026.

The magistrates deliberated for a considerable time before returning to deliver their sentence. Custody and a community order were both considered but ultimately rejected in favour of a financial penalty.

During sentencing, Dr Grunwald-Spier read her Victim Personal Statement in full — including a section that had previously been excluded without her consent. She successfully challenged this attempted censorship in court, asserting her right to have her full voice heard.

While the defence sought to mitigate the offence by citing the defendant’s background and mental health issues, the court nevertheless imposed the restraining order — an outcome that even the CPS had not anticipated.

Following the hearing, Dr Grunwald-Spier said that she was “basically satisfied with the result”, though she intends to raise her concerns with the Magistrates Association over the earlier attempt to censor part of her statement.

Dr Grunwald-Spier told Campaign Against Antisemitism that the magistrates “spent a great deal of time retiring” before delivering sentence, indicating that they had taken the case seriously.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of just under nine hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews more than twelve times likelier to be targets of hate crime than any other faith group.

, , , ,

70,000 of you made your voices heard

On Sunday, Campaign Against Antisemitism, backed by major Jewish communal organisations, led an estimated 70,000 in Britain’s March Against Antisemitism from the BBC, where comedian and broadcaster Josh Howie spoke to the crowd, to Parliament Square, where they were addressed by the Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp and Deputy Leader of Reform UK Richard Tice, author and journalist Jake Wallis Simons, Campaign Against Antisemitism Chief Executive Gideon Falter and Tali, a Jewish student at King’s College London.

We were also joined by numerous peers, MPs, community leaders, Jewish and non-Jewish activists, actors and others for this important occasion.

Noticeably absent was a representative of His Majesty’s Government, despite antisemitism reaching record highs in the UK, with a shocking one fifth of British adults now holding entrenched antisemitic views – rising to a terrifying 40% among 18-24 year olds.

These statistics play out in real life. In just the past two weeks, we have seen Jews shot at with air rifles, synagogues repeatedly daubed with faeces, Jewish families rammed by racists on scooters, a threat to a Jewish nanny and the baby in her care and a swastika scrawled onto a rabbi’s house.

That is why we needed to march, and why tens of thousands of you agreed.

The March began behind the BBC on Hallam Street, stopped at Broadcasting House, travelled down Regent Street past Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus before reaching Trafalgar Square, proceeding down Whitehall and past the Cenotaph and ending with a rally at Parliament Square.

You can access photographs of the march at antisemitism.org/photos.

Where was the Government? A scandalous absence

Weeks ago, Campaign Against Antisemitism reached out to the Government, the Opposition and, given its position in the national polls, Reform UK, to send high-ranking and relevant representatives to address the Jewish community at this perilous time for British Jews and our country.

The Opposition and Reform UK obliged with the Shadow Home Secretary and Deputy Leader respectively. The Labour Government, however, dragged its feet. Last Thursday evening, we were informed that it is not the Government’s policy to provide representatives to marches and rallies – despite the Conservative Government sending Ministers to previous marches and Labour, when in Opposition, sending Shadow Secretaries of State.

Labour offered a backbench peer instead, who would represent the Labour Party. As this came at the last minute and did not fulfil our requirement for a representative of the Government – let alone a high-ranking official with a relevant portfolio – we could not accommodate this suggestion.

Note that all this took place before the resignation of the Deputy Prime Minister and the reshuffle. Had it taken place after, it may have been more forgivable.

There were a number of MPs, including from Labour and other parties, marching with us, for which we are grateful, but they were not present as representatives of the Government.

The Government’s scandalous decision not to send someone to address the Jewish community at a time of the worst antisemitism in the UK in living memory will do nothing to reassure British Jews that this Government has their back or even understands the scale of the crisis.

Speeches

Comedian and broadcaster Josh Howie addressed the crowd outside the BBC, saying: “Again and again we’ve come to the BBC, pleading not for favouritism but that they do their job. That when it comes to Jews, they simply tell the truth. And each time they never change. In fact the situation has only gotten worse.”

At Parliament Square, the crowd heard first from the Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who said: “These are awful times. We have seen an explosion of hatred right across the UK. Antisemitism is rife right across the UK. You will see it. You will hear it. You will feel it. Britain, wake up now.”

Next to speak was Tali, a Jewish student at King’s College London, who recounted her harrowing ordeal as a first year student, including being told: “Bitch get down”; “You’re not the messiah you think you are”; “The Zionists are actually everywhere”; “As a group, we should just band together and carry her out.”

The crowd then heard from Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, who said: “The question now it’s not whether we will thrive but will British Jews thrive here.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the crowd: “We’re here to say enough. We’re here to say no more…I am here to tell you that you are not alone. I stand with you. We stand with you. We will end this evil.”

Then the rally heard from Deputy Leader of Reform UK Richard Tice, who said: “There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that if those marches had been banned as they had in other countries, we would not have seen the increase of antisemitism in this country. We need to stand united. United as proud Britons.”

Last to take the stage was author and journalist Jake Wallis Simons, who said: “We didn’t ask for this but since October 7th, the Jews and our allies have become the conscience of the nation. Betray the Jews and you betray Britain. Betray the Jews and you betray the west. Betray the Jews and you betray yourself. With extremism raising its ugly head above societies it’s the future of the West truly hanging in the balance. Stand up for the Jews. Stand up for the west. And for the love of G-d stand up for yourself.”

The crowd was led in song by Cantors Steven Leas and Yossi Binstock, who also blew the shofar (ram’s horn), which is customary as we approach the Jewish New Year.

It is a clarion call to wake up, and no message is more important right now for Britain.

In memory of the murdered 1,200 of 7th October 2023 and to maintain awareness of those who remain captive in the dungeons of Gaza, a minute’s silence was also held.

Police chiefs’ double standards on our march

We have been used to double standards in policing for some time, but the smugness, arrogance and overreach from the Met in the lead-up to our march was staggering.

We submitted the route to the Met two months before our march, during which time they permitted a march attended by over 100,000 people to gather at the BBC on Portland Place. But when it came to our march, just as we were supposed to announce the starting location with two weeks to go, senior Met officers tried to ban us from going anywhere near the BBC, even though — or perhaps because — protesting against the constant BBC scandals is part of the purpose of our march.

All of a sudden, after nearly two years of Palestine marches that often started at the BBC, with frequent displays of criminal behaviour, the Met decided that our orderly march against antisemitism would be too disruptive to even pass by the BBC.

We had to bring our in-house lawyers and external lawyers into meetings, and eventually the Met relented, but by then we hadn’t been able to publicise the starting location for over a week and they still refused to let us gather at the BBC, which is where the next Palestine march, taking place ten days after ours, is due to assemble.

The Met’s claims that this was about avoiding disruption to “the business community” were bare-faced attempts to frustrate the purpose of our protest. The only businesses near the BBC are the BBC itself, a hotel and a church, and we had made strenuous preparations to ensure that we would not cause disruption to the hotel or the church — all of our marches in the past have been extremely well behaved.

This was a clear case of Sir Mark Rowley’s Met trying to abuse its position to censor criticism of the BBC by British Jews. That this was overseen by the Met’s head of Culture, Diversity and Inclusion makes it all the more galling.

Heads should roll. Our police have become a joke, cracking down on those who abide by the law and letting lawless mobs have the run of the city.

An arrest

Britain’s March Against Antisemitism was a peaceful protest. Unlike some other marches, where arrests are commonplace, our attendees respected the law, as we knew they would.

There was one arrest at our march, and it was of a passerby alleged to have assaulted an attendee.

We understand that this woman swore at the crowd, threw a drink at someone, and allegedly hit them.

The police have requested that the victim come forward.

If you have any information, please contact the Metropolitan Police or us at [email protected].

We have also been told of people making racist comments towards people leaving the march, including on Lambeth Bridge. Please contact us if you have information about any such incident or any other incidents that took place on Sunday.

Media coverage of the march

There has been wide coverage of the march, including in the Daily Mail, The Telegraph, Metro and The Express, among others, as well as coverage on Sky News and elsewhere.

That is in addition to coverage in advance of the March that included the front page of The Sunday Telegraph and opinion editorials on LBC and in The Telegraph, as well as very wide coverage in the national and international Jewish press.

The march has also received considerable attention online, and continues to garner further coverage in traditional and new media.

One newspaper that did not provide much coverage of the march was The Times. Instead, it gave space to one of its star columnists, Giles Coren, to brag about why he did not attend.

We have written to The Times about this appalling column, which it would not have published in relation to another minority. If you also wish to write to the newspaper, you can do so at [email protected].

To those who came and kept us safe

We are enormously thankful to everyone who joined us at Britain’s March Against Antisemitism and the Jewish community organisations and non-Jewish groups like Our Fight UK, October Declaration/British Friends of Israel and Free Speech Union who backed the march.

We are also grateful to the frontline police officers, CST personnel and the volunteer Campaign Against Antisemitism stewards for keeping us safe and organised.

Supporting the march

This march was vital. It was also expensive. So many of you have donated to help cover the costs, and we are enormously grateful.

If you wish to make a contribution of any size, you can do so by clicking here.

New polling shows antisemitism in Britain has doubled in less than five years

Campaign Against Antisemitism commissioned YouGov to survey British adults’ attitudes towards Jews. The findings show that antisemitism has risen to the highest levels on record since we began these surveys.

You can read the full results here.

The survey was featured on the front page of The Sunday Telegraph.

These are the highest antisemitism figures that we have ever recorded, having doubled in less than five years. Our country is clearly at a tipping point.

Our young people are being radicalised into adopting hateful ideologies before our eyes. Britain will lose its soul to extremists unless the silent majority wakes up.

The public recognises that racism against Jewish people has skyrocketed, but the authorities have abysmally failed to rise to the occasion.

Politicians, police and prosecutors, regulators, media organisations, cultural institutions, universities, trade unions – they are all complicit in the creation of a climate of hatred in Britain. Jews may feel it most sharply now, but for all of us, this is not the country that we used to know.

When we announced Britain’s March Against Antisemitism, we believed that it was vital to make our voices heard. The turnout at the march – and the feedback that we have received from so many of you – confirmed that this feeling was widely shared in the Jewish community and among our courageous allies.

Our message was clear: Britain needs to wake up to this very real threat.

Together, we drew attention to the issue of antisemitism and extremism that is affecting British Jews most directly but is gradually wreaking havoc on the social and civic fabric of our country.

It now remains to be seen whether the authorities will finally listen.

Image credit: Omri Dagan/Campaign Against Antisemitism

Britain’s March Against Antisemitism
, ,

70,000 join Britain’s March Against Antisemitism as antisemitism at record levels, but Government declines to attend

Today, Campaign Against Antisemitism, backed by major Jewish communal organisations, led an estimated 70,000 in Britain’s March Against Antisemitism from the BBC to Parliament Square, where they were addressed by the Chief Rabbi, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp and Deputy Leader of Reform UK Richard Tice, author and journalist Jake Wallis Simons, CAA Chief Executive Gideon Falter and Tali, a Jewish student at King’s College London.

We were also joined by Spectator editor and former Minister Lord (Michael) Gove, Shadow Attorney General Lord (David) Wolfson, Lord (Toby) Young), Lord (David) Gold, Lord (Ian) Austin, Lady Valerie Mirvis, MPs including Joani Reid, actress Louisa Clein, Maj. Andrew Fox, producer Leo Pearlman, author and influencer Dov Forman, Jewish community leaders and non-Jewish allies from Our Fight UK, and others.

Noticeably absent was a representative of His Majesty’s Government, despite antisemitism reaching record highs in the UK, with a shocking one fifth of British adults now holding entrenched antisemitic views – rising to a terrifying 40% among 18-24 year olds.

The March began behind the BBC on Hallam Street, stopped at Broadcasting House, travelled down Regent Street past Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus before reaching Trafalgar Square, proceeding down Whitehall and past the Cenotaph and ending with a rally at Parliament Square.

Comedian and broadcaster Josh Howie addressed the crowd outside the BBC, saying: “Again and again we’ve come to the BBC, pleading not for favouritism but that they do their job. That when it comes to Jews, they simply tell the truth. And each time they never change. In fact the situation has only gotten worse.”

At Parliament Square, the crowd heard first from the Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who said: “These are awful times. We have seen an explosion of hatred right across the UK. Antisemitism is rife right across the UK. You will see it. You will hear it. You will feel it. Britain, wake up now.”

Next to speak was Tali, a Jewish Student at King’s College London, who recounted her harrowing ordeal as a first year student, including being told: “Bitch get down”; “You’re not the messiah you think you are”; “The Zionists are actually everywhere”; “As a group, we should just band together and carry her out.” You can read (and quote from) and watch Tali’s full story here.

The crowd then heard from Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, who said: “The question now it’s not whether we will thrive but will British Jews thrive here.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp addressed the crowd, saying: “On campuses, up and down the country like Tali told us, Jewish students are being abused and persecuted. It is immoral what is happening, and the fact that university authorities are standing by and doing nothing is shameful.” He added: “We’re here to say enough. We’re here to say no more… I am here to tell you that you are not alone. I stand with you. We stand with you. We will end this evil.”

Then the rally heard from Deputy Leader of Reform UK Richard Tice, who said: “This nation will be safe and it will be free. I don’t want a single Jewish person to feel like they have to leave. The sad truth is, we shouldn’t need to be here at all. There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that if those marches had been banned as they had in other countries we would not have seen the increase of antisemitism in this country. We need to stand United. United as proud Britons.”

Last to take the stage was author and journalist Jake Wallis Simons, who said: “We didn’t ask for this but since October 7th, the Jews and our allies have become the conscience of the nation. Betray the Jews and you betray Britain. Betray the Jews and you betray the west. Betray the Jews and you betray yourself. With extremism raising its ugly head above societies it’s the future of the West truly hanging in the balance. Stand up for the Jews. Stand up for the west. And for the love of G-d stand up for yourself.”

The crowd was led in song by Cantors Steven Leas and Yossi Binstock, who also blew the shofar (ram’s horn), which is customary as we approach the Jewish New Year. It is a clarion call to wake up, and no message is more important right now for Britain.

In memory of the murdered 1,200 of 7th October 2023 and to maintain awareness of those who remain captive in the dungeons of Gaza, a minute’s silence was also held.

Background on the Government’s absence

Weeks ago, Campaign Against Antisemitism reached out to the Government, the Opposition and, given its position in the national polls, Reform UK, to send high-ranking and relevant representatives to address the Jewish community at this perilous time for British Jews and our country.

The Opposition and Reform UK obliged with the Shadow Home Secretary and Deputy Leader respectively. The Labour Government, however, dragged its feet. Last Thursday evening, we were informed that it is not the Government’s policy to provide representatives to marches and rallies – despite the Conservative Government sending Ministers to previous marches and Labour, when in Opposition, sending Shadow Secretaries of State.

Labour offered a backbench peer instead, who would represent the Labour Party. As this came at the last minute and did not fulfil our requirement for a representative of the Government – let alone a high-ranking official with a relevant portfolio – we could not accommodate this suggestion.

Note that all this took place before the resignation of the Deputy Prime Minister and the reshuffle. Had it taken place after, it may have been more forgivable.

There were a number of MPs, including from Labour and other parties, marching with us, for which we are grateful, but they were not present as representatives of the Government.

The Government’s scandalous decision not to send someone to address the Jewish community at a time of the worst antisemitism in the UK in living memory will do nothing to reassure British Jews that this Government has their back or even understands the scale of the crisis.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Our country is clearly at a tipping point. These are the highest antisemitism figures that we have ever recorded, having doubled in less than five years. The findings in relation to young people are nothing short of terrifying. Our young people are being radicalised into adopting hateful ideologies before our eyes. Britain will lose its soul to extremists unless the silent majority wakes up.

“The public recognises that racism against Jewish people has skyrocketed, but the authorities have abysmally failed to rise to the occasion. This is no more evident than in the Government’s scandalous decision not to send anyone to address the Jewish community. The Government’s insulting absence today will do nothing to reassure British Jews that this Government has their back or even understands the scale of the crisis.

“Politicians, police and prosecutors, regulators, media organisations, cultural institutions, universities, trade unions – they are all complicit in the creation of a climate of hatred in Britain. Jews may feel it most sharply now, but for all of us, this is not the country that we used to know. Soon it will be too late for our country to change course.”

Photo credit: Nathan Lilienfeld/Campaign Against Antisemitism

‘Israel, what’s your final solution?’ sign during anti-Israel protest in London
, , ,

Extremism rife as antisemitism rises to highest levels on record

Campaign Against Antisemitism commissioned YouGov to survey British adults’ attitudes towards Jews. The findings show that antisemitism has risen to the highest levels on record since we began these surveys.

Here are some key takeaways from the polling:

Entrenched antisemitism

  • An astounding 21% of the British public affirmed four or more antisemitic statements, compared to 16% last year. In 2021, the figure was 11%.
  • In other words, the number of people in Britain holding what we consider to be entrenched antisemitic views has doubled in less than five years to over a fifth of the British population.
  • These are the highest figures since we began these surveys a decade ago.

Israel acts like Nazis

  • A staggering 45% of the British public – almost half of the population – believes that Israel treats the Palestinians like the Nazis treated the Jews, a record figure and a huge increase from last year’s prior record of 33%. 60% of young people believe this, and 48% – practically half – of Londoners believe it too.
  • This is one of the most common antisemitic tropes that we see. It both trivialises the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were industrially slaughtered, and insultingly accuses victims of the crime committed against them of perpetrating it.

Young people

  • Almost half (49%) of 18-24-year-olds are uncomfortable spending time with people who openly support Israel; only 18% are comfortable.
  • Only 31% of young voters agree that Israel has a right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people; 20% (one fifth) of them say that it does not.
  • 58% of young people believe that Israel and its supporters are a bad influence on our democracy, compared to 29% of the overall population.
  • Over a quarter (26%) of the British public believes that Israel can get away with anything because its supporters control the media, up considerably from 18% last year. Among young people, the figure skyrockets to 42%.
  • Bearing in mind that the overwhelming majority of British Jews identify as Zionists and with the Jewish state, these attitudes among young Britons have enormous implications for young Jews on campus, on social media and starting out in the workplace.

Views of Hamas among young people

  • 10% of young people have a favourable view of Hamas, and 14% of them believe it is wrong to class Hamas as terrorists.
  • Almost one fifth – a terrifying 19% – of young people believe that the Hamas attack on Israel on 7th October 2023 was justified.
  • These are deeply alarming figures. On 7th October 2023, Hamas murdered some 1,200 people in Israel – having also murdered hundreds over preceding decades by suicide bomb, rocket, bullet, knife and other means. There are few stronger indicators of the rise of extremism in our country than that such high proportions of young people believe that this attack was justified and view the perpetrators favourably.

Among party voters

  • 10% of Reform voters do not believe Jewish people are just as loyal to Britain as other British people, and 24% of them – almost a quarter – believe that Jewish people chase money more than other people do. These are higher figures than for voters of any other major party.
  • By contrast, only 7% of Reform voters say that they disagree that they would be comfortable spending time with people who openly support Israel – the lowest figure for all party voters.
  • This compares very favourably to a remarkable one third (33%) of Labour voters who say that they are uncomfortable spending time with people who openly support Israel, and a majority (54%) of Green Party voters.
  • 29% of the British public believe that Israel and its supporters are a bad influence on our democracy, up significantly from 22% last year. 54% of Green Party voters and 32% of Londoners believe this. Conversely, the percentage of the overall population disagreeing that Israel and its supporters are a bad influence on our democracy has fallen from 30% to 23%.
  • Among Green Party voters, 15% believe that the Hamas attack on Israel on 7th October 2023 was justified, higher than any other major party’s voters.
  • 29% of Labour voters believe that Israel can get away with anything because its supporters control the media. Put differently, nearly one third of voters for the governing party believe that the Jewish state’s supporters control the media and therefore evade accountability.

Perception of antisemitism

  • Half (51%) of the British public believes that antisemitism has increased in the UK since October 2023, and 60% of young people agree. 23% of the population believe that it has stayed the same and only 2% believe that it has decreased.
  • Awareness of antisemitism is clearly high, but given the rising levels of antisemitic views, either people are not bothered by the surge in anti-Jewish racism or, more likely, they do not comprehend the nature of it and their role in the increase.

Palestine marches

  • The country is divided on the regular Palestine marches: 29% view them positively and 32% – a slight plurality – view them negatively. But a sizable majority of 69% believe that they are achieving not very much or nothing at all; only 13% believe that they are achieving something.
  • A clear majority of 58% of the British public believes that the organisers of the Palestine protests should foot the bill for them.
  • The country is evidently divided on the obsession with Palestine in our public life, but most people do not want to pay for it.

Understanding of Zionism

  • 54% of the British public admit that they do not know what Zionism means. Only one third (32%) do know.

Our survey of British adults was conducted by YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 2,245 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 1st – 2nd September 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

The YouGov survey was designed in collaboration with Campaign Against Antisemitism using the Generalised Antisemitism Scale, more on which below.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Our country is clearly at a tipping point. These are the highest antisemitism figures that we have ever recorded, having doubled in less than five years. Our young people are being radicalised into adopting hateful ideologies before our eyes. Britain will lose its soul to extremists unless the silent majority wakes up. The public recognises that racism against Jewish people has skyrocketed, but the authorities have abysmally failed to rise to the occasion. Politicians, police and prosecutors, regulators, media organisations, cultural institutions, universities, trade unions – they are all complicit in the creation of a climate of hatred in Britain. Jews may feel it most sharply now, but for all of us, this is not the country that we used to know. Soon it will be too late for our country to change course.”

Full results

Jewish people can be trusted just as much as other British people in business

  • Strongly agree 36
  • Agree 39
  • Neither agree nor disagree 20
  • Disagree 3
  • Strongly disagree 2

Jewish people are just as loyal to Britain as other British people

  • Strongly agree 29
  • Agree 37
  • Neither agree nor disagree 27
  • Disagree 5
  • Strongly disagree 2

I am just as open to having Jewish friends as I am to having friends from other sections of British society

  • Strongly agree 54
  • Agree 33
  • Neither agree nor disagree 11
  • Disagree 2
  • Strongly disagree 1

Compared to other groups, Jewish people have too much power in the media

  • Strongly agree 4
  • Agree 9
  • Neither agree nor disagree 44
  • Disagree 25
  • Strongly disagree 18

Jewish people talk about the Holocaust just to further their political agenda

  • Strongly agree 3
  • Agree 6
  • Neither agree nor disagree 25
  • Disagree 31
  • Strongly disagree 35

Jewish people chase money more than other people do

  • Strongly agree 3
  • Agree 11
  • Neither agree nor disagree 40
  • Disagree 24
  • Strongly disagree 22

I am comfortable spending time with people who openly support Israel

  • Strongly agree 11
  • Agree 21
  • Neither agree nor disagree 45
  • Disagree 16
  • Strongly disagree 9

Israel has a right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people

  • Strongly agree 18
  • Agree 40
  • Neither agree nor disagree 33
  • Disagree 5
  • Strongly disagree 4

Israel is right to defend itself against those who want to destroy it

  • Strongly agree 17
  • Agree 42
  • Neither agree nor disagree 32
  • Disagree 6
  • Strongly disagree 4

Israel and its supporters are a bad influence on our democracy

  • Strongly agree 11
  • Agree 18
  • Neither agree nor disagree 47
  • Disagree 15
  • Strongly disagree 8

Israel can get away with anything because its supporters control the media

  • Strongly agree 8
  • Agree 18
  • Neither agree nor disagree 43
  • Disagree 21
  • Strongly disagree 10

Israel treats the Palestinians like the Nazis treated the Jews

  • Strongly agree 20
  • Agree 25
  • Neither agree nor disagree 37
  • Disagree 11
  • Strongly disagree 8

Do you think the level of antisemitism in the UK has increased or decreased since October 2023, or stayed much the same?

  • Increased a lot 15
  • Increased a fair amount 36
  • Stayed much the same 23
  • Decreased a fair amount 1
  • Decreased a lot 1
  • Don’t know 24

Since 2023 there have been regular demonstrations in many city centres in support of Palestine. Generally speaking, do you have a positive or negative opinion of these demonstrations?

  • Very positive 12
  • Fairly positive 17
  • Neither positive nor negative 28
  • Fairly negative 13
  • Very negative 19
  • Don’t know 11

Many of the protests in support of Palestine in London on Saturdays are moving demonstrations (that is, marches). Do you think that these marches should be allowed to continue, or should they be restricted to static protests?

  • The demonstrations should be allowed to continue as marches 41
  • The demonstrations should be restricted to static protests 22
  • The demonstrations should not be allowed to continue at all 19
  • Don’t know 18

How much, if anything, do you think the demonstrations in favour of Palestine are achieving?

  • A lot 2
  • A fair amount 11
  • Not very much 42
  • Nothing at all 27
  • Don’t know 17

Thinking about the cost of policing the demonstrations in support of Palestine, do you think these costs should be paid by?

  • The police or the government 26
  • The organisers of the marches 58
  • Don’t know 16

Thinking about how the police are handling pro-Palestinians demonstrations, which of the following best reflects your view?

  • The police are being too relaxed and are allowing people to break the law and get away it 27
  • The police are being too strict and are arresting or charging people who are doing nothing wrong 22
  • The police are getting the balance about right 22
  • Don’t know 28

Do you have a favourable or unfavourable view of Hamas?

  • Very favourable 1
  • Somewhat favourable 2
  • Somewhat unfavourable 15
  • Very unfavourable 54
  • Don’t know 28

From what you have seen or heard, do you think the attacks that Hamas launched on Israel on 7th October 2023 were justified or unjustified?

  • Justified 7
  • Unjustified 62
  • Don’t know 31

The British Government currently classifies Hamas as a terrorist organisation. Do you think they are right or wrong to class them as terrorists?

  • Right to class them as terrorists 65
  • Wrong to class them as terrorists 6
  • Don’t know 29

Whether you have a positive or negative opinion towards it, so far as you know, what is the actual meaning of the term “Zionist”. If you don’t know, please say so, rather than taking a guess.

  • It means someone who believes there should be a Jewish homeland in the land of Israel 32
  • It means someone who believes Palestinians should be forcibly removed from Palestine 4
  • It means someone who is a supporter of the current Israel government 3
  • It means someone who is a practicing Jew who attends Synagogue 2
  • It is another word for someone who is a citizen of Israel 1
  • None of these 3
  • Don’t know 54

The Generalised Antisemitism Scale

The twelve statements – which include six relating to Judeophobic antisemitism and six relating to anti-Zionist antisemitism – together comprise the Generalised Antisemitism Scale.

The Generalised Antisemitism Scale was devised by Dr Daniel Allington of King’s College London, Dr David Hirsh of Goldsmiths, and Dr Louise Katz (then) of the University of Derby. The research behind the Generalised Antisemitism Scale has been peer reviewed.

In particular, in developing the Generalised Antisemitism Scale, they were guided by the International Definition of Antisemitism, which Campaign Against Antisemitism, together with other Jewish communal institutions from around the world, has long campaigned to be widely adopted.

Further background on the Generalised Antisemitism Scale can be found here.

, , , ,

British Jews have always stood with Britain. Now, we need you to stand with us.

Something is happening to our country. The bullies are trying to take over.

This weekend, we’re standing up to them. We need you to stand with us.

This Sunday, 7th September, march with us against antisemitism and extremism.

We set off at 13:00 this Sunday (7th September), gathering at the corner of Hallam Street and Weymouth Street, Marylebone, London W1W 6JJ.

Our first stop is the BBC, followed by other London landmarks.

There is more travel information below, and ways to get the latest updates for Britain’s March Against Antisemitism.

There are moments when we must all stand up and be counted. Given everything that is happening in our country right now, this is one of those moments.

Over the past few weeks, we have been projecting stories of antisemitism onto major institutions in Britain.

Here, you can watch videos of the projections on the BBC, the National Gallery and King’s College London, showcasing just how widespread prejudice and hatred towards Jews has become.

If we do not make our voices heard on Sunday, these trends in our country will continue to deteriorate.

Time is running out.

We Vow To Thee, Our Country

The difference between their marches and ours could not be clearer.

British Jews have always stood with Britain. Now, we need you to stand with us.

The Union Flag will be proudly flown on Sunday. Will you be flying it with us?

Everything you need to know

We are aware that there may be limited service on the London Underground on the day of Britain’s March Against Antisemitism this Sunday.

These strikes are usually cancelled, but in case this one is not, please find information in the graphic here.

More information will be available tomorrow to those who have signed up at antisemitism.org/march.

You can also get updates via our WhatsApp channel on the day of the March by clicking here.

So many of you have already signed up to march, because you rightly do not want to sit on the sidelines.

Britain’s March Against Antisemitism is an occasion not to be missed.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

, , ,

This Sunday, we will gather near the BBC and march

Britain’s March Against Antisemitism is just one week away, and we can announce the starting point.

We set off at 13:00 this Sunday (7th September), gathering at the corner of Hallam Street and Weymouth Street, Marylebone, London W1W 6JJ, on a route that we will confirm later in the week, passing the BBC and London’s landmarks.

Don’t sit on the sidelines! Come march and make your voice heard!

How do I get to the march?

If you are driving, single yellow lines and pay-by-phone bays are free to use all day on Sundays in the area around the start of the march. Please always check signage yourself before parking.

We are aware that there may be a strike on the London Underground on the day of the march. These strikes are usually cancelled, but in case this one is not, we have a plan.

Please note that the Elizabeth line and the Overground lines will still be operating as normal on the day.

Please see below for advice on how to reach the starting point in the event that the strike proceeds.

  • From Euston: You can either walk for 15 minutes or take the 205 bus.
  • From Kings Cross/St Pancras: You can either walk for 25 minutes or take the 73 bus to Euston Square and walk for 15 minutes.
  • From Waterloo: You can either walk for 40 minutes or take the 139 bus to Oxford Circus and walk for 10 minutes.
  • From Paddington: You can either walk for 30 minutes, or take the Elizabeth line to Bond Street and walk for 15 minutes or take the 27 bus to Great Portland Street and then walk 6 minutes.
  • From Liverpool Street: You can either take the Elizabeth line to Bond Street and walk for 15 minutes or take the 205 bus to Great Portland Street and then walk 5 minutes.
  • From Marylebone: You can either walk 20 minutes or take the 453 bus from Great Central Street to New Cavendish Street.

If you still need advice on how to get to the march, please e-mail us.

No Bank Holiday from Hate

As the country returned to work from a relaxing bank holiday weekend, Bournemouth’s Jewish community was still recovering from a spate of incidents that took place during the Jewish Sabbath.

Rabbi Benzion Alperowitz walked out of his home in the city only to discover that someone had daubed a swastika — the Nazi symbol of the perpetrators of the genocide of six million Jewish men, women and children — on his house.

It transpired that a number of swastikas had been scrawled elsewhere across the area as well.

In Dorset, a Jewish boy had reportedly been shot at on Shabbat with an air rifle by someone in a car, who reportedly first took the opportunity to make derogatory comments towards him. It is understood that the boy sustained a head injury. Someone has been arrested in connection with this alleged assault.

At a protest outside the Israeli Embassy in London, an activist declared: “This will become the Embassy of Palestine. There will be no peace until Israel is destroyed. We want Palestine in the 1948 borders.”

In footage from a recent Bob Vylan concert, one of its members is heard calling for “armed resistance” against the IDF and the Metropolitan Police.

During the opening ceremony of the Wheelchair Basketball Nations Cup, every member of the British team turned their backs to the Israeli players during Israel’s national anthem.

For the past two years, British Jews and decent Britons across the country have watched in horror as our country has changed.

Extremists and bigots are getting their way, radicalising children, running rampant on our streets and campuses and even spreading venom through our national broadcaster, all without fear of consequences.

Too many of our civic institutions have responded, if at all, with appeasement. Many of our police forces have chosen to give into the marching mobs, arresting those who stand up against them.

This has to be the moment that the country wakes up.

We need you with us. Stand up. March. Make a difference. Go to antisemitism.org/march.

“Is there a f***ing Zionist in this group chat?”: Campaign Against Antisemitism projects campus antisemitism back onto KCL

Today, we published a video of a Jewish student recounting dire experiences in her first year at King’s College London (KCL). The video was projected onto KCL premises.

In the projection, the student, Tali, speaks about the hostilities that she has faced on campus from fellow students, including seeing messages in a group chat reading, “Is there a f***ing Zionist in this group chat?” and “Bitch get down,” in reference to her.

She also discusses the failures of university staff to assist her when she raised concerns for her safety, including potentially victim-blaming advice such as: “It may be helpful to try to understand why the other students are behaving this way.”

She had to rely on her brother to escort her to classes.

The video ends with Tali calling on people to join her at Britain’s March Against Antisemitism on Sunday 7th September.

Tali’s experience is absolutely scandalous.

What happened to her and the University’s apparent failure to address the threatening racism that she has faced is symptomatic of the deep rot of antisemitism that has spread across campuses nationwide. Behind the façade of virtuous anti-racism rhetoric, universities have become epicentres of Jew-hatred: Jewish students are abused, Jewish societies are trolled and Jewish institutions are vandalised.

Tali’s harrowing testimony lays bare not only the hostility faced by Jews on campus, but also the staggering failures of those in positions of responsibility. KCL has failed — and it must act decisively to protect Jewish students before more damage is done.

This vicious Jew-hatred and the authorities’ failure to grapple with it is why we will be marching in central London this Sunday against antisemitism and extremism.

Watch the full video here.

As Jewish children begin to return to school and Jewish students make preparations for university, many of them – and their parents – will be thinking not only of the opportunities ahead of them but also of the risks to their welfare and safety.
That may because of hostile teachers or radical academics, but it may also be because of racist peers who have a problem with Jews (sorry: ‘Zionists’).

At Campaign Against Antisemitism, we continue to do whatever we can to defend the rights and dignity of Jewish schoolchildren and students, as well as faculty and staff who face discrimination in the workplace and in their trade unions.

Sadly, the education sector is not only not immune to the pervasive antisemitism in our society but is actually one of its principal incubators. Our work is more essential than ever.

You can contribute to the fight against this scourge by supporting our work with youth and on campuses – educating, empowering, supporting victims and holding authorities to account.

If you want to support our work in the education sector, go to antisemitism.org/donate.

Become a Student Ambassador!

One example of our work on campus is our unique Student Ambassador programme.

We are looking for Student Ambassadors for the coming academic year who can make a real positive difference to campus life.

More information is available at antisemitism.org/become-a-student-ambassador.

Places are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so don’t wait to apply!

What will you be wearing this Sunday?

Many of you have already bought our new apparel, including our I ♥️ my Jewish friends t-shirts, with some even sending us photos.

Also available in time for the march is our new United Against Antisemitism t-shirts.

How often can you walk in the centre of London and proudly declare your opposition to anti-Jewish racism without fear of strange looks or hostile reactions?

For once, this Sunday, you can.

You can get yours at antisemitism.org/shop.

It’s obvious to Australia, so why not to us?

It is obvious to the Australian Government: Iran is behind attacks on Jews in Australia.

It is obvious to the UK Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee.

It was obvious to Foreign Secretary David Lammy and to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper before the election when they promised to ban Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

So why is the IRGC still legal in the UK?

This Government must keep its word and proscribe the IRGC now, as Australia has just done, before people are hurt or killed on our streets.

Sign the petition now.

,

“Is there a f***ing Zionist in this group chat?”: CAA exposes antisemitism at King’s College London

Campaign Against Antisemitism has today published a video of a Jewish student recounting dire experiences in her first year at King’s College London (KCL).

The video was projected onto KCL premises.

In the projection, the student, Tali, speaks about the hostilities that she has faced on campus from fellow students, including seeing messages in a group chat reading, “Is there a f***ing Zionist in this group chat?” and “Bitch get down,” in reference to her.

She also discusses the failures of University staff to assist her when she raised concerns for her safety, including potentially victim-blaming advice such as: “It may be helpful to try to understand why the other students are behaving this way.”

The video ends with Tali calling on people to join her at Britain’s March Against Antisemitism, organised by Campaign Against Antisemitism for Sunday 7th September.

You can watch the full video here.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Tali’s experience is absolutely scandalous. What happened to her and the University’s apparent failure to address the threatening racism that she has faced is symptomatic of the deep rot of antisemitism that has spread across campuses nationwide. Behind the façade of virtuous anti-racism rhetoric, universities have become epicentres of Jew-hatred: Jewish students are abused, Jewish societies are trolled and Jewish institutions are vandalised. Tali’s testimony lays bare not only the hostility faced by Jews on campus, but also the staggering failures of those in positions of responsibility. King’s College London has failed — and it must act decisively to protect Jewish students before more damage is done. This vicious Jew-hatred and the authorities’ failure to grapple with it is why we will be marching in central London this Sunday against antisemitism and extremism.”

A spokesperson for King’s College London said: “We are in contact with the student who has submitted a complaint and have offered support while investigations are ongoing, including individual support through our wellbeing services and increased safety measures.

“We are also engaged with our Israeli, Jewish and wider student societies on a regular basis, and have provided extensive pastoral support and have enhanced security measures, both in person and via our SafeZone app, to keep our community safe on campus.

“There is no place at King’s for racism, antisemitism, abuse, incitement, harassment and bullying, and any reports made to Report and Support (our reporting system), are taken very seriously and are investigated in line with our robust policies and procedures.”

Tali’s full remarks in the video 

My name is Tali, and I am a Jewish student right here, at King’s College London. I’m up here to talk about the antisemitism that I, and countless other Jewish students, have had to endure over the past year and a half – and longer. The staff at KCL haven’t been particularly helpful so far. Maybe after this, they’ll finally listen.

I began my university journey with excitement, eager for the next stage of my life. I grew up in a Jewish home, went to a Jewish school, and was quite sheltered from the hate that others in the Jewish community experience in their youth.

I suppose you could say I was naive when it came to the realities of campus life. But that didn’t last long. In a group chat for those attending the Associateship of King’s College lecture series on the Middle East, my coursemates made comments about the lectures being “an attempt to educate the Zionist”.

I calmly asked them why they thought that. They proceeded with an inquisition. “Is everyone here not pro-Palestine or what?” they said. “I would assume in a degree that required critical thinking, Zionism would be nonexistent in our cohort,” one added.

When I tried to discuss our differing views in the chat, I was dismissed with accusations like “You’re indoctrinated” and “You’re horrifically outnumbered here.”

Then, the messages took an even darker turn.

“Is there a f***ing Zionist in this group chat?”

“We’ve fished out a Zionist.”

“Get ‘em out.”

“Can’t wait to see you tomorrow, Tali.” 

This went on for over two hours, leaving me in tears, and fearful for the next day.

That was my first day of university. That was my first day.

On my second day, I had to have my older brother escort me to my classes. Most of my classmates decided to ignore me from then on. I felt hostility in the air.

Then came 7th October 2024, one year on from Hamas’ horrific terrorist attacks. It was the one-year anniversary of a terrible trauma for the Jewish world. Instead of sympathy or even just not acknowledging the day, I was shocked to see a group of Palestine activists taking part in a scheduled walkout, leaving me and fellow Jewish students questioning to what extent support and sympathy for terrorism was rampant on our campus.

I made it clear I did not align with this walkout. Again, abusive messages began flooding my phone.

“Bitch get down.”

“You’re not the messiah you think you are.”

“The Zionists are actually everywhere.”

“As a group, we should just band together and carry her out.”

I began to be afraid of what might happen if I turned up to my classes again. Classes I was paying for. Classes I had a right to be in, safe and equal.

But I was being attacked because I was Jewish.

I was struggling to get through that week. So, I spoke with the university’s wellness advisor. Not five minutes into the conversation, the advisor advised that “it may be helpful to try to understand why the other students are behaving this way” towards me.

That was the advisor who was the one I was supposed to turn to – and did turn to – to help me.

I filed a report with the university and the police regarding the threats and harassment I experienced. I have heard nothing from the university, and the police said they were unable to help.

To this day, I cannot walk into a classroom without hostile looks thrown my way, without two empty seats on either side of me, without me trying to decide whether or not I should tuck in my Star of David.

The advisor told me to try to understand why the other students are behaving like this towards me. I do understand.

So do Jewish students across the country, who are forced to avoid their own campuses for fear of being targeted. Antisemitic and pro-terrorist chants and signs and encampments are commonplace, all while staff look the other way, or worse, encourage it or even take part.

90% of young British Jews blame their fellow students for the increase in antisemitic incidents on UK campuses. Only 3% of British Jews are confident that if a Jewish student reported an antisemitic incident on campus, the university’s administration would take appropriate action. I am an illustration of that statistic.

We put the contents of this video to King’s College London for comment.

This is what they said: “We are in contact with the student who has submitted a complaint and have offered support while investigations are ongoing, including individual support through our wellbeing services and increased safety measures. 

“We are also engaged with our Israeli, Jewish and wider student societies on a regular basis, and have provided extensive pastoral support and have enhanced security measures, both in person and via our SafeZone app, to keep our community safe on campus.

“There is no place at King’s for racism, antisemitism, abuse, incitement, harassment and bullying, and any reports made to Report and Support (our reporting system), are taken very seriously and are investigated in line with our robust policies and procedures.” 

Jewish students in Britain deserve better than this. This must be the moment that the country wakes up. People need to see that they are not alone in feeling this way. I encourage you to join Britain’s March Against Antisemitism on Sunday 7th September to say no to antisemitism and extremism. See you there.

Sign up now at antisemitism.org/march. 

Image credit: Jeremy Coleman/Campaign Against Antisemitism

, ,

Where will you be in two weeks?

In less than two weeks, thousands across Britain will come together to take a stand against antisemitism.

Will you be one of them, or watch from the sidelines?

We are still finalising the route of the march and other important details with the police, so if you have not done so already, please sign up to attend. We will be sending full details to everyone who has signed up as soon as they are finalised.

Bring a friend!

We are issuing you a challenge.

On 7th September, Britain will march against antisemitism. This is a moment for the people of this country to raise their voice and say “enough is enough.”

But this is bigger than one community — it represents everyone who stands against extremism and believes in Britain’s values of unity and respect.

That is why we are challenging you to bring two friends with you to Britain’s March Against Antisemitism and share a picture of you all together on the day using #MarchAgainstAntisemitism on social media. If you tag us, we may even repost it!

Is your MP joining you for Britain’s March Against Antisemitism? Invite them below!

For the past two years, British Jews have watched in horror as our country has changed.

Extremists and bigots are getting their way, radicalising children, running rampant on our streets and campuses, and even spreading venom through our national broadcaster, all without fear of consequences.

It has long been time that our representatives must do more to protect British Jews and stand up against extremism.

That is why we have invited MPs from across the country to join Britain’s March Against Antisemitism. But we need you to do the same!

You can find your MP by going to members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP.

We put antisemitism in the arts on display

Campaign Against Antisemitism has today published a projected video of Jewish artist Sharon Rose on the National Gallery, one of the few remaining safe spaces for Jews in the arts, in Trafalgar Square.

In the projection, Ms Rose exposes the hostility that she has faced in the art world for incorporating Jewish symbolism into her work. She also talks about recent controversies in the art world relating to Jews.

Below is just a sample of some of the appalling incidents in the arts:

  • The National Portrait Gallery’s display of a portrait of a high-profile activist whose social media promoted a placard equating Gaza with the Holocaust and posts attacking “the Zionist regime”.
  • A portrait comparing the Prime Minister of the world’s only Jewish state to Adolf Hitler, which was displayed at The Other Art Fair, presented by Saatchi Art.
  • The Royal Academy’s display of someone holding a sign that misleadingly implied that most Jews are opposed to Israel.

The National Gallery has been an exemplar within the art world, and it has become one of the few safe spaces for Jews in the arts. That is why we chose to project our image onto this iconic building: to highlight its example and to call on others to follow suit.

Watch the full video here.

Somehow, being Jewish has been made politically controversial, as if Jewish identity were just a matter of opinion.

For all that the art world boasts of celebrating diversity, its inclusivity too often does not extend to Jews.

This issue cannot continue to go unaddressed.

If the art world insists on elevating voices hostile to Jews while sidelining Jewish artists, then we will ensure that Jewish identity is given prominence.

That is why we encourage everyone to join us on Britain’s March Against Antisemitism on Sunday 7th September.

Sign up at antisemitism.org/march.

Victory for Niyak

Last September, Niyak Ghobani held his now-famous sign which read, “Hamas Is Terrorist”.

He was arrested on suspicion of breach of the peace. However, while in the back of the police van, he was de-arrested and then arrested again for allegedly assaulting two police officers who were on top of him during his arrest.

He was held in a cell until 4:00 the following morning, when he was then interviewed under caution for five minutes. He was not shown any evidence.

Last week, he finally faced trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court where he stood accused of “assaulting emergency workers”.

The Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence in relation to one of the alleged assaults. It maintained that it would still prosecute Niyak over the other officer, who told the court that Niyak had assaulted him. This claim was then comprehensively debunked and contradicted by police footage, which led to the Crown’s case falling apart completely.

We are pleased that the charges — which should never have been brought — against Mr Ghorbani were eventually abandoned.

We are proud to have supported Mr Ghorbani’s stand for justice and we will continue to support those who defend British Jews and defiantly stand up to the mob by calling Hamas and Hizballah exactly what they are: proscribed terrorist organisations.

Should you require free legal assistance over an incident relating to antisemitism or a wrongful arrest while standing up to extremists, you can contact us at [email protected].

This is Britain, 2025

Many of you would have seen disturbing footage of a woman appearing to drive past a group of Jewish people – including young children – swearing and shouting “Free Palestine” whilst giving them the middle finger.

It is understood to have taken place last week on Leicester Road in Salford.

If you have information about this incident, please contact us at [email protected] or Greater Manchester Police.

Elsewhere, in London, a man was reportedly spotted carrying a Hizballah flag during the Hussaini Islamic Association annual march from Edgware Road to Paddington Green on 16th August.

Hizballah is a proscribed organisation. Anyone expressing support for it, contrary to section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, commits a criminal offence and must face the full force of the law.

If you have any information about the man in the footage below, the Metropolitan Police have asked those with information to quote CAD5235/17Aug.

Become a Student Ambassador!

We are looking for Student Ambassadors for the coming academic year.

Let’s make a difference to campus life in the UK.

Help us expose.
Help us report.
Help us support.

Places are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so don’t wait to apply!

Many of you have already bought our new t-shirts ahead of Britain’s March Against Antisemitism.

Whether you want to show your Jewish friends some love, or simply say that you stand united against antisemitism, we’ve got you covered!

Get yours whilst stocks last at antisemitism.org/shop.

,

CAA puts antisemitism in the arts on display

Campaign Against Antisemitism has today published a projected video of Jewish artist Sharon Rose on the National Gallery, one of the few remaining safe spaces for Jews in the arts, in Trafalgar Square.

In the projection, Ms Rose exposes the hostility that she has faced in the art world for incorporating Jewish symbolism into her work. She also talks about recent controversies in the art world relating to Jews.

In particular, she highlights:

  • The National Portrait Gallery’s display of a portrait of a high-profile activist whose social media promoted a placard equating Gaza with the Holocaust and posts attacking “the Zionist regime.”
  • A portrait comparing the Prime Minister of the world’s only Jewish state to Adolf Hitler, which was displayed at The Other Art Fair, presented by Saatchi Art.
  • The Royal Academy’s display of someone holding a sign that misleadingly implied that most Jews are opposed to Israel.

The video ends with Ms Rose calling on people to join her at Britain’s March Against Antisemitism, organised by Campaign Against Antisemitism for Sunday 7th September.

You can watch the full video here.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “For all that the art world boasts of celebrating diversity, its inclusivity too often does not extend to Jews. Somehow, being Jewish has been made politically controversial, as if Jewish identity were just a personal matter. While artists like Sharon Rose face pushback for expressing their heritage, some galleries have elevated works hostile to Jews, while sidelining Jewish voices.

“The National Gallery has been an exemplar within the art world, and it has become one of the few safe spaces for Jews in the arts. That is why we chose to project our image onto this iconic building: to highlight its example and to call on others to follow suit.

“We encourage everyone to join us on Britain’s March Against Antisemitism on Sunday 7th September.”

The full remarks from Sharon Rose on the projection

My name is Sharon, and I’m a British Jewish artist. My grandfather was a Holocaust survivor, and he painted too.

In my art, I’ve strived to show my Jewish pride and my opposition to antisemitism. But when antisemitism is being spread in the art world itself, my work can become daunting and isolating.

I open social media to connect with my fellow artists, but I’m met with posts they’ve shared comparing Gaza to the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were exterminated. The same Holocaust that my great-grandparents were murdered in and my grandfather survived.

I have always been open that my work is influenced by my Jewish identity, similar to Marc Chagall, weaving nostalgic biblical references into my paintings. Previously, these themes imbued my work with depth and meaning, bridging the timeless with the contemporary in a celebration of faith, memory and artistry.

These days, however, when I show my work around the world, this Jewish symbolism is often questioned as potentially controversial content. Some go as far as to say it’s too political, and ask me to submit my more abstract paintings instead, where the symbolism is more subtle and more open to interpretation.

At the same time, galleries are more than ready to feature pieces comparing the Prime Minister of Israel to Adolf Hitler, a shameless breach of the International Definition of Antisemitism.

The National Portrait Gallery, a leading institution in the British art world, proudly displayed a portrait of a controversial activist whose social media account features, among other things, a placard comparing Gaza to the Holocaust, a retweeted post about “the Zionist regime”, and the historically-revisionist claim that “Jesus was a Palestinian,” which deliberately airbrushes Jesus’ Jewish identity and the Jewish connection to Judea.

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival welcomed a cartoonist whose work includes appalling caricatures of Jewish people and the stereotypically antisemitic depictions of Jews as insects and octopuses. The Royal Academy showcased a piece whose description claimed that “Gaza draws many parallels with the Nazis.” In another entry, the Royal Academy agreed to display someone holding a sign that misleadingly implied that most Jews are opposed to the State of Israel.

The art world has become host to “vile antisemitic sentiments…that are not isolated incidents but part of a broader culture that seeks to marginalise and dehumanise Jews.”

These are the words of Candida Gertler OBE, the founder of the arts charity Outset Contemporary Art Fund, who last year announced her resignation “from all voluntary positions within UK arts institutions”.

The failure to confront such hate compromises the very essence of what art stands for — a medium of empathy, exploration and shared humanity.

When a major patron of the arts feels no other choice but to turn away from what she loves most because of the rising tide of antisemitism, this must be a wake-up call for everyone in the arts and beyond.

From musicians appearing to express support for antisemitic terrorist groups or calling for death and destruction in relation to Israel, to Jewish comedians being cancelled at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, something has gone dangerously wrong in Britain.

This must be the moment that the country wakes up.

I encourage you to join Britain’s March Against Antisemitism on Sunday 7th September to say no to antisemitism and extremism. See you there.

Sign up now at antisemitism.org/march.

Image credit: Jeremy Coleman/Campaign Against Antisemitism

, , , , , , ,

CAA puts antisemitism on the BBC. Literally.

From broadcasting chants of ‘Death to the IDF’ and enabling taxpayer funds to go to a family member of Hamas to Gary Lineker publishing a post reminiscent of Nazi propaganda and a BBC Arabic journalist having to apologise for downplaying the 7th October massacre, this year has seen the BBC lurch from one scandal to another.

We’ve submitted complaints, led protests at Broadcasting House and even ran ads across national newspapers. But the BBC has failed to receive the message.

So we decided to take matters into our own hands.

Today, we published our projection of investigative journalist David Collier on BBC Broadcasting House.

In the projection, Mr Collier speaks about the scandal at the BBC earlier this year surrounding the documentary ‘Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone’, in which he revealed that licence-fee money had been handed to a family member of Hamas.

Watch the full video here.

For years now, our polling has consistently shown us that when it comes to Jews, our public broadcaster is failing, with 92% of British Jews rating its coverage of matters of Jewish interest as unfavourable.

The BBC is not just another organisation — as a national institution, it has become a symbol of just how bad things have become in our country.

In Mr Collier’s words, “Over and over, the BBC is finding itself at the centre of antisemitism scandals, and its reporting on Israel — the world’s only Jewish state — is viewed by many as being not merely inaccurate and biased, but harmful.”

You can’t tackle antisemitism in Britain without tackling antisemitism at the BBC.

That is why we encourage everyone to join us at Britain’s March Against Antisemitism on Sunday 7th September.

Don’t miss out!

Thousands of you have already signed up to join us for the March.

For those of you who haven’t, make sure that you don’t miss out. Sign up!

Britain is losing its soul and losing the plot.

The authorities have been appeasing extremists and bigots, letting them radicalise our children and run rampant on our streets and campuses, while arresting those who stand up against them.

We need you with us. Stand up. March. Make a difference.

Show your Jewish friends some love

Many of you have already bought our new apparel, including our I ♥️ my Jewish friends t-shirts, with some even sending us photos.

You can get yours at antisemitism.org/shop.

Show your Jewish friends some love! Get them in time for the March on Sunday 7th September!

Are retailers profiting from terrorism?

But not everyone wants to share messages of positivity when it relates to Jews.

Earlier this week, we reported that a t-shirt reading, “We are all Palestine Action” was listed for sale on eBay.

On 5th July, Palestine Action was proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000, following action from Campaign Against Antisemitism and others.

Under the Act, a person in a public place commits an offence if they wear an item of clothing in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that they are a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation.

Prior to its proscription, Palestine Action acted with impunity, vandalising Jewish premises and eventually becoming emboldened enough to sabotage RAF jets.

Retailers have a clear legal and moral duty not to sell such sickening items.

It is understood that the t-shirt has now been removed from sale.

But it’s not just retailers. Normal People author Sally Rooney has vowed to use money that she received from the BBC to fund Palestine Action.

In an interview with the Irish Times, she said: “I want to be clear that I intend to use these proceeds of my work, as well as my public platform generally, to go on supporting Palestine Action and direct action against genocide in whatever way I can.”

She also said: “If this makes me a ‘supporter of terror’ under UK law, so be it.”

This goes far beyond political activism — it is a deliberate statement of intent to channel money towards a group that vandalised RAF jets and terrorised the Jewish community.

Platforms and publishers profiting from her work must urgently review their relationship with her, as they now risk enabling the flow of funds to a terrorist organisation.

We have reported this matter to Counter Terrorism Policing.

This selective outrage tells us everything

Before the UEFA Super Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur in Udine, Italy, on Wednesday, UEFA unfurled a banner which read: “Stop killing children. Stop killing civilians.”

UEFA has said nothing about the Jewish hostages kept in barbaric captivity for almost two years, nor about the incessant attacks on Israeli civilians throughout this war from terrorists in Gaza and throughout the Middle East.

But all of sudden, they chose a Spurs match — a club commonly associated with the Jewish community — to unfurl this banner.

For centuries, Europe has traded in the blood libel that Jews kill children, and clearly the trope remains as popular as ever. UEFA says that “the message is clear.”

After two years with no acknowledgement of the Jewish children murdered, maimed and traumatised by this war, the message is clear indeed.

To make matters worse, UEFA then reportedly banned Beitar Jerusalem fans from waving signs calling for the return of hostage Rom Braslavski.

Rom has been held in captivity by terrorists for nearly two years in conditions designed to prolong his suffering.

Of the ban, Rom’s brother said: “This is not only hypocrisy, it is antisemitism.”

UEFA has moved from selective outrage to appearing to choose sides. To European football, Jewish lives don’t matter.

Deranged rhetoric from a medical professional

Campaign Against Antisemitism has submitted a complaint to the General Medical Council regarding social media posts on Dr Rameh Aladwan’s social media account.

Some of you will remember that Dr Aladwan rose to prominence and notoriety following an article in the Daily Mail, in which she was exposed for a number of posts published on her social media account.

Below is just a selection of the posts that were referenced in our complaint:

  • Responding to another user’s post regarding the GMC, a post, which was published on 25th April, read: “Hey @gmcuk, the world sees you kneeling before your Jewish supremacist masters and the ‘Israeli’ lobby. This is a betrayal of your doctors. Stand with them – not with supremacy, genocide and apartheid.”
  • Another post, published on 29th April, read: “I will never condemn the 7th of October.”
  • Another post, published on 13th July, read, “Calling them Zionists instead of Jewish supremacists only helps the mass murder continue,” and “If Jews want to be seen as separate from this horror, they need to stop perpetrating it. Until then, the world sees what they are doing, and no amount of deflection, rebranding, or moral posturing will change that.”

It has since been reported that during a speech at a Leeds Palestine protest this weekend, Dr Aladwan described Zionism as “Jewish supremacy” and claimed that a quarter of MPs being funded by the “Israel lobby”.

This deranged rhetoric represents a danger to Jewish people and unquestionably brings the medical profession into disrepute. An individual who expresses views like these has no place in medicine.

The GMC must urgently suspend Dr Aladwan and open an investigation.

Such contemptible conduct is incompatible with the values that we rightly expect of our doctors and nurses.

This appointment must be rescinded

In April, we wrote to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner regarding Baroness Gohir’s membership of the Government’s new Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition.

We still have not heard back.

Lady Gohir’s past activity on social media is extremely concerning. She has no place on a Government committee that is supposed to tackle hatred.

On Friday, The Daily Telegraph published details of the letter, putting pressure on Ms Rayner and her office for a response.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government told the paper: “The department will shortly be responding to the letter from the Campaign Against Antisemitism.”

Again, we have heard nothing.

You can’t fight bigotry with bigotry. This appointment must be rescinded.

It is disappointing that after several months we are yet to hear back from Ms Rayner, let alone for Lady Gohir to be removed from the Working Group.

Get involved in our education work

Do you want to support Jewish students on campus and develop the skills and experience to become a powerful voice in the fight against antisemitism?

We are looking for a full-time paid School and Campus Educator for up to eight months, starting in September 2025.

You will be working alongside our Education Officer in our Central London office from Monday to Thursday.

This role is suited for a recent graduate.

For more information and to apply, please visit antisemitism.org/jobs.

Over the past week, many of you have shared photos of antisemitic vandalism with us.

From boycott stickers on supermarket shelves to a swastika merged with the Star of David spray-painted onto a shop window, these acts of intimidation know no bounds.

We will continue to call out this appalling behaviour and refuse to accept it as our new normal.

Image credit: Jeremy Coleman/Campaign Against Antisemitism

,

We can’t tackle antisemitism in Britain without tackling antisemitism at the BBC

Campaign Against Antisemitism has today published its projection of investigative journalist David Collier on BBC Broadcasting House.

In the projection, Mr Collier speaks about the scandal at the BBC earlier this year surrounding the documentary ‘Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone’, in which he revealed that licence-fee money had been handed to a family member of Hamas.

The video ends with Mr Collier calling on people to join him at Britain’s March Against Antisemitism, organised by Campaign Against Antisemitism for Sunday 7th September.

You can watch the full video here.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism: “Finally, the issue of antisemitism is on the BBC. Literally.

“We can’t tackle antisemitism in Britain without tackling antisemitism at the BBC. From broadcasting chants of ‘Death to the IDF’ and enabling taxpayer funds to go to a family member of Hamas to Gary Lineker publishing a post reminiscent of Nazi propaganda and a BBC Arabic journalist having to apologise for downplaying the 7th October massacre, this year has seen the BBC lurch from one scandal to another. Our polling consistently shows that when it comes to Jews, our public broadcaster is failing, with 92% of British Jews rating its coverage of matters of Jewish interest as unfavourable.

“The BBC is not just another organisation — as a national institution, it has become a symbol of just how bad things have become in our country for Jews. This issue cannot continue to go unaddressed. That is why we encourage everyone to join us on Britain’s March Against Antisemitism on Sunday 7th September.”

David Collier’s remarks on the projection

My name is David Collier and I’m speaking to you from the BBC. As a proudly Jewish and Zionist journalist, this will likely be the closest I’ll ever get to appearing on the BBC, so I’d better make this count.

The BBC is a national institution, and one that millions of Brits have grown up with and relied on to give us the facts. It is the benchmark for journalism.

Or at least it used to be.

Earlier this year, the BBC aired Hamas propaganda, thinly veiled as a documentary on Gaza. Four days later, they took it down only after I uncovered the fact that the narrator of the documentary was actually the son of a Hamas official. I later revealed that licence fee money went to the family of that Hamas official.

Yes, you heard me right. Money from the British public went to the family of a terrorist, courtesy of the BBC.

There were further findings about the film as well.

Let’s be clear: They didn’t take the film down because it was Hamas propaganda. The only reason the BBC took it down was because they got caught, and for once, they had no excuses to hide behind.

I do not work in a large department. I have no research staff or fact-checkers to call upon. I sit in a small room, working alone and investigating the bias in media output with nothing but motivation and a keyboard. And it took me just a few hours to work out that the BBC had used the family of a Hamas official as the star of its show. If I found it so quickly, it means the BBC never even bothered to look.

Through gritted teeth, the BBC announced an internal review. Months later, it released its pitiful findings, which yielded no new insight and read as an exoneration of the BBC. Ofcom have now stepped in to announce an external investigation, something that I, Campaign Against Antisemitism and others called for from the very start.

And that’s just one incident. Gary Lineker, who was the highest-paid presenter at the BBC for years, repeatedly aligned himself — knowingly or recklessly — with individuals and content that promote antisemitic narratives or trivialise violence against Jews. The BBC, which claims to value impartiality and integrity, repeatedly shielded him from consequences.

The final straw came when he shared a social media post which used a dehumanising rat cartoon in relation to “Zionists”. Jews were frequently depicted as rats by the Nazis. He eventually offered an apology, but for once the outrage was too much, and the whistle was finally blown on his career at the BBC.

Then there was Glastonbury, when the BBC broadcast in full a musician chanting “Death to the IDF” and “From the River to the Sea” and rants about his former “Zionist” boss in front of thousands. Senior BBC staff were on the ground at the time, and could have taken immediate action, but didn’t. Another outrage.

We haven’t even touched on journalists like Jeremy Bowen, Orla Guerin and others, or BBC Arabic, which was forced to issue an on-air apology after one of its presenters claimed there was no evidence of Hamas terrorists burning families during its barbaric 7th October attack. That’s just one of countless examples from that department.

Over and over, the BBC is finding itself at the centre of antisemitism scandals, and its reporting on Israel — the world’s only Jewish state — is viewed by many as being not merely inaccurate and biased, but harmful.

Polling shows the overwhelming majority of British Jews — a staggering 92% of us — believe media bias against Israel fuels antisemitism, and look on the BBC’s coverage disfavourably. Can you blame us?

Britain deserves better than what the BBC is delivering. It’s time to let it know. I encourage you to join Britain’s March Against Antisemitism on Sunday 7th September to say no to antisemitism and extremism. We cannot deal with antisemitism in Britain without dealing with the BBC.

Sign up now at antisemitism.org/march.

Image credit: Jeremy Coleman/Campaign Against Antisemitism

,

CAA submits complaint to GMC over Dr Rameh Aladwan’s social media rhetoric

Campaign Against Antisemitism has submitted a complaint to the General Medical Council (GMC) regarding social media posts on a doctor’s account.

Dr Rameh Aladwan rose to prominence and notoriety following an article in the Daily Mail, in which she was exposed for a number of posts published on her social media account.

Below is just a selection of the posts that were referenced in the complaint:

  • Responding to another user’s post regarding the GMC, a post, which was published on 25th April, read: “Hey @gmcuk, the world sees you kneeling before your Jewish supremacist masters and the ‘Israeli’ lobby. This is a betrayal of your doctors. Stand with them – not with supremacy, genocide and apartheid.”
  • Another post, published on 29th April, read: “I will never condemn the 7th of October.”
  • A post, published on 5th July, partially read: “Britain is totally occupied by Jewish supremacy.”
  • Another post, which was published on 6th July, read: “Let’s make this crystal clear: anti-Zionism means ‘Israel’ has no right to exist. No debates. No exceptions. ‘Israel’ is genocide. Its supporters are genocidal—and that includes over 90% of Jews on earth.”
  • Addressing the Chief Rabbi, a post, published on 6th July, read: “Why do you lie so much Rabbi genocide? Palestinians are Semites, and you support our mass murder you criminal.”
  • Another post, published on 13th July, read, “Calling them Zionists instead of Jewish supremacists only helps the mass murder continue,” and “If Jews want to be seen as separate from this horror, they need to stop perpetrating it. Until then, the world sees what they are doing, and no amount of deflection, rebranding, or moral posturing will change that.”
  • One post, published on 13th July, read in part: “Jews can deny it all they like but at some point you will have to accept that Jewish supremacy is what is murdering us.”
  • Responding to another user, a post was published on 30th July which partially read: “The Royal Free Hospital in London is a Jewish supremacy cesspit.”

Other posts can be found here.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Making mendacious or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective, such as the myth of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions,” and “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g. by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour,” are examples of antisemitism.

Dr Aladwan rose to prominence and notoriety earlier this year as some of her earlier rhetoric was revealed.

Among the alleged posts were:

  • In a reel entitled ‘Resist’, alongside an upside-down red triangle icon, she wrote: “We never condemn the Palestinians. We back their struggle, including armed struggle.” In recent months, the inverted red triangle and its emoji variant have been used by some anti-Israel activists to signal support for proscribed terrorist organisations such as Hamas, inspired by the appearance of the symbol in Hamas propaganda videos to indicate targets for attack.
  • Captioning a photo of a Hamas gunman: “A picture of AlQassam a day keeps the Z’s [Zionists] locked away.”
  • In reference to the antisemitic Amsterdam pogrom of November last year, she posted a hand-drawn graph with the words “f*** around” along one axis, and “find out” along the other. The caption reads: “You provoke. You pushed. You prodded. You play victim. You deserve to pay. You parasitic pariah. Settlers should feel welcome nowhere. And if they tried that crap in the UK, they’ll be met with resistance too. Seems justice is found on the streets.”

Since then, her rhetoric has escalated.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “These posts would be appalling from anyone, let alone a doctor. Healthcare professionals have a duty of care to ensure that all patients are looked after and treated equally, regardless of their background. Dr Rahmeh Aladwan’s deranged social media rhetoric represents a danger to Jewish people and unquestionably brings the medical profession into disrepute. An individual who expresses views like these has no place in medicine. The GMC must urgently suspend Dr Aladwan and open an investigation. Such contemptible conduct is incompatible with the values that we rightly expect of our doctors and nurses.”

,

Derbyshire ‘Warrior camp’ inspires sixteen-year-old to feel like deceased Hizballah terrorist leader Hassan Nasrallah “was with us again”

A ‘Warrior camp’ in Derbyshire reportedly inspired sixteen-year-old to feel like deceased Hizballah terrorist leader Hassan Nasrallah “was with us again”.

The camp is reportedly run by a man who described a Hizballah leader as one of the “greatest freedom fighters” in the world, according to an investigation by the JC.

According to the camp’s website, it offers “Olympic level wrestling coaches, striking coaches, fitness coaches, business coaches and Islamic scholars” as well as “a curriculum based on what we call MAN psychology; God centric Masculinity – Brotherhood – Strength – Business – Faith – Courage – Relationships – Spirituality and Knowledge”.

A sixteen-year-old boy, who claimed to be the youngest participant at the camp, allegedly wrote on Instagram that the camp “felt like living a whole new life”. He wrote: “I met new people and learned how to handle things most sixteen-year-olds wouldn’t normally face. I came to a men’s spiritual camp as the youngest, surrounded by brothers two to three times my age.” He then reportedly appeared to refer to the death of Nasrallah, saying: “As Shia Muslims, we all lost someone dear last September. Being in the presence of Mawlana Sayed Hussain Makke brought all those emotions back. His humility, kindness, and warmth moved me in a way I hadn’t felt before. For one of the first times in my life, I cried – not out of sadness, but from a sense of connection and remembrance. In that moment, it truly felt like the Sayed we lost was with us again.”

“Sayed” is a term of endearment used by Nasrallah’s supporters to refer to the late terror leader.

Hizballah is a proscribed Islamist antisemitic genocidal terrorist group.

It is reported that after the camp ended, its leader published a selfie on his social media with the caption: “Spiritual Warrior – 1, Zio Karens – 0.”

A spokesperson for Derbyshire Police said: “Local officers are engaging with those involved to ensure the event, as with any large event in our county, operates safely within the law.

“The law is clear about the promotion of extremism or hate, with those groups supporting a terrorist ideology being proscribed as a result. We work closely with partners to ensure that Derbyshire remains a safe and cohesive place to live, work, and visit for all our communities. If something doesn’t feel right and you have concerns about terrorism, report it to police.”

, , , ,

Prime Minister announces Britain is to recognise a state of Palestine

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that the UK would recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire.

In a statement, he said: “So today, as part of this process towards peace, I can confirm the UK will recognise the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September unless the Israeli Government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two state solution.”

He did not appear to impose any conditions at all on Hamas.

This was then confirmed in the subsequent days by the Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, who explained why UK policy is to appease Hamas and pressure Israel: “Hamas is a terrorist organisation and we don’t put conditions on them because we don’t negotiate with terrorists.”

In other words, because Hamas is a terrorist organisation, the British Government will not put conditions on it, whereas because Israel is an ally, it will threaten it with an ultimatum.

That is some warped logic.

Hamas, which murdered 1,200 people in cold blood and abducted hundreds of innocents, will be rewarded with recognition regardless of whether or not it releases the hostages.

Any Hamas terrorist listening to the Prime Minister or the Business Secretary will have clearly understood that they need do nothing at all to receive their reward in September. Indeed, a senior Hamas official has welcomed the announcement, concluding that “International support for Palestinian self-determination shows we are moving in the right direction” and that “victory and liberation are closer than we expected”.

Two successive governments have now pledged that they would do everything possible to secure the release of the hostages. The events of this week have shown just how hollow those promises have been. Representatives of the families of British hostages have, following a meeting with officials, effectively confirmed that the Government has severed any connection between the release of the hostages and its plan to recognise a state of Palestine. As the representatives put it, the Government’s so-called Vision for Peace may well involve Jewish hostages continuing to rot in Hamas dungeons.

Our Prime Minister’s declaration is morally indefensible.

There are still hostages held in torturous conditions in Hamas dungeons in Gaza. Were they released, there would be a ceasefire immediately, as Israel and the United States have repeatedly said.

Sir Keir Starmer should be saying that he will take the issue of Palestinian statehood off the table if the hostages are not returned by September or sooner. Instead, he has decided to brandish recognition of a Palestinian state as a threat against the world’s only Jewish state as it seeks to retrieve the hostages still held nearly two years after the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

This announcement sends the worst possible message: that mass murder, rape and hostage-taking are legitimate paths to diplomatic gain. This is not a step toward peace; it is a dangerous precedent. This is not about justice, peace or a negotiated two-state solution. This is about appeasement, and it will only embolden extremists, including Hamas, who now know that they need only hang on until September — holding the hostages and looting aid — to receive their reward.

Recognition of a Palestinian state should never be wielded as a political weapon. Doing so in the aftermath of an antisemitic pogrom is not only reckless: it is shameful.

“Smash the Zionist terrorist state!”

Footage showed Palestine protesters in our nation’s capital last week chanting: “Smash the Zionist terrorist state!”

80% of British Jews consider themselves to be Zionists; only 6% do not.

Other hideous slogans seen and heard included: “Zionism, terrorism!”; “This is your Holocaust,” in an apparent reference to Gaza; “Resistance isn’t a crime”; and “Deaf to the IOF [sic]” in reference to a recently popularised chant against the IDF.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Meanwhile, thousands of Palestine Action supporters are reportedly planning to flout terror laws in a coordinated attempt to overwhelm the police this weekend.

The plot, which we have been closely monitoring, by supporters of the terrorist organisation Palestine Action puts the lie to the common belief in Britain that terrorism cannot be popular.

Not only are Palestine Action and its tactics of sabotage and wanton destruction, criminal damage and intimidation of the Jewish community more popular in Britain than anyone would like to admit, but after over a year and a half of such limited repercussions for extremists in our country, what reason do they have to fear the state or indeed a society whose cultural and civic institutions tolerate and in some cases even appear to celebrate their conduct?

One of the organisations involved in this plot is Defend our Juries, whose name was attached to briefing documents circulated in advance that we have seen. The group seems to have made it a priority to encourage people to express support for Palestine Action, which is illegal.

We have reported the group to Counter Terrorism Policing and the Metropolitan Police, and they must now take immediate steps. Inaction sends a dangerous message about enforcement of our laws and broadcasts that extremism has no consequences. The way to deter large-scale flouting of the law is to enforce it against those organising the activism.

If the police are overwhelmed, we have the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, to blame. He has devoted his tenure as Britain’s top policeman to emboldening extremists. They believe that they have nothing to fear from him. He has given them every reason to think so.

It is past time to make them think otherwise.

Caprice: “I don’t recognise this country anymore.”

Supermodel Caprice Bourret has said that she has removed her mezuzah from her door out of fear for her safety.

“I don’t recognise this country anymore. Nobody should feel afraid or intimidated because of their religion. The whole concept is bizarre to me, but it’s happening right now,” she said.

Her experience of being Jewish in London illustrates just how bad antisemitism is in the UK right now.

Only one-third of British Jews believe that Jews have a long-term future in the UK, according to our representative polling.

Britain is losing its soul and losing the plot. This country needs to wake up urgently.

Join us and the thousands who have already signed up on 7th September in Central London for Britain’s March Against Antisemitism.

Sign up now at antisemitism.org/march.

The Express replies to Campaign Against Antisemitism over debunked ‘Madonna and child’ photograph

A clickbait image that went around the world before landing on the front page of The Express and being cited by numerous major media outlets across the world has now been debunked.

The child in this harrowing image is not suffering from malnutrition but from a genetic disorder, which is the cause of his gaunt appearance, as the researcher David Collier uncovered.

Real journalists would have investigated that before running it – but real journalists are very few and far between these days, especially when it comes to reporting on the Jewish state.

We wrote to The Express calling for a prominent retraction and apology.

The newspaper has a duty to investigate and verify its stories prior to publication—a basic standard of professional journalism. That duty becomes even more important when publishing emotive and potentially misleading images of minors in order to attract reader attention.

A clarification was added to the online article noting the child’s pre-existing health issues. However, this was a later and insufficiently prominent amendment that fails to undo the damage caused by the original presentation. The clarification states that the child “was also suffering” from these issues—wording that implies other causes for the child’s condition. The implication is that the child’s physical condition has somehow been affected by the war in Gaza, but no evidence is presented to explain why this is so in light of the revelation of his pre-existing condition.

We wanted to know on what basis The Express claims that the child was suffering from anything else and how the image supports the newspaper’s original contention.

Such misreporting on Israel has a severe impact on British Jews, 92% of whom believe that media bias against Israel fuels persecution of Jews in Britain, according to our representative polling.

Instead of taking accountability and issuing a proper apology, The Express came back to us with the following: “The attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7 were unequivocally condemned and we fully acknowledge the anguish felt in Israel in their aftermath. Equally, we have a journalistic duty to report the reality in Gaza, where independent coverage is scarce and civilian suffering is widespread. It was with this in mind that we chose to publish images of Muhammad, a young boy, and his mother. Their story was intended to highlight the human cost of the conflict and to serve as a reminder that the suffering must end on both sides. The decision was not political but humanitarian – a call to recognise the devastating toll of war, particularly on children. Too many have died; too many continue to suffer.

“Subsequent to publication, we were informed that Muhammad had pre-existing neurological and muscular conditions. While this adds context, it does not lessen the tragedy of his situation. We remain committed to covering attacks on Israeli citizens with the same seriousness and visibility as events in Gaza. Our role is to provide accurate, compassionate reporting wherever lives are affected. At its core, our message is simple: The lives of innocent Israeli and Palestinian citizens must be spared.”

This misreporting on Israel has a severe impact on British Jews. That does not mean that Israel should not be covered in the news; it simply means that it should be covered accurately. After over a year and a half of this war, we have yet to see that happen.

In the meantime, the Jewish community is suffering the worst levels of antisemitism in living memory – enabled, it has to be said, by the press.

A tale of two New York newspapers

The image of the child went around the world, including landing on the front page of The New York Times, which subsequently issued a correction for the use of the photo.

It is notable how, barely a week apart, one major New York newspaper essentially ran a fake photo on its front page while its tabloid rival, the New York Post, ran a real one.

Is the media spreading antisemitism?

According to 92% of British Jews, media bias against Israel fuels persecution of Jews in Britain.

How widely is that view shared?

Elie hit the streets to find out more. Watch here to hear more.

Is the International Definition of Antisemitism under threat at Edinburgh University?

Academics at the University of Edinburgh have attacked the International Definition of Antisemitism in a recently published review.

The report, titled ‘Confronting the University of Edinburgh’s History and Legacies of Enslavement and Colonialism’, reads: “The IHRA definition violates academic freedom and freedom of speech by framing any criticism of Israel’s policies of settler-colonial dispossession driven by state racism as a form of antisemitism.”

The International Definition of Antisemitism, which was adopted by the University in 2020, can be found in full at antisemitism.org/definition. There is nothing in the Definition that supports the contention of the academics’ claim.

How the Jews – who are most affected by definitions of antisemitism – managed to be shoehorned into such a report is itself indicative of the times.

We have previously published a note on the relationship between the Definition and Freedom of Expression under the law, which can be found at antisemitism.org/universities/#freedom-of-expression.

Most brazenly, the authors of the report recommend that the University drops its adoption of the Definition, and, sickeningly, they view this step as part of a “commitment to equality, diversity and anti-racism”. That is about as clear an indication as one can find that some people simply do not seem to believe that Jews merit equality or inclusion and do not need to benefit from anti-racism initiatives.

A student at the University told us: “I am deeply upset and worried by the Review’s suggestion to un-adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Since 7th October, Jewish students on campuses across the UK have faced unprecedented levels of antisemitism, and many university campuses already feel unwelcoming and unsafe for Jewish students to freely express their identity. Un-adopting IHRA would stop Jewish students from calling out antisemitic behaviour. It would invalidate the real lived experiences of Jewish students, and deny us the right to be believed when we call something out as unacceptable. I am worried that un-adopting IHRA is a slippery slope where in the future, Jewish voices at the University of Edinburgh will be silenced in the name of freedom of speech.”

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].

Get involved in the fight against campus antisemitism!

We have two incredible opportunities for students and recent graduates who want to join the fight against campus antisemitism.

The first is our paid School and Campus Educator, a position for up to eight months starting in September 2025.

For more information and to apply, please visit antisemitism.org/jobs.

The second opportunity is our Student Ambassador programme.

We are looking for superb Student Ambassadors for the coming academic year to help make a difference on campus life in the UK.

You can apply now at antisemitism.org/become-a-student-ambassador.

Places are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so don’t wait to apply!

An audience member disrupted a recent Regina Spektor concert in Oregon by shouting “Free f***ing Palestine!” at the Jewish musician mid-performance.

The musician’s family fled antisemitism in the Soviet Union, one of countless Jewish families forced to uproot their lives to escape racist hatred.

She responded calmly and poignantly: “You’re just yelling at a Jew.”

Her response shines a light on the centrality in the ‘Free Palestine’ movement of simple, old-fashioned anti-Jewish harassment and hate. Yelling at Jews doesn’t change things in the Middle East, release hostages or bring peace any closer.

Let’s stop pretending that those who shout these slogans are peace activists. They are not.

All they’re doing, as Ms Spektor so succinctly put it, is “yelling at a Jew”.

If you are fed up of Jews being yelled at by self-described ‘peace activists’, make your voice heard: March with us on Sunday 7th September.

, ,

Prime Minister makes statement on recognising Palestine

Last night, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the UK would recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire.

In a statement, he said: “So today, as part of this process towards peace, I can confirm the UK will recognise the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two state solution.”

He did not appear to impose any conditions at all on Hamas.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Our Prime Minister’s declaration is morally indefensible. There are still hostages held in torturous conditions in Hamas dungeons in Gaza. Were they released, there would be a ceasefire immediately, as Israel and the United States have repeatedly said.

“Sir Keir Starmer should be saying that he will take the issue of Palestinian statehood off the table if the hostages are not returned by September or sooner. Instead, he has decided to brandish recognition of a Palestinian state as a threat against the world’s only Jewish state as it seeks to retrieve the hostages still held nearly two years after the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

“This announcement sends the worst possible message: that mass murder, rape, and hostage-taking are legitimate paths to diplomatic gain. This is not a step toward peace; it is a dangerous precedent. This is not about justice, peace, or a negotiated two-state solution. This is about appeasement, and it will only embolden extremists, including Hamas, who now know that they need only hang on until September — holding the hostages and looting aid — to receive their reward.

“Recognition of a Palestinian state should never be wielded as a political weapon. Doing so in the aftermath of an antisemitic pogrom is not only reckless, it is shameful.”

,

Academics at University of Edinburgh attack International Definition of Antisemitism in review

Academics at the University of Edinburgh have attacked the International Definition of Antisemitism in a recently published review.

The report, titled ‘Confronting the University of Edinburgh’s History and Legacies of Enslavement and Colonialism’, reads: “The IHRA definition violates academic freedom and freedom of speech by framing any criticism of Israel’s policies of settler-colonial dispossession driven by state racism as a form of antisemitism.”

The International (IHRA) Definition of Antisemitism, which was adopted by the University in 2020, can be found in full at antisemitism.org/definition. There is nothing in the Definition that supports the contention of this claim.

How the Jews – who are most affected by definitions of antisemitism – managed to be shoehorned into such a report is itself indicative of the times.

We have previously published a note on the relationship between the Definition and Freedom of Expression under the law, which can be found at antisemitism.org/universities/#freedom-of-expression.

Most brazenly, the authors of the report recommend that the University drops its adoption of the Definition, and, sickeningly, they view this step as part of a “commitment to equality, diversity and anti-racism”. That is about as clear an indication as one can find that some people simply do not seem to believe that Jews merit equality or inclusion and do not need to benefit from anti-racism initiatives.

A student at the University told us: “I am deeply upset and worried by the Review’s suggestion to un-adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Since 7th October, Jewish students on campuses across the UK have faced unprecedented levels of antisemitism, and many university campuses already feel unwelcoming and unsafe for Jewish students to freely express their identity. Un-adopting IHRA would stop Jewish students from calling out antisemitic behaviour. It would invalidate the real lived experiences of Jewish students, and deny us the right to be believed when we call something out as unacceptable. I am worried that un-adopting IHRA is a slippery slope where in the future, Jewish voices at the University of Edinburgh will be silenced in the name of freedom of speech.”

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].

, , ,

The silent boycott of Jewish artists and performers continues

Jewish comedians Rachel Creeger and Philip Simon were booked to perform at the Whistlebinkies venue during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, but both have had their shows cancelled.

Ms Creeger was scheduled to perform her Ultimate Jewish Mother show, while Mr Simon was to present Jew-O-Rama, in which several comedians would have been showcased.

Both have reported being informed that their shows were to be cancelled after it was announced that police would provide extra supervision to the venue as a safety precaution, apparently causing staff to feel “unsafe”. Mr Simon had a further series of gigs cancelled at another venue as well, purportedly due to a “significant conflict” with the venue’s “stance against the current Israeli Government’s policy and actions.”

The news of these cancellations at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival spotlights a pattern across the arts of discrimination and silent boycott of Jewish people.

For centuries, Jews suffered professional restrictions and economic exclusion.

It is astounding and unspeakably shameful that twenty-first-century Britain would revive this dark practice.

For all that we look back on history, tutting and shaking our heads about what happened then, now it’s happening again right before our eyes.

We are examining legal options, and we encourage other Jewish artists to contact us with their experiences at [email protected].

Certain venues at Edinburgh Fringe were not the only ones in the last few days to signal to Jews that they are not welcome.

The organisers of London Trans+ Pride announced that Zionists were not welcome at their demonstration that took place this weekend.

Not only that, but the organisers apparently view Zionism as being in the same category as racism and sexism.

Zionism is the right of Jews to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. Our representative polling shows that 80% of British Jews consider themselves to be Zionists; only 6% do not.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination” is an example of antisemitism.

Once again, for all that ‘progressive’ spaces boast of inclusivity, that inclusivity doesn’t extend to Jews.

Not very progressive at all.

After we raised awareness of this post, London Trans+ Pride quietly removed it without an apology or explanation – almost as if they were hoping that people would forget and the whole thing would just blow over. How cowardly.

If you’re going to deny inclusive spaces to Jews, the least you could do is have the decency to admit your bigotry when called out.

Shameful.

To make matters worse, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, endorsed the event on social media.

He wrote that “London is a city that stands for equality, dignity and pride for everyone,” but it seems that the majority of Jews in this country were not welcome at this march.

It is no wonder that the vast majority – 85% – of British Jews are dissatisfied with the mayor’s performance in relation to the Jewish community since 7th October 2023, according to our polling.

As more and more Jews are shut out of public life in the UK, what will become of Britain?

Does Britain stand against antisemitism?

“Do you stand against antisemitism?”

Elie hit the streets of East London to ask this question.

Simple, right? Apparently not… Watch here to hear what the British public thinks.

If, like the more virtuous interviewees in the video, you intend to march with us on Sunday 7th September, please sign up now!

Moraliser-in-chief James O’Brien forced to apologise over modern blood libel on LBC

In an LBC show last week, James O’Brien read a message from a listener that made outrageous claims about British Jews. The host did not halt his reading or challenge the claims, and LBC posted the segment online.

After an outcry, LBC deleted the post, and the following day Mr O’Brien was forced to apologise.

This is a modern blood libel on national radio, amplified by a host who likely wouldn’t think twice about cutting off the caller were he promoting such grotesque falsehoods about another minority.

No such generosity for the Jews.

The suggestion that one ‘side’ of this conflict is the genocidal monsters of Hamas who slaughtered 1,200 people and took some 250 hostage, and the other ‘side’ is the Jewish community in Hertfordshire, is not only a baseless fiction and totally repugnant, but to broadcast it is unbelievably reckless.

It is practically an invitation to disaffected people to target Jews in the UK — why not, if they are a ‘side’ in this conflict?

It is deplorable the depths that some talkshow hosts will sink to inflame their listeners and drive up ratings.

The consequences are borne by British Jews.

The following day, Mr O’Brien deigned to apologise, saying: “At this time yesterday on the show, I read out a message from a listener called Chris who said that his wife had been brought up in the Jewish faith and had attended what he described as a ‘Shabbat school’.

“He went on to make further claims about what he said she had been taught in that school. As with all the texts and messages that I read out on the programme, I did so in good faith, but the message has understandably upset a lot of people, and I regret taking those unsubstantiated claims at face value, and I’m genuinely sorry for that.

“It is very important that I get that out there, and thank you for your attention.”

While Mr O’Brien’s apology through gritted teeth is welcome, perhaps he might take a break from moralising to the nation and reflect on why a listener like that understood that his was exactly the right show to promote his bile, and why Mr O’Brien himself was only too ready to treat the claims as entirely plausible and convenient to his narrative.

What does that say about his own prejudices and views on certain topics to which British Jews are particularly sensitive?

Miriam Margolyes must be stripped of her OBE

“Hitler won. He changed us. He made us like him.”

This must be the end of the road for Miriam Margolyes.

The fact that she was born Jewish does not give her a license to use her immense platform to spread anti-Jewish venom.

Saying that Hitler converted the Jews into Nazis is flat-out racist bilge and she must be shunned by the showbiz world that has fawned and bowed until now. That includes stripping her of her BAFTA.

We will be writing to the Honours Forfeiture Committee to ask that her OBE be removed.

CAA submits further complaint against barrister Franck Magennis

We have submitted a further complaint to the Bar Standards Board regarding barrister Franck Magennis.

Mr Magennis, who is one of the barristers connected to the application by Hamas to be de-proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK, is already the subject of an outstanding complaint by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

This new complaint cites further activity that we consider to be of an extremely serious nature.

Among the social media rhetoric in question is:

  • “Zionism is collapsing. Keep hammering anyone who still identifies as a Zionist…Escalate!!”
  • “Zionists out there: read the room. You’re pariahs now. Time to shut those racist mouths of yours.”
  • Apparently addressing Lord Walney: “Paid up member of the ‘Israel’ lobby, a shill for the arms companies…Sit down, Zionist wretch. The Palestinian blood will never wash off your hands. You’re a pariah now.”
  • “Get my name out of your mouth, fascist-Zionist scum.”
  • Responding to a post regarding Palestine Action that read, “The organisation may be banned. The action isn’t. Escalate,” he responded: “Escalate!”
  • Addressing the Chief Rabbi: “Sir Ephraim Mirvis shut your racist, Zionist mouth…You’re a pariah. Resign.”
  • Regarding the then-imminent proscription of Palestine Action, he said: “So, the High Court does have the power to suspend the effect of the intent to ban. Don’t act as if it’s already happened. It hasn’t happened yet. Keep escalating. But if it does happen, in my opinion, what needs to happen is direct action groups, copycat direct action groups, need to spring up everywhere.”

We have told the Bar Standards Board that we consider this to be an extremely serious case of professional misconduct.

Mr Magennis must be suspended from practising, pending further investigation and disciplinary action.

CAA submits complaint to GMC regarding Dr Rehiana Ali

Dr Rehiana Ali has said that Hamas are “freedom fighters” who should not be on the list of banned terror groups, posted several claims about “Jewish privilege”, appeared to question how many Jews died in the Holocaust, said that she finds Holocaust-denier David Irving “interesting” and wished him a happy birthday and has spoken of “Jewish privilege”, “Jewish supremacy” and a supposed “Jew taboo” and has claimed that ISIS is actually Jewish and that Israel did 9/11.

She has also spoken positively of the assassinated leaders of Hamas and Hizballah and believes that Hamas and Palestine Action should not be proscribed terrorist organisations.

Clearly, these maniacal posts — which you can read in full here — from a registered, practising doctor bring the medical profession into disrepute.

Dr Ali declared that she does not treat Israelis. It is clear to us that any Jewish person would quite reasonably feel unsafe if put in her care. Even beyond the Jewish community, who wants to be treated by practitioners with such hateful conspiratorial obsessions? This is not what the public expects from the medical sector.

She was handed an interim suspension late last year, but that has now been lifted while the GMC is still investigating. We have now submitted a fresh complaint to the GMC regarding her conduct since being suspended.

The GMC is right to have opposed the lifting of her suspension, but it also has a duty to carry out these investigations in a more timely fashion, which it is failing to do.

Her rhetoric is quite clearly inflammatory, but this is also all too illustrative of what British Jews risk facing when they go for treatment.

The NHS is becoming an increasingly hostile environment for Jewish people, be they practitioners or patients. We will take whatever action we can to challenge this abominable trend.

Disappointing Foreign Affairs Committee report is a predictable missed opportunity

The Foreign Affairs Committee has released its report on “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”.

Campaign Against Antisemitism had made a submission to the Committee during its inquiry.

The report is extremely disappointing.

Yet again, our politicians have decided to take the easy way out, recycling the same tired formulations based on the same outdated assumptions that brought about the 7th October atrocity and the wider war.

They did not adopt a single one of our recommendations.

The point of these inquiries is to listen. This report shows scant evidence of that.

Consequently, it will do nothing to advance peace abroad or calm extremism and hatred at home. What a missed opportunity.

Support Jewish students

Do you want to support Jewish students on campus and develop the skills and experience to become a powerful voice in the fight against antisemitism?

We are looking for a full-time paid School and Campus Educator for up to eight months, starting in September 2025.

You will be working alongside our Education Officer in our Central London office from Monday to Thursday.

For more information and to apply, please visit antisemitism.org/jobs.

The silent but growing boycott and exclusion of Jewish people and their events must be a wake-up call to us all.

For as long as any of us can remember, publicity for Jewish events has always had to be toned down, venues needed to be kept secret and even speakers and participants could not always be disclosed. That was bad enough.

The prospect of events not being able to take place at all and artists, performers, lecturers and professionals being prevented from pursuing their livelihoods and entertaining and educating us all is intolerable.

We must do more than take a stand. We must march. We hope that you will join us.

Image credit: Festival Fringe Society

Dr Rehiana Ali
, ,

CAA submits complaint to GMC regarding Dr Rehiana Ali

Campaign Against Antisemitism has submitted a complaint to the General Medical Council (GMC) after the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service revoked its interim suspension of Dr Rehiana Ali.

Dr Ali was suspended on an interim basis on 20th December 2024 following complaints regarding alleged inflammatory and grossly unprofessional rhetoric on social media.

Among the prolific posts on her social media accounts prior to her suspension were queries regarding how many Jews really died in the Holocaust and references to the Holocaust-denier David Irving, “Jewish supremacy”, a Holocaust in Gaza, the leader of Hamas as a “male role model” and claims that Hamas are not terrorists. You can see the posts in full below:

  • A post on 10th August 2024 that read in part: “It shouldn’t be that way. But I’m struck by how many ‘mainstream’ organisations….including the Jewish MEDICAL organisation …are comfortable attacking ME for opposing a genocide (a holocaust)…”
  • A post on 14th August 2024 that read: “It is horrifying. But why does it only mention Dresden? The Allies bombed Germany FIRST. Hitler did not respond initially. It was repeated attacks that he could not ignore.”
  • A post on 18th August 2024 read: “Even Auschwitz changed their figures from 4 million to 1 million….So, 6 million minus 3 million = 3 million Why are you quoting 6 million?”
  • A further post on 18th August 2024 that read: “Oh dear. 6 million included all. I asked you if the figure OF 4 million at Auschwitz…. was revised to 1 million….why did the overall figure not change? 6 million MINUS 3 million is NOT 6 million. Right?”
  • A post on 22nd August regarding disgraced historian David Irving.
  • A post on 18th September 2024 read: “Most of us feel this way. They’re sick, twisted, deranged, maniacal, inhumane Demonic. Israel can’t end soon enough for me.”
  • A further post on 18th September 2024 read: “Israelis should not be allowed near humanity. Not near our food, water supply, our technology. They are dangerous. There’s nothing they will not do. Demons.”
  • A post on 7th October 2024 that referenced Hassan Nasrallah, the assassinated leader of the proscribed antisemitic terrorist organisation Hizballah: “Israel has failed. Nasrallah is now a legend – completely untouchable – in Lebanon. They’ve just immortalised the man forever. Rest in Peace.”
  • A post on 21st October 2024 that read: “ISIS was a Mossad operation. Happy to help.”
  • A post on 22nd October that read in part: “Zionism is one manifestation of jewish supremacy. Organ harvesting is not about establishing a homeland ..ergo it is not jewish nationalism (or ‘zionism’)”
  • A further post on 22th October 2024 read: “Everything about Israel is grotesque.”
  • A post on 23rd October 2024 that read: “There’s a real live Holocaust in Gaza. They’re being BURNT to death. The literal definition of a Holocaust. Infinitely more terrible than gas chambers with wooden doors.”
  • A post on 24th October 2024 referenced Yahya Sinwar, the assassinated leader of proscribed antisemitic terrorist organisation Hamas: “Israel will lose. They’ve just turned Sinwar into a legend. A male role model.” 
  • A post on 26th October 2024 read in part: “Now let’s just say that Hamas are not terrorists and are legitimate Palestinian resistance. That the UK law was abused at the behest of the Israeli lobby and they need to be de-proscribed. Here’s a helping hand – it was written in Oct 2023. In case it takes you another year to state the obvious. It IS legal to disagree with the law whilst abiding by it – however ridiculous it is.”
  • A post on 2nd November 2024 read: “Israelis should be banned from everything. Love it.”
  • A further post on 2nd November 2024 read: “Israel…..wouldn’t the world be a nicer place without thieves, cheats, pedophiles and genocidal maniacs..? Not to mention blackmailers!”
  • A post on 7th November 2024 that appeared to suggest that Anne Frank was not the author of her eponymous diary.
  • A post on 12th November that appeared to amplify the suggestion that Hitler did not order the genocide of the Jews.

The suspension by an Interim Orders Tribunal at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service for eighteen months was imposed pending the conclusion of a full GMC investigation. The interim suspension did not represent a definitive finding against Dr Ali.

Dr Ali is a consultant neurologist. Previously, she served as a Clinical Research Fellow at Imperial College London for a decade. She has reportedly worked in the NHS for two decades. She also stood as an independent candidate in Bradford at last year’s general election.

At the time of the suspension, a spokesperson for the GMC said: “Dr Rehiana Ali has been interim suspended pending the conclusion of a full GMC investigation. An Interim Orders Tribunal of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service imposed the interim suspension on her practice on Friday (20 December). We are acutely aware of the concerns that have been raised regarding Dr Ali, and we will take action where concerns suggest patient safety or the public’s confidence in doctors may be at risk.”

While suspended, Dr Ali continued to post grotesque material online, including references to “the Israeli lobby and their shekels”, more on David Irving, conspiracy theories relating to the Talmud, a supposed taboo around the words ‘Jew’ and ‘Jewish’, claims that “9/11 was a Mossad operation” and that ISIS is actually Jewish, Hamas as “legitimate Palestinian resistance”, the “Jewish lobby”, “Jewish privilege” and more. You can see the posts in full below:

  • A post on 22nd December 2024 that read in part: “And why can’t @realstewpeters deny the holocaust?”
  • A post on 24th December 2024 that read: “We all know HOW Hamas was proscribed. It’s no secret. The israeli lobby and their shekels. You need booting out of Britain.”
  • A post on 2nd January that read: “I was suspended as a doctor…one of the tweets that the israeli lobby didn’t like was one of David Irving’s short clips in which his challenge of £1000 to anyone providing a source document re Hitler knowing anything re alleged death camps has never been taken….with a comment ‘strange’. How dare I re-retweet someone the chosen few have cancelled! Who came them the authority to police everyone’s speech?”
  • A post on 28th January that commented on the removal of a protesters at a Holocaust Memorial Day speech controversially given by the President of Ireland, despite opposition by Jewish groups, in which the President referenced events in Gaza: “They dragged out hecklers…but she brings jewish into it. They were ridiculously gentle with this disruptor. But always it’s the same. Can’t do that – I’m jewish. I’m afraid you’re not more special than anyone else. Get over yourselves. I don’t care what your Talmud says.”
  • A post on 3rd March that read: “The taboo over the word ‘jew’ and ‘jewish’ is ridiculous. And this taboo is maintained by both the zionists and the anti-zionists. Both attempt to restrict/censor my free speech.”
  • A post on 10th March that read in part: “9/11 was a Mossad operation.”
  • A further post on 10th March that accused ISIS leaders of being fake Muslims and actually Jewish.
  • A post on 21st March that read in part: “It’s Jewish Supremacy that’s the biggest threat to the human race.”
  • A post on 22nd March that read: “You need to read the Talmud: 9/11 USS Liberty  Lavender affair JFK assassination Epstein files Just a few examples. The fact that you refuse to even look or don’t mind being called ‘goy’…is very telling.”
  • A further post on 22nd March promoting conspiracy theories about the Talmud.
  • A post on 26th March that read in part: “Mr [David] Irving is featured in this short piece I wrote.”
  • A post on 30th March that read: “Makes you wonder WHY the obvious has to be said? But it’s definitely a problem – we have no issue criticising anyone else but when it comes to jewish people, there’s a complete jew taboo. People are afraid to offend a jewish person. Afraid that they’ll be accused of ‘anti-semitism’. You get threatened with lawfare, could lose your job and completely cancelled. This jewish privilege has got to go. This shouldn’t be controversial. Pass it on.”
  • A post on 12th April that read: “No one with any intellect or humanity sees Hamas as a terrorist organisation. It’s legitimate Palestinian resistance. The UK proscription is out of step with international law and public opinion. It’s time it was de-proscribed – and the ‘Israeli’ lobbies kicked out of the UK.”
  • A post on 13th April that read in part: “This is why jewish supremacy is the problem. This extreme narcissism must be dealt with. It’s incompatible with good relations with fellow Earth inhabitants.”
  • A post on 11th May that read in part: “People are conditioned not to say ‘Jew’ or ‘Jewish’ when it’s perfectly legitimate. It’s called the Jew taboo.”
  • A post on 13th May that read in part: “Jewish extremists. Just get over the jew taboo…”
  • A post on 16th May that read: “It’s never pleasant but I know even more now about 9/11, the Talmud, all the false flags ‘Israel’ committed, the polling data regarding ‘Israeli’ extremism, the crimes against the Palestinians, the Organ trafficking business, intricacies of international law, and Chabad etc etc You have to find the silver lining.”
  • A post on 21st May that read in part: “Hamas are Palestinian resistance. They’re not terrorists but freedom fighters. Palestinians have EVERY right to resist Occupation. They need to be de-proscribed.”
  • A post on 30th May that read: “Even worse when we know ‘israel’ did 9/11.”
  • A post on 2nd June that read: “So…the Jewish lobby has no power? And if you believe it does, then you’re an ‘anti-semite’.”
  • A post on 3rd June that read: “Hardly surprising. Hamas are freedom fighters – it’s victory or martyrdom.”
  • A post on 13th June that read in part: “Hamas was proscribed unlawfully and it should be de-proscribed under Article 4. We should proscribe ‘Israel’ and round up every ‘israeli’ terrorist.”
  • A further post on 13th June that read: “Very true. Jewish privilege rules supreme in the UK.”
  • A post on 18th June that read in part: “the Western govts are captured by jewish supremacists.”
  • A post on 21st June that read in part: “It’s called Jewish privilege.”
  • A post on 29th June that read in part: “This is the biggest example of Jewish privilege. Most people can’t even say the ‘j’word. The jew taboo is too great.”
  • A post on 1st July that read in part: “I think most people are now aware about ‘israel’ being behind most false flags. ‘ISIS’ was a Mossad creation. The sooner we terminate ‘israel’, the sooner we end terrorism.”
  • A post on 7th July that read in part: “It is perfectly legal to call for the deproscription of Palestine Action. It should never have been proscribed.”
  • A post on 22nd July promoting a new podcast: “R&R The ‘Anti-Semitic’ Club.”

This is just a sample of the posts, which are absolutely prolific and regularly reference other tropes and conspiracies.

It was, therefore, remarkable that on 14th July 2025, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service resolved to revoke its interim suspension of Dr Ali, against the wishes of the GMC.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has now submitted a fresh complaint to the GMC against Dr Ali regarding her social media rhetoric since the interim suspension was imposed.

Our lawyers are also examining the posts with a view to possible further action.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Clearly, these maniacal posts from a registered, practicing doctor bring the medical profession into disrepute. Dr Ali declared that she does not treat Israelis, and any Jewish person would quite reasonably feel unsafe if put in her care. Even beyond the Jewish community, who wants to be treated by practitioners with such hateful conspiratorial obsessions? This is not what the public expects from the medical sector. That is why we have submitted this fresh complaint. The GMC is right to have opposed the lifting of her suspension, but it also has a duty to carry out these investigations in a more timely fashion, which it is failing to do.”

,

Moorfields Eye Hospital’s ‘unconscious bias’ anti-racism training reportedly makes no mention of Jews

An ‘unconscious bias’ anti-racism training seminar reportedly failed (unconsciously?) to incorporate any reference to Jews or antisemitism.

Moorfields Eye Hospital’s Chief People Officer, Sue Steen, reportedly told NHS employees at the hospital that the compulsory webinar was part of “trust-wide efforts to help ensure an inclusive, respectful, and equitable workplace”.

Ms Steen hoped that the session, which was part of a series, would help create “a truly anti-racist working environment” and allow staff to “recognise and respond to microaggressions, gain tools to challenge bias, and explore how we can act as allies”.

According to one attendee of the webinar, who spoke to The JC, reported feeling disgusted that anti-Jewish racism had been excluded even as dozens of case studies relating to other forms of hatred were covered.

The NHS trust that runs the hospital says that antisemitism will now be included.

That cannot happen quickly enough, given the apparent unconscious bias against Jews at the institution.

,

Disappointing Foreign Affairs Committee report is a missed opportunity

Today, the Foreign Affairs Committee has released its report on “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”.

CAA had made a submission to the Committee during its inquiry. The submission can be read here.

We made the following recommendations to the Committee: 

  • The Government should treat Hamas as an illegitimate entity and ensure that any policy that it pursues ultimately aims towards a world in which Hamas does not exist. It would be unconscionable for the British Government to risk appearing to endorse a group that is proscribed in the UK as a respectable partner abroad.
  • The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) must make greater efforts to ensure the safe and swift return of all of the remaining hostages. This must be undertaken in a way that does not legitimise or empower Hamas, especially through pressure on Iran, Qatar and Egypt, all of which have relations with and leverage over Hamas.
  • All of the organisations that were involved in the 7th October 2023 attack must be proscribed in full under the Terrorism Act 2000.
  • Hamas is an offshoot of the Society of the Muslim Brothers, popularly known as the Muslim Brotherhood. This organisation is proscribed in a number of countries, and the UK should follow suit.
  • Ansar Allah (the Houthis) is a terror group backed by Iran with a long history of violent attacks in a number of different countries, and whose slogan is “Death to America, Death to Israel, Damn the Jews.” The Houthis must be proscribed in full under the Terrorism Act 2000.
  • The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the US, Canada, Israel, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Britain must finally follow suit, in fulfilment of Labour’s pre-election pledge.
  • Any British funding to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) must be carefully vetted to ensure that it does not directly or indirectly benefit terrorist organisations or promote antisemitism, in addition to rigorous safeguards against corruption. The FCDO must disclose whether legal advice was sought or obtained in relation to the decision to resume funding to UNRWA, and must publish a summary of the legal advice. British Jews in particular have a clear and significant interest in understanding how the British Government is guaranteeing that funds to UNRWA are not being used to directly or indirectly benefit terrorist organisations or promote antisemitism.

The report does not adopt any of these recommendations.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This report is extremely disappointing. Yet again, our politicians have decided to take the easy way out, recycling the same tired formulations based on the same outdated assumptions that brought about the 7th October atrocity and the wider war. Such a shame that they did not adopt a single one of our recommendations. The point of these inquiries is to listen. This report shows scant evidence of that. Consequently, it will do nothing to advance peace abroad or calm extremism and hatred at home. What a missed opportunity.”

,

CAA submits complaint to Bar Standards Board regarding Franck Magennis

Campaign Against Antisemitism has submitted a further complaint to the Bar Standards Board regarding barrister Franck Magennis.

Mr Magennis, who is one of the barristers connected to the application by Hamas to be de-proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK, is the subject of an outstanding complaint by us, which was submitted in May.

This new complaint cites further activity that we consider to be of an extremely serious nature.

Among the social media rhetoric in question is:

  • “Zionism is collapsing. Keep hammering anyone who still identifies as a Zionist. Their apartheid state is a pariah. It’s on its way out, just like South Africa, like Jim Crow, like the French in Algeria. Escalate!!”
  • “Zionists out there: read the room. You’re pariahs now. Time to shut those racist mouths of yours.”
  • “Apparently addressing Lord Walney: Paid up member of the ‘Israel’ lobby, a shill for the arms companies most threatened by @Pal_action’s glorious work. Who cares what you think? Sit down, Zionist wretch. The Palestinian blood will never wash off your hands. You’re a pariah now.”
  • “Get my name out of your mouth, fascist-Zionist scum.”
  • Responding to a post regarding Palestine Action that read, “The organisation may be banned. The action isn’t. Escalate,” he responded: “Escalate!”
  • Addressing the Chief Rabbi: “Sir Ephraim Mirvis shut your racist, Zionist mouth challenge. An apologist for apartheid and genocide, his moral and political authority has collapsed. No one should attach any weight to what he says about racism, Palestinian freedom, or anything else. You’re a pariah. Resign.”
  • Regarding the then-imminent proscription of Palestine Action, he said: “So, the High Court does have the power to suspend the effect of the intent to ban. Don’t act as if it’s already happened. It hasn’t happened yet. Keep escalating. But if it does happen, in my opinion, what needs to happen is direct action groups, copycat direct action groups, need to spring up everywhere.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We have told the Bar Standards Board that we consider this to be an extremely serious case of professional misconduct. Mr Magennis must be suspended from practising, pending further investigation and disciplinary action.”

, , , , , , ,

In cafés and onstage, on our streets and campuses, on television and online, hate is all around us, and we are responding

This weekend has showcased just how desperate the situation is for British Jews – and all Britons who believe in law and order, decency and tolerance – and has underscored to us at Campaign Against Antisemitism why what we do is so important.

It is hard to know where to begin.

Assault on Charedi man

We were alerted to reports of a man who chased a Jew down the street shouting “Free Palestine” in what was an act of brazen antisemitism.

Apparently some see a Jewish person and think that, because they are Jewish, they are fair game to harass in the name of ‘freeing Palestine’. Others, clearly not fearing any repercussions, will actually act upon their demented impulse.

Campaign Against Antisemitism exists to ensure that they do face repercussions.

We offered a reward for information leading to the identification and conviction of the perpetrator. Already on the same day, we were contacted confidentially by a member of the public with a tip as to the identity of perpetrator.

Our Online Monitoring and Investigations Unit has now verified the information provided to us. It is our intention to ensure that the person responsible for this brazen act of antisemitism faces the full force of the law.

If you have information regarding this incident, including information about the perpetrator, please contact us confidentially at [email protected].

This is the true face of Palestine protesters.

*See antisemitism.org/terms

Attack at kosher café

We received footage of an attack on Jewish customers at a kosher restaurant in central London.

We helped to publicise the incident and understand that police have made an arrest and are reportedly treating this as a hate crime. Those responsible for any attack must face the full force of the law.

Meanwhile, in Manchester, we learned that a man believed to be leaving an Oasis concert was reported to police after a Jewish man was verbally abused.

At approximately 21:45 last night, a topless man, believed to be drunk, came to the entrance of a kosher restaurant on Bury Old Road and began harassing customers, all of whom were identifiably Jewish.

The man then allegedly started commenting on customers being Jewish and is understood to have mentioned “bad Jews in Israel” before demanding to know what the views of the customers were on the conflict. We understand that this made those in the restaurant feel incredibly uncomfortable. Backing away from the door after being approached, he then shouted “Free Palestine!”

Nearby officers at the scene were made aware of the alleged assailant. We are in touch with the victim and offering support.

Our polling shows that fewer than half of British Jews (43%) feel welcome in the UK. With incidents like these, is it any wonder?

Even the opera is not immune

At the curtain call for a performance of Verdi’s Il Trovatore at the Royal Opera House in London, a member of the cast unfurled the flag of the Palestinian Authority onstage.

It is so typical of the narcissism of some of the Palestine crowd that they hijack the last night of an enormously successful production at one of the world’s most famous opera houses and try to make it about their performative politics. Other members of the cast who had worked so hard must have wondered why people in the audience started to boo during their curtain call, as an incensed stage manager tried to grab the flag.

The Royal Ballet and Opera has denounced what happened as “a wholly inappropriate act”. We completely agree.

We understand that the performer was a freelancer and that this was their last night on stage. If that’s the case, good riddance.

This isn’t about freeing Palestine. This is about an attention-seeker craving even more of the spotlight.

Brits trying to enjoy an evening out shouldn’t have to worry about whether fanatics obsessed with the world’s only Jewish state may try to dominate the night.

“Zionist Holocaust” on London’s streets

On Saturday, Palestine Action’s supporters were out in force, on a day with over 100 arrests.

Masked thugs took over the streets in London and towns around the UK once again, firing flares, shouting “f*** your Jewish state” at Jews, and smugly goading officers, daring them to do something. Thankfully, they did.

Police made over 100 arrests. 55 were arrested in London on suspicion of supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation, with a further sixteen arrested in Manchester, and seventeen in Bristol for the same offence. Another ten were arrested at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s march in London, including for a racially aggravated public order offence, and for breaching Public Order Act conditions.

Meanwhile, walking around Central London parading a sign about a “Zionist Holocaust” is abhorrent and disgraceful.

Some six million Jewish men, women and children were murdered in the Holocaust, representing around one third of the world’s Jewish population. 80 years later, the Jewish population has still not fully recovered. There is no comparison to be made.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Extremist rhetoric has no place on our streets.

If you see such rhetoric, contact us at [email protected].

Show your opposition to what our country is becoming: March with us on 7th September

Since the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, the thuggery and performative nature of this movement have become increasingly clear. It seems pretty obvious to us that Palestine Action smashes up Jewish businesses and wrecks RAF aircraft because they hate Jews and hate Britain, so their supporters cannot then claim to be persecuted peaceful protesters advocating for an organisation that is meek and harmless.

If this were about foreign conflicts, they would have spoken up against the massacre of Druze in Syria this week, but they were silent. Why? Because they are extremists, obsessed with Jews, the Jewish state, and intimidating and radicalising here on the streets of the UK.

In almost two years, they have yet to influence anything thousands of miles away in the Middle East, but they are having an enormous impact on the lives of ordinary law-abiding people here in Britain.

We welcome the robust action from the authorities. However, those arrested this weekend must face the full force of the law, not be released to take over our cities again.

The police action that we are seeing now should have happened nearly two years ago when the Palestine extremists first began their campaign of intimidation, gaslighting the British public by labelling their thuggery as “peaceful”. But it is still too little, too late.

The constant protests, masked mobs, vandalism, glorification of terrorism, and open hatred of Jews that we have seen week after week must end. They were given an inch, and they’ve now taken the country. Enough is enough.

On 7th September, we will be in Central London for Britain’s March Against Antisemitism, demanding action. Join us.

Sign up now at antisemitism.org/march.

The BBC is still trying to defend itself

Video leaked this week of Deborah Turness, the CEO of BBC News, appearing to downplay the scandal of licence fee money going to the family of a Hamas official whose son narrated a BBC documentary about Gaza.

In the footage, she sought to emphasise that the official in question – a deputy minister in the Hamas Government – was supposedly a member of Hamas’ so-called ‘political wing’.

Notwithstanding that the artificial distinction between Hamas’ military and political wings is nonsense (as if the Nazi Government was somehow more palatable because it wasn’t the SS), both ‘wings’ are proscribed by the British Government, and providing support or financial benefit to either is equally unlawful.

Isn’t it funny how now it’s so “important to remind people” of this official’s precise role, when it wasn’t important at all in the so-called documentary itself.

The BBC is still trying to play down this scandal. There is always an excuse.

This is why we said that the BBC’s internal report on the scandal almost read like the Corporation was trying to exonerate itself – and this is further evidence.

Ofcom, which is now investigating, should take into account the broadcaster’s institutional inability – as we have seen time and again from the BBC – to accept its failings.

Does the public trust the BBC?

According to our polling, 92% of British Jews rate the BBC’s coverage of matters of Jewish interest as unfavourable.

Elie hit the streets to see what the public thinks. You can listen to what they have to say here.

On the rare occasion the BBC does the right thing, Channel 4 will make up for it

It would appear that a producer of a Gaza documentary axed by the BBC (a different Gaza documentary to the one narrated by the Hamas official’s son), but then aired by Channel 4, is someone who celebrates antisemitic terror attacks that murder Jews.

Osama Al Ashi was one of two Gazan producers working on the documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, which was made by Basement Films, an independent production company. The film had been commissioned by the BBC, but the Corporation, reeling from the other Gaza documentary fiasco, decided that broadcasting this other film “risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC”.

Channel 4 then acquired the film, declaring it had carried out “thorough fact checking and verification” to ensure that it met its editorial standards and the Ofcom broadcasting code. The documentary was broadcast on 2nd July.

It has now emerged, however, that Mr Ashi previously described Khairi Alqam, a 21-year-old terrorist from Jerusalem who murdered seven Israelis, including a fourteen-year-old child, outside a synagogue on Holocaust Memorial Day in 2023, as a “martyr”. Mr Ashi reportedly reacted to the attack by posting a commemorative video showing photos of the terrorist, captioned “the martyr Khairi Alqam – may God have mercy on him and forgive him”, a common Arabic condolence message.

On 7th October 2023, Mr Ashi reportedly shared footage of Hamas terrorists flying into Israel by paraglider, set to an Islamist song encouraging fighting. The post is captioned: “These are the videos that settlers are now circulating of the resistance storming and infiltrating the occupied territories in the Gaza Strip.”

On another social media platform, also on 7th October, Mr Ashi reportedly posted a video showing Hamas rockets being fired into Israel, accompanied by an excitable child’s voice saying: “Go, go!” The video is captioned “keep going, oh Mahdi, keep going!” followed by two fire emojis and a laughing-crying emoji.

There was reportedly other inflammatory material as well.

Deborah Turness, the CEO of BBC News, recently revealed that it was concerns over the “social media activity” of a journalist involved in this documentary that prompted the Corporation to pause production. Ramita Navai had reportedly said during a BBC radio interview that Israel was “a rogue state that’s committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing and mass-murdering Palestinians”.

Channel 4 saw fit to give Mr Ashi a platform to air his film on themes related to these outrageous social media posts, to say nothing of other individuals who were involved in the production of the documentary.

Channel 4 has no excuse. They knew that the film was high risk after the BBC axed it, but they thought that they had scored some PR win by broadcasting it themselves. What they have instead is a PR disaster – and a predictable one at that.

Whoever decided that this publicly-funded broadcaster should show this programme clearly needs to be fired. No ifs or buts.

We will be writing to Channel 4 and to Ofcom.

Catching bots in the act

On Friday, #Famine_in_Gaza was trending on the social media platform X. Campaign Against Antisemitism investigated the trend and found that it was started and manipulated by bots.

Here’s how it works:

First, hundreds of accounts start posting phrases concocted by AI, but all using the #Famine_in_Gaza hashtag.

All of the bot accounts post with the hashtag and a phrase that a typical X user might post. There is no engagement with the post because these particular bots have no friends.

The bots then use a random string of characters at the end of the post, for example, “tYuJL”. This is to make X’s anti-bot algorithm think that it’s definitely a unique post. 

The bots look at each other’s posts to fool the X algorithm into thinking that they’re interesting. As a result, bot accounts with a small number of followers have a disproportionately high number of views on their posts. 

In terms of ownership, some bots are operated by state actors to pursue an agenda, but today’s bots are just bots for sale, which post about anything. One of the bots identified by Campaign Against Antisemitism posts in all languages about everything from scams to politics and likes to “lick hallucinogenic frogs”, according to its profile. 

Someone, somewhere, decided to direct a bot farm to promote the hashtag #Famine_in_Gaza and an army of bots swung into action. The bots are mostly registered around 2011 and 2012 and have been posting in coordination for a very long time.

After a while, the hashtag reaches number one and real users weigh in. One user’s post with the hashtag read: “Israel, worse than Nazi Germany.” According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Unfortunately, this phenomenon is all too common. When Elon Musk took over X, he said that he would end the influence of bots on the platform, but that clearly hasn’t happened.

This isn’t just a case of a few hackers having fun on social media. It is the deliberate manipulation of public discourse, with real-world consequences for Jews across the globe, who have faced an unimaginable surge in antisemitism over the past two years — a crisis only worsened by foul play online. This is the new face of media manipulation, and it is deadly serious.

Why has Diane Abbott (only) been suspended?

Diane Abbott MP has doubled down on comments about Jews that she previously made in a letter to The Observer that previously got her suspended from the Labour Party.

The original 2023 letter was written in response to an article in The Observer by Tomiwa Owolade, which commented on a new report on ethnic inequality that revealed that “Irish, Jewish and Traveller people are among the most abused.”

Ms Abbott wrote: “Tomiwa Owolade claims that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from ‘racism’. They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable. It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism…”

Asked by the BBC if she regretted the incident, she reportedly said “No, not at all,” and proceeded to try to defend the remarks.

That was not the full story, however.

In its article covering the interview with the long-serving MP, the BBC summarised the letter as follows: “She suggested people of colour experienced racism in a different way to Jewish people, Irish people and Travellers.”

But that isn’t what she wrote.

So, Ms Abbott stands by rhetoric that got her suspended from Labour, which is clearly conduct that merits expulsion from the Party.

The BBC misreports the original incident, misleadingly paraphrasing the language in a way that makes it seem less offensive to Jewish people.

We called, yet again, for Ms Abbott finally to be expelled from the Labour Party, and, yet again, for an independent investigation into the BBC and its coverage of matters of Jewish interest.

Interesting how Labour and the BBC have both struggled to get to grips with this same issue.

While the BBC amended its article, Labour announced that Ms Abbott would be suspended.

But let’s be clear: Ms Abbott has been suspended for doubling down on comments for which she was previously suspended. Does that make sense to anybody?

Two yellow cards is a red in our book.

Ms Abbott has obviously not learned a thing from her previous suspension. There is no reason to believe that she will from this one. She must be expelled.

On our campuses and in our schools

Jewish students on campus have had to endure seismic levels of abusive antisemitism since 7th October 2023.

Anti-Israel protests and encampments left many feeling unsafe at their own university.

Now these same activists have capped off their streak of disruptive and intimidatory activism by ruining graduation ceremonies.

Showcasing an obsession with Israel — the world’s only Jewish state — during a graduation ceremony is not noble. It is shameful.

Students have spent years working for their degree so that they may finally graduate. Hijacking what should be one of the proudest moments in the lives of fellow students and their families for the sake of performative activism does nothing to bring peace to the Middle East. This attention-seeking only spreads hate right here in the UK.

A new survey of Jewish teachers by the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) has found that more than half of Jewish teachers have reported abuse.

They have reported increasing instances of swastika graffiti and chants of “free Palestine” and “f*** the Jews”.

One Jewish teacher said: “On multiple occasions, students have shouted ‘free Palestine’ at me. On another occasion, someone shouted ‘f*** the Jews’ outside a meeting of Jewish students.”

Our Director of Investigations and Enforcement appeared on GB News to examine the issue.

With attacks and intimidation in cafes and on our streets, on campuses and in schools, in our media and online, it is difficult to know where to begin when explaining how desperate the situation is becoming for British Jews.

It is also not clear where things will end.

Our country is changing. We must not stand by.

March with us on Sunday 7th September.

, ,

CAA identifies man who appears to shout “Free Palestine” and chase visibly Jewish man

Campaign Against Antisemitism believes that it has identified a man who appeared to video himself targeting a visibly Jewish man.

In the footage, the alleged attacker appears to film himself saying “Free Palestine” at the Jewish man, who then responds saying “No picture,” before walking away. The man filming addresses the camera, saying, “He wants my money. He wants to steal my money.”

Visibly distressed, the Jewish man runs away from the man filming, asking him to stop. The man filming is seen chasing the Jewish man, shouting “Oy, come here, bruv…Why are you running?”

After publishing the footage and offering a £5,000 reward for information leading to the identification and conviction of the perpetrator, Campaign Against Antisemitism was contacted by a member of the public with a tip as to the identity of the perpetrator.

Our Online Monitoring and Investigations Unit has now verified the information provided to us.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Chasing a Jew through London and shouting ‘Free Palestine’ is an act of brazen antisemitism. This is the true face of Palestine protesters. Some may see a Jewish person and think that, because they are Jewish, they are fair game to harass in the name of ‘freeing Palestine’. Others, clearly not fearing any repercussions, will actually act upon their demented impulse. Only 16% of British Jews are confident that if they reported an antisemitic crime, it would be prosecuted if there was strong enough evidence, according to our representative polling. This is a chance for the authorities to change that. We will do everything we can to ensure that the perpetrator of this alleged attack is brought to justice. We cannot risk others becoming targets of this terrifying behaviour.”

*See antisemitism.org/terms

,

Here’s how bots blow up a hashtag on X

On Friday, #Famine_in_Gaza was trending on the social media platform X. Campaign Against Antisemitism investigated the trend and found that it was started and manipulated by bots.

Here’s how it works:

First, hundreds of accounts start posting phrases concocted by AI, but all using the #Famine_in_Gaza hashtag.

All of the bot accounts post with the hashtag and a phrase that a typical X user might post. There is no engagement with the post because these particular bots have no friends.

The bots then use a random string of characters at the end of the post, for example, “tYuJL”. This is to make X’s anti-bot algorithm think that it’s definitely a unique post.

The bots look at each other’s posts to fool the X algorithm into thinking that they’re interesting. As a result, bot accounts with a small number of followers have a disproportionately high number of views on their posts.

In terms of ownership, some bots are operated by state actors to pursue an agenda, but today’s bots are just bots for sale, which post about anything. One of the bots identified by Campaign Against Antisemitism posts in all languages about everything from scams to politics and likes to “lick hallucinogenic frogs”, according to its profile.

Someone, somewhere, decided to direct a bot farm to promote the hashtag #Famine_in_Gaza and an army of bots swung into action. The bots are mostly registered around 2011 and 2012 and have been posting in coordination for a very long time.

After a while, the hashtag reaches number one and real users weigh in. One user’s post with the hashtag read: “Israel, worse than Nazi Germany.” According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This phenomenon is all too common. When Elon Musk took over X, he said that he would end bot farming on the platform, but that clearly hasn’t happened. This isn’t just a case of a few hackers having fun on social media. It is the deliberate manipulation of public discourse, with real-world consequences for Jews across the globe, who have faced an unimaginable surge in antisemitism over the past two years — a crisis only worsened by foul play online. This is the new face of media manipulation, and it’s deadly serious.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism continues its robust engagement with social media companies over the content that they enable to be published, and we continue to make representations to the Government in this connection.

,

Diane Abbott suspended from Labour again

Diane Abbott has been suspended from the Labour Party after she doubled down on comments about Jews in a letter to The Observer that previously got her suspended from the Party.

The letter, published in 2023, was in response to an article in The Observer by Tomiwa Owolade, which commented on a new report on ethnic inequality that revealed that “Irish, Jewish and Traveller people are among the most abused.”

When asked in an interview with James Naughtie on BBC Radio 4 if she looked back on the letter with regret, Ms Abbott responded: “No, not at all.”

She also said: “Clearly, there must be a difference between racism, which is about colour and other types of racism because you can see a Traveller or a Jewish person walking down the street, you don’t know. You don’t know unless you stop to speak to them or you’re in a meeting with them. But if you see a black person walking down the street, you see straight away that they’re black. They are different types of racism.”

In her letter in 2023, Ms Abbott wrote: “Tomiwa Owolade claims that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from ‘racism’. They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable. It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism. In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus. In apartheid South Africa, these groups were allowed to vote. And at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships.”

Following an outcry, Ms Abbott issued a retraction, writing: “I wish to wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks and dissociate myself from them. The errors arose in an initial draft being sent. But there is no excuse, and I wish to apologise for any anguish caused. Racism takes many forms, and it is completely undeniable that Jewish people have suffered its monstrous effects, as have Irish people, Travellers and many others. Once again, I would like to apologise publicly for the remarks and any distress caused as a result of them.”

The Labour Party suspended Ms Abbott at the time, before eventually reinstating her.

Of the suspension, Ms Abbott said in an interview on Newsnight: “It is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out.”

A spokesperson for the Labour Party said: “Diane Abbott has been administratively suspended from the Labour Party, pending an investigation. We cannot comment further while this investigation is ongoing.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Diane Abbott has been suspended for doubling down on comments for which she was previously suspended. Does that make sense to anybody? Two yellow cards is a red in our book. Ms Abbott has obviously not learned a thing from her previous suspension. There is no reason to believe she will from this one. She must be expelled.”

, ,

Diane Abbott doubles down on apparent claim that Jews don’t suffer from racism

Diane Abbott has doubled down on comments about Jews in a letter to The Observer that previously got her suspended from the Labour Party.

The letter, published in 2023, was in response to an article in The Observer by Tomiwa Owolade, which commented on a new report on ethnic inequality that revealed that “Irish, Jewish and Traveller people are among the most abused.”

When asked in an interview with James Naughtie on BBC Radio 4 if she looked back on the letter with regret, Ms Abbott responded: “No, not at all.”

She also said: “Clearly, there must be a difference between racism, which is about colour and other types of racism because you can see a Traveller or a Jewish person walking down the street, you don’t know. You don’t know unless you stop to speak to them or you’re in a meeting with them. But if you see a black person walking down the street, you see straight away that they’re black. They are different types of racism.”

Reporting the news, the BBC misleadingly wrote: “The veteran Labour MP was asked about a letter she sent to the Observer in April 2023 in which she suggested people of colour experienced racism in a different way to Jewish people, Irish people and Travellers.”

The article has since been edited, but it appears that the BBC has not acknowledged or apologised for the error.

Campaign Against Antisemitism is submitting a complaint to the BBC.

A spokesperson for the Labour Party said: “There is no place for antisemitism in the Labour Party. We take these comments incredibly seriously, and will assess them in line with Labour Party’s rules and procedures.”

In her letter in 2023, Ms Abbott wrote: “Tomiwa Owolade claims that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from ‘racism’. They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable. It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism. In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus. In apartheid South Africa, these groups were allowed to vote. And at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships.”

Following an outcry, Ms Abbott issued a retraction, writing: “I wish to wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks and dissociate myself from them. The errors arose in an initial draft being sent. But there is no excuse, and I wish to apologise for any anguish caused. Racism takes many forms, and it is completely undeniable that Jewish people have suffered its monstrous effects, as have Irish people, Travellers and many others. Once again, I would like to apologise publicly for the remarks and any distress caused as a result of them.”

The Labour Party suspended Ms Abbott at the time, before eventually reinstating her.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “When is the Labour Party finally going to show Diane Abbott the door? It was ludicrous enough that she was readmitted to the Party after being suspended the first time for her shameful letter, but now that she has doubled down, Labour is out of excuses. If the Party fails to act, people like Ms Abbott will see this as a green light to spout their ignorant and insulting views about Jews and antisemitism.

“To make matters worse, the BBC has whitewashed her remarks, which is misleading reporting. We call, yet again, for Ms Abbott to be expelled from the Labour Party, and, yet again, for an independent investigation into the BBC and its coverage of matters of Jewish interest. It is interesting how both Labour and the BBC have struggled to get to grips with this same issue.”

, , , , , ,

Ofcom investigating after BBC claims ‘nothing to see here’

The BBC has published its long-awaited report into its decision to broadcast and then take down a documentary purportedly about children’s lives in Gaza. The film was removed from iPlayer after it was revealed that its thirteen-year-old narrator was the son of a senior Hamas official.

In February, the BBC apologised after an interim report identified “serious flaws” in the making of Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone, which was made for the BBC by production company Hoyo Films.

After the revelation of the identity of the narrator by researcher David Collier, Campaign Against Antisemitism organised two protests at Broadcasting House, where we called for the BBC to stop whitewashing terrorism and stop serving as spokespeople for Hamas. We also launched a campaign across national newspapers, calling for the suspension of the licence fee, pending an independent investigation. Our petition making that demand has received tens of thousands of signatures.

This new report, which sheds little additional light, has been led by Peter Johnston, the BBC’s Director of Editorial Complaints and Reviews, which is reportedly independent of BBC News and reports directly to Director General Tim Davie.

We’ve waited months for this report, only for the BBC to try to bury it under Greg Wallace’s professional corpse. Even so, the report says nothing we didn’t already know: paying licence fee money to a Hamas family was bad. The report yields no new insight, and almost reads like it’s trying to exonerate the BBC. The recommendations are frankly insulting. The only one with any merit – which isn’t even in the final list – is to consider introducing more accurate translations of Arabic curses against Jews, which the BBC has been wilfully mistranslating for decades.

The BBC is a place where bias is so ingrained that something like this could happen in the first place. This report fails to grapple with that issue in any way. We expected that from an internal BBC report, which is why we have called from the start for a thorough external investigation into bias in the BBC’s Middle East coverage and a suspension of the licence fee until that happens.

Now, Ofcom has announced that it is opening its own investigation, saying: “Having examined the BBC’s findings, we are launching an investigation under our rule, which states that factual programmes must not materially mislead the audience.”

But this is about more than just this Gaza ‘documentary’. From Glastonbury to Gary Lineker, the BBC has disgraced itself again and again.

If the BBC were an accountable organisation, senior executives would be scrambling to save their jobs. Instead, it’s the usual weasel pledge to ‘update some guidelines’. This is appalling. Under Director General Tim Davie, the BBC has gone from national treasure to national embarrassment. He needs to go.

We are in discussion with the police about taking Britain’s March Against Antisemitism to Broadcasting House on 7th September, because we cannot tackle antisemitism in Britain until we tackle the rot at the BBC.

Will you be able to say that you were there?

Over the weekend, our spokespeople were on television and radio explaining how the findings of a Government-backed report into antisemitism, which will be shocking to many ordinary Britons, reflect the everyday reality for British Jews.

But raising awareness is only the first step. If we want change, we need to fight for it.

Join us on Sunday 7th September in Central London for Britain’s March Against Antisemitism.

Will you be able to say that you were there and helped fight for change?

From TikTok to jail

Shakeel Yunis, 44, of Craven Street, Coventry, has been sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment after he admitted to conveying a threat of serious harm in connection with a TikTok video in which he targeted a Jewish man whom he believed to be serving in the IDF.

In the video, Mr Yunis said that if the Jewish man was “caught in Nando’s with his family, people are not going to care. They’re going to drag him away from his family in front of his family…If he’s in his home, people are gonna go through his home like [name of victim] did with others in Gaza.” Speaking directly to the camera, Mr Yunis said: “Do you think that people like me and many thousands with us are going to leave your people alone?”

Mr Yunis also said in the video: “You’re going to see the consequences of your actions.” Apparently referring to Israel, he also said: “You see everything you’ve got your soldiers to do to others is now going to be returned to them tenfold.”

The victim moved homes, removed his image from social media and began using an alias due to fears for his safety as a result of the incident.

At the time that the video was published, the victim was soon due to give a talk at King’s College London as part of his charity work. Whilst Mr Yunis believed that the victim was serving in the IDF at the time of the video, in fact, the victim had already completed his service.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reported Mr Yunis to the Metropolitan Police on 28th March 2024, shortly after the video was published on TikTok.

On 19th June 2024, Campaign Against Antisemitism was granted a summons by the Westminster Magistrates’ Court to charge Mr Yunis in a private prosecution. He was charged with one count of sending a message that conveyed a threat of serious harm contrary to section 181 of the Online Safety Act 2023 and one count of sending, by means of a public electronic communications network matter, a message of a menacing character contrary to section 127(1)(a) and (3) of the Communications Act 2003.

Mr Yunis was arrested on 2nd August 2024, after which Campaign Against Antisemitism requested that the court proceedings adjourn whilst the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed its own charges against Mr Yunis. Campaign Against Antisemitism then requested that the court adjourn, as it was confirmed that the CPS’s charges related to the same conduct as in the private prosecution. The CPS then saw its case through to conviction and sentencing.

On 22nd August 2024, Mr Yunis pleaded guilty to one count of sending a communication threatening death or serious harm.

The court heard that Mr Yunis had “strong political views” but denied targeting people due to their race or religion. Matthew Cullen, Mr Yunis’ barrister, argued that he was acting on incorrect information and that he felt “severe guilt” about the matter.

The sentencing judge said: “It was a very serious offence which undermines the operation of a stable and civilised society. The need for deterrence is established and is a highly relevant and important factor in your case.”

Shakeel Yunis’ sentencing marks a victory against those who feel that they can target and endanger Jews with impunity. When antisemitism crosses the criminal threshold, there must be ruinous consequences, and that is exactly what Mr Yunis is facing.

We are pleased to have played an important role in bringing this outcome about, and we thank the police and the CPS for treating this case with the seriousness that it merits.

Arrests of Palestine Action supporters after Campaign Against Antisemitism tip-off to police

Last week, our Online Investigations and Monitoring Unit uncovered and exposed plans by a group of fanatics encouraging people to hold signs in support of the now-proscribed terrorist organisation Palestine Action this weekend. We shared these plans with The Telegraph.

The group advised potential protesters: “Although there’s a substantial risk of arrest, and all taking part should be prepared for that, the indications from Saturday are that the stakes for action-takers are relatively low.”

The fact that this group believed that the stakes are low for those who risk breaking the law showed that any appearance of weak enforcement would not deter those prepared to show their support for a terrorist organisation. We informed Counter Terrorism Policing and the Metropolitan Police.

After we tipped off police forces in advance of the protests, police made some 70 arrests over the weekend.

Any individuals found to have committed terror offences must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Extremism in this country must be confronted, and the law must be enforced.

Success: Hamas to remain banned in the UK

The Home Office has announced that Hamas will not be de-proscribed, following the organisation’s application to be removed from the UK’s list of banned terror groups.

Campaign Against Antisemitism provided a detailed dossier to the Home Secretary in response to Hamas’ application, and we welcome this decision.

Hamas can now appeal to the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission. As we have said before, we will never allow Hamas to be de-proscribed in the UK, and will fight in court if necessary.

Meanwhile, following complaints by us and others to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regarding Fahad Ansari, one of Hamas’ lawyers, an investigation has been opened. His law firm is reportedly ceasing to trade as a regular legal practice and the organisation changed its name from Riverway Law to Riverway to the Sea. The name is a blatant reference to the phrase “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free,” which most British Jews regard as an antisemitic call to destroy the Jewish state, according to our representative polling.

The SRA is investigating Mr Ansari’s social media activity, and we have also submitted complaints to the Bar Standards Board regarding the barristers involved in Hamas’ application in relation to their rhetoric.

Time to proscribe the IRGC and the Houthis

With Palestine Action now proscribed – another major success – and Hamas’ application for de-proscribed rejected, it is time for the Home Office finally to turn its attention to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ansar Allah (the Houthis).

At the recent debate in the House of Commons on the proscription of Palestine Action, Sir Iain Duncan Smith rightly raised the issue of the IRGC, saying: “This debate has cast into light the fact that we have taken no action to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Given all the elements that we are discussing today, this question sits like the elephant in the room: why are we not proscribing the IRGC?…That would have a huge impact on terrorism, or aspects of terrorism.”

He also pointed out that “When in opposition, the Government campaigned to proscribe the IRGC.” So why has it not happened yet?

Then, on Thursday, Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee released a major report revealing that Iran has targeted “prominent Jewish individuals” among at least fifteen attempts to kill or kidnap people in Britain.

The report states: “When summarising Iran’s approach to the UK, the Intelligence Community noted that Iran…represents a significant threat to Israeli and Jewish entities.”

Among its top priorities of maintaining the theocratic regime and protecting Shia interests worldwide, targeting Jews and Israelis is a key goal of the Islamic Republic. The IRGC is the key instrument for executing these objectives.

The report notes media reports that the IRGC has allegedly attempted to radicalise British university students through online talks in which IRGC officers espoused antisemitic and violent views, urging students to support illegal attacks and venerating people who had carried out acts of aggression.

The report further says: “The Home Office has rightly proscribed several Iran-supported groups assessed to be concerned in terrorism – such as Al-Qaeda, Hamas and Lebanese Hizbollah – but there are increasingly calls for the UK to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.”

It concludes: “The Government should fully examine whether it would be legally possible and practicable to proscribe the IRGC and, if so, what the arguments are both for and against – and make a full statement to Parliament.”

We welcome this critical report into a regime that threatens British Jews and the UK and its national interests more generally. The IRGC is the principal instrument by which Iran puts these threats into practice. Prior to the election, this Government promised to proscribe. It must now keep its word.

You can help to make it happen by signing the petition: antisemitism.org/BanTheIRGC.

“How Did The Zionist Lobby Take Control Of White House Decisions?”

This week, the front of a newspaper in Yemen (called “26 September”) aligned to Ansar Allah (the Houthis) contained a cartoon showing an octopus wearing a Jewish skullcap taking over the White House, with the headline: “How Did The Zionist Lobby Take Control Of White House Decisions?”

Meanwhile, the Houthis, whose slogan is “Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse be upon the Jews, Victory to Islam”, continue to target shipping and fire missiles at civilians in Israel.

None of this is new, and we have long called for Ansar Allah to be proscribed in the UK. Why has it still not happened?

Answering your questions on antisemitism

“Jews did 9/11?”
“Can Jews be antisemitic?”
“Is anti-Zionism the same as antisemitism?”

You asked. So we sat down and answered. You can hear the answers here.

If you would like to ask us a question about antisemitism, please e-mail [email protected].

Fight antisemitism in schools and on campuses

Do you want to support Jewish students on campus and develop the skills and experience to become a powerful voice in the fight against antisemitism?

We are looking for a full-time paid School and Campus Educator for up to eight months, starting in September 2025.

For more information and to apply, please visit antisemitism.org/jobs.

Palestine Action has been proscribed and its supporters are being arrested, Hamas’s attempt to become de-proscribed as a terrorist organisation has failed after we provided the Home Secretary with a detailed legal submission, and someone threatening a Jew on TikTok has gone to prison after we launched a private prosecution. There are successes in this fight.

But the BBC still refuses to take responsibility for its failings and cannot even acknowledge the rot within, let alone act against it.

That is why we must make our voices heard. We hope that you will march with us on 7th September.

CAA full-page advertisements about the BBC in national newspapers
, ,

BBC releases long-awaited report into scandalous Gaza documentary

The BBC has published its long-awaited report into its decision to broadcast and then take down a documentary purportedly about children’s lives in Gaza. The film was removed from iPlayer after it was revealed that its thirteen-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official.

In February, the BBC apologised after an interim report identified “serious flaws” in the making of Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone, which was made for the BBC by production company Hoyo Films.

This report, which sheds little additional light, has been led by Peter Johnston, the BBC’s Director of Editorial Complaints and Reviews, which is reportedly independent of BBC News and reports directly to Director General Tim Davie.

In February, BBC Two broadcast a documentary called ‘Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone’. It was directed by Yousef Hammash and Jamie Roberts and purported to follow the lives of four young people during the current Hamas-Israel war in the Strip. It was found that the narrator of the film was the son of a senior Hamas official.

Only days later, the BBC provided a stage for stomach-churning claims from the very same antisemitic genocidal group. As Jews across the world watched Ariel and Kfir Bibas – an infant child and a baby who were murdered in cold blood in Gaza – being returned in coffins on our screens, the BBC led its updates with the headline: “Hamas says it did ‘everything in its power’ to keep hostages alive.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism organised two protests at Broadcasting House, where we called for the BBC to stop whitewashing terrorism and stop serving as spokespeople for Hamas. The second protest was organised following the BBC’s admission of “serious flaws” relating to the documentary, and confirmation that licence fee payers’ money was handed to the family of the senior Hamas official.

We also launched a campaign across national newspapers, calling for the suspension of the licence fee, pending an independent investigation. Our petition making that demand has received tens of thousands of signatures.

In March, BBC Chair Dr Samir Shah admitted to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that “There’s a dagger to the heart of the BBC’s claim to be impartial and to be trustworthy.” Director General Tim Davie admitted that there was a “serious failing” but still insisted: “We’re the most trusted brand in the world.”

92% of British Jews rate the BBC’s coverage of matters of Jewish interest as unfavourable, according to our representatives polling, while 57% of the British public back an independent investigation into the BBC Gaza film scandal; only 21% do not.

Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We’ve waited months for this report, only for the BBC to try to bury it under Greg Wallace’s professional corpse. Even so, the report says nothing we didn’t already know: paying licence fee money to a Hamas family was bad. The report yields no new insight, and almost reads like it’s trying to exonerate the BBC. The recommendations are frankly insulting. The only one with any merit – which isn’t even in the final list – is to consider introducing more accurate translations of Arabic curses against Jews, which the BBC has been willfully mistranslating for decades.

“The BBC is a place where bias is so ingrained that something like this could happen in the first place. This report fails to grapple with that issue in any way. We expected that from an internal BBC report, which is why we have called from the start for a thorough external investigation into bias in the BBC’s Middle East coverage and a suspension of the licence fee until that happens. If the BBC were an accountable organisation, senior executives would be scrambling to save their jobs. Instead, it’s the usual weasel pledge to ‘update some guidelines’. This is appalling. Under Director General Tim Davie the BBC has gone from national treasure to national embarrassment. He needs to go. We are in discussion with the police about taking Britain’s March Against Antisemitism to Broadcasting House on 7th September, because we cannot tackle antisemitism in Britain until we tackle the rot at the BBC.”

, ,

Major report reveals that Iran has targeted “prominent Jewish individuals”

Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee has released a major report revealing that Iran has targeted “prominent Jewish individuals” among at least fifteen attempts to kill or kidnap people in Britain.

The report states: “When summarising Iran’s approach to the UK, the Intelligence Community noted that Iran…represents a significant threat to Israeli and Jewish entities.”

Among its top priorities of maintaining the theocratic regime and protecting Shia interests worldwide, targeting Jews and Israelis is a key goal of the Islamic Republic. The IRGC is the key instrument for executing these objectives.

The report notes media reports that the IRGC has allegedly attempted to radicalise British university students through online talks in which IRGC officers espoused antisemitic and violent views, urging students to support illegal attacks and venerating people who had carried out acts of aggression.

The report further says: “The Home Office has rightly proscribed several Iran-supported groups assessed to be concerned in terrorism – such as Al-Qaeda, Hamas and Lebanese Hizbollah – but there are increasingly calls for the UK to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.” It concludes: “The Government should fully examine whether it would be legally possible and practicable to proscribe the IRGC and, if so, what the arguments are both for and against – and make a full statement to Parliament.”

You can sign the petition to ban the IRGC at antisemitism.org/BanTheIRGC

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We welcome this critical report into a regime that threatens British Jews and the UK and its national interests more generally. The IRGC is the principal instrument by which Iran puts these threats into practice. Prior to the election, this Government promised to proscribe. It must now keep its word.”

, ,

Success: Home Offices rejects Hamas application for de-proscription

The Home Office has announced that Hamas will not be de-proscribed, following the organisation’s application to be removed from the UK’s list of banned terror groups.

Campaign Against Antisemitism provided a detailed dossier to the Home Secretary in response to Hamas’ application after it was launched.

The Hamas case argued that the proscription of Hamas deprives British citizens of their rights to freedom of expression and protest.

Hamas can now appeal to the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission.

Meanwhile, following complaints by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regarding Fahad Ansari, one of Hamas’ lawyers, an investigation has been opened. His law firm is reportedly ceasing to trade as a regular legal practice and the organisation changed its name from Riverway Law to Riverway to the Sea. The name is a blatant reference to the phrase “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free,” which most British Jews regard as an antisemitic call to destroy the Jewish state, according to our representative polling.

The SRA is investigating Mr Ansari’s social media activity, and we have also submitted complaints to the Bar Standards Board regarding the barristers involved in Hamas’ application in relation to their rhetoric.

, ,

Britain’s March Against Antisemitism

Britain is losing its soul and losing the plot. The authorities have been appeasing extremists and bigots, letting them radicalise our children and run rampant on our streets and campuses, while arresting those who stand up against them.

Recent scenes from Glastonbury, broadcast into the homes of millions by our taxpayer-funded BBC, were a turning point.

Join us on 7th September in London for Britain’s March Against Antisemitism. Sign up now at antisemitism.org/march.

This must be the moment that the country wakes up. People need to see that they are not alone in feeling this way, and the authorities need to see it too.

That is why we must stand together. Join us.

The meaning of Glastonbury

“The reason that I am alive today is that, for my ancestors, there was a moment that they realised that their country was falling apart and becoming unsafe for Jews. For me, that moment came as I saw the footage from Glastonbury.”

So wrote Gideon Falter, our Chief Executive, in The Telegraph last week.

“Tens of thousands of young humanitarians at the country’s premier music festival were chanting for ‘death’, in scenes reminiscent of mass rallies in Tehran or Sanaa, beamed into the homes of millions by the national broadcaster.

“This country has lost its soul and lost the plot, and there is not a lot of time left to do something about it. Britain is becoming a haven for hatred. This must be the moment that the country wakes up. That means each of us. Demand action. Use your voice. Please, before there is nothing left to save.”

You can read the full essay here, and you can sign up to march with us and use your voice here.

Campaign Against Antisemitism threatens Glastonbury’s licence

We have written to Glastonbury demanding answers over last weekend’s events and noting that the Festival organisers may have breached the conditions of their licence by platforming certain acts despite warnings not to do so.

The letter has also been shared with Somerset Council, the licensing authority.

We have given Glastonbury fourteen days to respond, and, subject to their answers and engagement, we will consider further legal steps.

Glastonbury this year allowed itself to become even more of a hate-fest than ever before.

That ends now. Or Glastonbury Festival does.

Before the IDF, it was the police

Bob Vylan popularised the phrase “Death to the IDF” on a stage at Glastonbury. It was not the first time that the duo had used this sort of language, but this was the biggest stage yet.

Since then, the phrase has been used in graffiti in London and Germany, chanted in Brighton and elsewhere, shouted by a mob in Melbourne before attacking a Jewish-owned restaurant and torching a synagogue, vandalising a computer laboratory at MIT in the United States, and more.

But before the IDF, there was the police.

This week, Campaign Against Antisemitism uncovered footage of Bob Vylan at a performance at Rebellion Festival in Blackpool in August 2023, telling the audience: “How do you lot feel about the police? The only good pig is a dead pig.”

Before they were calling for “Death to the IDF,” Bob Vylan were insulting police officers and extolling “dead pigs”. Lancashire Police said that the force cannot take action because of the time that has elapsed; however, we have also alerted Avon and Somerset Police to the footage, as they are investigating the Glastonbury performance and may find it of interest.

Calling for the death of people you dislike isn’t art: it’s cheap and dangerous. It should carry consequences.

Bob Dylan or Bob Vylan?

One is a Nobel Prize-winning poet and singer. The other led chants of “Death to the IDF” at Glastonbury.

Can the public tell the difference — and which Bob do they stand with?

Elie went to find out.

Attention turns to the BBC

Glastonbury and Bob Vylan are not the only participants in this scandal to be feeling the heat.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie was at Glastonbury at the time of the chanting and, according to reports, may have made the decision not to pull the live feed. The BBC has since accepted that this was the wrong decision. Clearly, his position is untenable.

The BBC was aware in advance of the risks of certain acts at the Festival and made no contingency plans for the broadcast.

The result was calls for death and destruction and genocidal chanting on our screens. Now the BBC will go to British Jews and demand of them, as it demands of everyone, to pay the licence fee to fund this sort of programming, which puts them in danger.

This is not a sustainable state of affairs. It is clearly time for heads to roll. The Director of Music has taken a step back and other staffers involved in the live stream have been asked to do so as well, but this must be only a first step.

Our lawyers have put together a detailed complaint to the Corporation, and we expect stronger action to be taken.

If you have not yet signed our petition calling for a suspension of the licence fee pending an independent investigation of the BBC, you can do so here.

Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, penned a short op-ed for The Express on the institutional problems at the BBC and what needs to happen at our national broadcaster.

Campaign Against Antisemitism leading media coverage

Campaign Against Antisemitism is proud to have led the media coverage of the Glastonbury scandal, contributing to the front page of The Mail on Sunday immediately following the incident, the front page of The Times the following day, and the front page of The Telegraph later in the week, focusing on the BBC.

In addition, our spokespeople appeared on Channel 4 News and Good Morning Britain and were interviewed on LBC and elsewhere.

We were quoted across the national newspapers throughout the week, in addition to opinion editorials in The Telegraph and The Express and on the LBC website.

Beyond our own spokespeople, others cite our positions as well, including former Attorney General Sir Michael Ellis on GB News.

The staff and volunteers of our Communications Unit are at the forefront of exposing, raising awareness and analysing incidents of concern to the Jewish community in traditional media and across social media.

As Palestine Action is proscribed, Campaign Against Antisemitism plans private prosecution of Roger Waters if police won’t act

Palestine Action has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation.

This is a significant policy success for the Jewish community, which has borne the brunt of the terror group’s intimidatory activism and sabotage. Campaign Against Antisemitism had provided the Home Secretary with a dossier making the case for proscription. The organisation’s subsequent attack on RAF aircraft was the final straw.

As Security Minister Dan Jarvis put it to the House of Commons: “By implementing this measure, we will remove Palestine Action’s veil of legitimacy, tackle its financial support, and degrade its efforts to recruit and radicalise people into committing terrorist activity in its name.

“We must be under no illusion, Palestine Action is not a legitimate protest group. People engaged in lawful protest don’t need weapons. People engaged in lawful protest do not throw smoke bombs and fire pyrotechnics around innocent members of the public and people engaged in lawful protest do not cause millions of pounds of damage to national security infrastructure.”

America provided another reminder this week of where ‘Free Palestine’ activism can lead, as it was revealed that Karen Diamond, 82, succumbed to injuries that she sustained in the Boulder, Colorado flamethrower attack of a few weeks ago.

Since the proscription of Palestine Action on Saturday night, police reportedly arrested some 29 people on suspicion of terror offences at a rally outside Parliament in support of the organisation.

This enforcement is critical, especially in view of reports that the organisation is utilising clandestine methods of recruiting others to “join the front line against Zionism”.

Musician and disgraced activist Roger Waters also posted a video in which he declared: “I support Palestine Action, and I always will.” We are preparing a criminal prosecution, should the authorities not prosecute him.

For anyone in need of a refresher Mr Waters’ past, you can watch our documentary, The Dark Side of Roger Waters, here.

David Miller and Reginald D. Hunter both appear in court in separate private prosecutions

Speaking of private prosecutions, Dr David Miller appeared on Wednesday at Westminster Magistrates’ Court as the defendant to a private prosecution brought against him by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

The case relates to posts on X, which Dr Miller allegedly published in recent months. Three charges have been brought by Campaign Against Antisemitism alleging that Dr Miller used a public communications network to send messages of a menacing character, contrary to section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

He indicated a not guilty plea and the court adjourned the case to a further hearing on 17th October at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. A four-day trial is provisionally scheduled for December at City of London Magistrates’ Court.

Dr Miller was previously an academic at the University of Bristol and is currently a presenter on the Iranian channel Press TV.

Today, comedian Reginald D. Hunter appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, marking his first appearance in a private prosecution brought by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Mr Hunter is charged with three offences under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003, relating to posts on X that he allegedly published in September 2024.

The first hearing took place on 30th May at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, but Mr Hunter failed to appear. A warrant was subsequently issued for him to attend court on a future date, and that hearing took place today.

The case is adjourned until the next hearing in November.

This is one of a number of private prosecutions that we are bringing, and there will be more to say on the case in due course.

Become a Student Ambassador!

More information about this prestigious programme is available at antisemitism.org/become-a-student-ambassador.

Let’s make a difference to campus life in the UK.

Help us expose.
Help us report.
Help us support.

Places are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so don’t wait to apply!

Please share this information with any student who you think may be interested.

On this day in 2005, four Islamist terrorists targeted London’s public transport system during the morning rush hour, detonating bombs on three London Underground trains and a bus. 52 people were murdered and over 770 were injured.

This brutal attack was a direct assault on ordinary people going about their daily lives. It is a reminder of the threat that Islamist extremism poses.

We honour the memory of those lost by standing firm against hateful extremism wherever it appears in our country. That is why we expose. That is why we prosecute. That is why we march – and why we hope that you will join us.

,

CAA preparing criminal prosecution of Roger Waters

On Saturday, former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters published a video across multiple social media platforms in which he declared his support of proscribed terrorist organisation Palestine Action.

Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 states that “A person commits an offence if the person expresses an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, and in doing so is reckless as to whether a person to whom the expression is directed will be encouraged to support a proscribed organisation.”

Section 17 of the Terrorism Act 2006 makes that criminal offence apply worldwide, stating that “If a person does anything outside the United Kingdom, and his action, if done in a part of the United Kingdom, would constitute an offence falling within [section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000], he shall be guilty in that part of the United Kingdom of the offence.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism is preparing a criminal prosecution, which would require the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson.

In 2023, Campaign Against Antisemitism released a documentary film, “The Dark Side of Roger Waters”. From e-mails proposing the inclusion of “dirty k*ke” on the inflatable pig habitually floated above Waters’ concerts and the “bombing” of audiences with confetti in the shape of swastikas, Stars of David and other symbols, to an outburst about “Jew food”, a song about a “f***ing Jew” and mockery of a Holocaust victim, the documentary made headlines around the world.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We have reviewed the video posted by Roger Waters. Palestine Action has been proscribed. Anyone expressing support for it contrary to section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 commits a criminal offence. We stand ready to privately prosecute offenders in instances where an offence has been made out and the authorities fail to act.”

,

Comedian Reginald D. Hunter appears in court in private prosecution brought by CAA

Today, comedian Reginald D. Hunter appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, marking his first appearance in a private prosecution brought by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

The case is adjourned until the next hearing in November.

Mr Hunter is charged with three offences under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003, relating to posts on X that he allegedly published in September 2024.

The first hearing took place on 30th May at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, but Mr Hunter failed to appear. A warrant was subsequently issued for him to attend court on a future date, and that hearing took place today.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “This is one of a number of private prosecutions that we are bringing, and there will be more to say on the case in due course.”

,

“The only good pig is a dead pig”: CAA uncovers new footage of Bob Vylan

Campaign Against Antisemitism has uncovered footage in which a member of the rap duo Bob Vylan is heard saying to the crowd: “How do you lot feel about the police? The only good pig is a dead pig.”

It is understood that the incident occurred at Rebellion Festival in Blackpool in August 2023.

Last weekend, the duo made headlines after it led a chant of “Death to the IDF” during its performance at Glastonbury Festival.

Footage from Glastonbury Festival also shows a member of the duo addressing the audience: “We’ve done it all. From working in bars to working for f***ing Zionists.”

Eight in ten British Jews consider themselves to be Zionists; only 6% do not, according to our representative polling.

Footage also showed chanting of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” during the performance.

The genocidal chant ‘From the River to the Sea’, which is regularly heard at anti-Israel protests, refers to the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea, and, whether intended or not, is widely understood to represent a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state – and its replacement with a Palestinian state. It is reasonably interpreted to be a call for the annihilation of half the world’s Jews, who live in Israel. Our representative polling shows that 95% of British Jews consider the chant ‘From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free’ to be an antisemitic call to destroy the Jewish state. Only 2% do not.

The group was performing as the supporting act for Kneecap, whose member, Liam O’Hanna, has been charged with displaying a flag in support of Hizballah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, at a concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on 21st November last year. Footage of the concert in question appeared to show a member of the band, draped in a Hizballah flag, shouting to the crowd, “Up Hamas, up Hizballah.”

Several venues, including Eden Sessions and Plymouth Pavilions, dropped Kneecap from scheduled performances earlier this year, following calls by Campaign Against Antisemitism. We also wrote to Glastonbury Festival, calling for it to drop Kneecap from its line-up, but organisers did not respond.

During Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury, one of its members said that fans should start a “riot” at Mr O’Hanna’s upcoming court hearing.

It is understood that Avon and Somerset Police, in whose jurisdiction the Glastonbury Festival takes place, is investigating footage of both Kneecap and Bob Vylan from the festival.

Bob Vylan has reportedly been dropped by UTA, its management agency, and US visas for an upcoming concert have reportedly been revoked.

The BBC faced damning public backlash – making headlines in the The Times, the MailOnline and The Guardian – after it broadcast both Bob Vylan’s chanting and published Kneecap’s performance on BBC iPlayer, its online streaming service.

The BBC said in a statement yesterday: “We fully understand the strength of feeling regarding Bob Vylan’s live appearance at Glastonbury on the BBC. We deeply regret that such offensive and deplorable behaviour appeared on the BBC and want to apologise to our viewers and listeners and in particular the Jewish community. We are also unequivocal that there can be no place for antisemitism at, or on, the BBC.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has called for Jewish attendees at Glastonbury to contact us at [email protected].

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Before they were calling for ‘Death to the IDF,’ we can reveal that Bob Vylan were insulting police officers and extolling ‘dead pigs’. Calling for the death of people you dislike isn’t art: it’s cheap and dangerous. It should carry consequences. We have alerted police in Lancashire and Somerset, who are already investigating the Glastonbury performance.”

,

Britain’s March Against Antisemitism to be held in central London

Following recent events in Glastonbury and the related scandal – yet another – at the BBC, Campaign Against Antisemitism has announced a national March Against Antisemitism in central London on 7th September.

For further information about the March as it becomes available, please sign up at antisemitism.org/march.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Britain is losing its soul and losing the plot. The authorities have been appeasing extremists and bigots, letting them radicalise our children and run rampant on our streets and campuses while arresting those who stand up against them.

“Recent scenes from Glastonbury, broadcast into the homes of millions by our taxpayer-funded BBC, were a turning point. This must be the moment that the country wakes up. People need to see that they are not alone in feeling this way, and the authorities need to see it too. That is why we must stand together.

“Join us on 7th September in London for Britain’s march against antisemitism.”

, , , , ,

Glastonbury, and the undoing of Britain

Rap duo Bob Vylan led a chant of “Death to the IDF” during its performance at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday. Footage also shows a member of the duo addressing the audience: “We’ve done it all. From working in bars to working for f***ing Zionists.”

Footage also showed chanting of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” during the performance.

The group was performing as the supporting act for Kneecap, whose member, Liam O’Hanna, has been charged with displaying a flag in support of Hizballah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, at a concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on 21st November last year. Footage of the concert in question appeared to show a member of the band, draped in a Hizballah flag, shouting to the crowd, “Up Hamas, up Hizballah.”

Several venues, including Eden Sessions and Plymouth Pavilions, dropped Kneecap from scheduled performances earlier this year, following calls by Campaign Against Antisemitism. We also wrote to Glastonbury Festival, calling for it to drop Kneecap from its line-up, but organisers did not respond.

During Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury, one of its members said that fans should start a “riot” at Mr O’Hanna’s upcoming court hearing.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, wrote for LBC that what Glastonbury shows is that harassing Jews has become cool again. You can read the full op-ed here.

It is understood that Avon and Somerset Police, in whose jurisdiction the Glastonbury Festival takes place, is reviewing footage of both Kneecap and Bob Vylan from the festival.

Bob Vylan has reportedly been dropped by UTA, its management agency, and US visas for an upcoming concert have reportedly been revoked.

We have led media coverage of this story, with appearances on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Channel 4 News and LBC and front page coverage in The Mail on Sunday, The Times and elsewhere.

The BBC also faced a strong backlash after it broadcast Bob Vylan’s chanting and published Kneecap’s performance on BBC iPlayer, its online streaming service.

In a statement issued on Monday, the BBC accepted that it should have done better, saying: “The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence. The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves. In light of this weekend, we will look at our guidance around live events so we can be sure teams are clear on when it is acceptable to keep output on air.”

On Sunday, a statement was published on Glastonbury Festival’s Instagram account, which read: “Glastonbury Festival was created in 1970 as a place for people to come together and rejoice in music, the arts and the best of human endeavour. As a festival, we stand against all forms of war and terrorism. We will always believe in – and actively campaign for – hope, unity, peace and love. With almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share, and a performer’s presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs. However, we are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday. Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”

The reaction of some leading politicians has also failed to reassure. Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s comments on Sky News, responding to Israel’s entirely justifiable outrage — outrage shared by British Jews — at the chants for death and destruction at Glastonbury, were outrageous and telling. He chose to emphasise that the UK stands firmly behind Ukraine, before going on to draw a false comparison between Israel and Russia. Worse still, he added that he would say to the Israeli Embassy: “Get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank.”

What are Jewish people, who view Hamas as a genocidal antisemitic terrorist organisation bent on their annihilation, supposed to make of a cabinet minister who seems to suggest that this Government is on the other side of this issue?

Bob Vylan and Kneecap were not the only acts at the festival which courted controversy relating to the Jewish community.

  • Gary Lineker was also listed to speak at the festival; at the end of his session, he said: “Free Palestine.”
  • Owen Jones, the columnist-activist who has previously claimed that Germany was “forcing” Palestinians to “pay” for the Holocaust, was also listed to give a talk titled, ‘Fighting injustice at home and genocide abroad’.
  • Mr Jones was joined by Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) Director Ben Jamal. PSC is the main organiser of the regular Palestine marches in Britain. The protests have turned our urban centres into no-go zones for Jews.
  • Francesca Nadin was also on the schedule. Ms Nadin is a member of the soon-to-be-proscribed Palestine Action, an extremist group of thugs which gained even more notoriety after it recently claimed the sabotage of two RAF planes.

Now in the UK, the chants are indistinguishable from the chants in Tehran, broadcast by our state broadcaster. Under Emily Eavis, Glastonbury has continued its headlong descent into a pit of extremism and hatred, but it is the behaviour of the BBC that is even more dangerous.

We are formally complaining to the BBC over its outrageous decision to broadcast Bob Vylan’s calls for death and destruction, and to place Kneecap’s performance on iPlayer.

Any artist claiming to be a humanitarian should be steering clear of Glastonbury, but more importantly, our national broadcaster must face repercussions for its dissemination of this extremist vitriol. Those responsible must be removed from their positions. That must inevitably include Tim Davie, the BBC’s Director-General, who has had more than enough chances to stop this abuse of licence fee payers’ money to platform bigots and extremists from Gaza to Glastonbury.

If this is not met with the firmest condemnation and recourse, then it is the surest sign yet that Britain is becoming a haven for hatred and unsafe for Jews.

Campaign Against Antisemitism is also writing to Glastonbury and the licensing authority regarding the events of this weekend.

We are asking Jewish attendees at Glastonbury to contact us at [email protected].

The last week for Palestine Action

Today, the Home Secretary laid an order before Parliament to ban Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000. The Commons is due to vote on the proscription on Wednesday and the Lords on Thursday.

In the meantime, we are not resting on our laurels. Having provided the Home Secretary with a detailed dossier on the group, making the case for proscription, we are also determined to ensure that the law is enforced.

Our Online Monitoring and Investigations Unit believes that it identified a Palestine Action member who encouraged the sabotage and criminal damage of vital UK military assets as Gamze Şanlı. We have reported her to Counter Terrorism Policing and brought her to the attention of the Ministry of Defence Police as well.

Our online investigators also uncovered a post by prominent Palestine Action activist Paul K Shortt that appears to glorify the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military unit of Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation.

We have reported Mr Shortt to Counter Terrorism Policing, and will look to bring a private prosecution if necessary to secure justice.

You can read more about Mr Shortt here.

As police arrest four people in Newbury, Berkshire, in connection with the sabotage of two RAF planes at a base in Brize Norton, suggestions by Oxfordshire and Home Office officials that Palestine Action could be funded by Iran is extremely serious. Palestine Action, however, is not letting up.

The group has reportedly launched a major recruitment drive just days before it is due to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation.

According to The Telegraph, Palestine Action is training its members – reportedly ranging from nursery teachers to surgeons and from clergy to academics, and aged 18 to 80 – on which British military targets to attack.

The “direct action workshop” comes after its activists claimed responsibility for the sabotage of two RAF planes at Brize Norton, an action that triggered the proscription announcement.

From one of its online meetings, The Telegraph has also disclosed details on advice to activists on utilising the legal aid system if they are arrested. They also reportedly discussed tactics at the meeting, including breaking into factories hitting “everything you can find with a sledgehammer”, as well as how to target military bases without detection.

For Palestine Action to seek to surge its membership and activity following a proscription should be regarded as an insult to law enforcement and a repudiation of British values of decency, law and order and respect for our armed forces.

The prospect of a network of autonomous cells using encrypted messaging platforms to conduct a wave of attacks on British military installations represents a dangerous escalation and, fundamentally, an attack on Britain.

There can no longer be any doubt that Palestine Action should be proscribed as a terrorist organisation. We even created a resource to explain why.

But does the British public agree? Elie went out onto the streets to ask.

Hamas’ law firm rebrands as ‘Riverway to the Sea’ and pledges ‘fight against Zionism’

Lawyers representing Hamas in its application for de-proscription as a terrorism organisation have rebranded their law firm from Riverway Law to Riverway to the Sea, presumably an allusion to the phrase ‘From the River to the Sea’.

According to our representative polling, 95% of British Jews consider the chant ‘From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free’ to be an antisemitic call to destroy the Jewish state. Only 2% do not.

The firm now describes itself as “a legal and educational front against Zionism, apartheid, and genocide,” adding that “A new legal firm is being created to take this fight global.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has already submitted complaints against several of these lawyers with their respective regulators, including solicitor Fahad Ansari. The Solicitors Regulation Authority has so far confirmed an investigation into Mr Ansari.

In an piece for the Law Society Gazette about the ‘Hamas case’ and its lawyers, our Chief Executive Gideon Falter writes: “Between the pro bono representation, media appearances and social media activity, it is hard to avoid wondering whether client approached lawyer or vice versa.”

You can read the piece in full here.

We will not tolerate the de-proscription of Hamas, and will fight in court if necessary. We will also continue to monitor the nefarious activities of the terrorist organisation’s lawyers.

Horrendous antisemitism detailed in Goldsmiths’ long-awaited report

Goldsmiths, University of London has published a long-awaited report following an independent inquiry into antisemitism at the institution.

Campaign Against Antisemitism previously made a submission to the inquiry.

The report affirms what the Jewish community has long known: Jewish students and staff have been suffering antisemitism at Goldsmiths and the University has failed in its duty of care to them, so much so that the Jewish Society had to dissolve for safety reasons. This is an appalling dereliction of duty.

Goldsmiths should be commended for launching this inquiry, and utterly shamed by its findings. The University must now accept that fundamental change is urgently required.

Sadly, this report does not go nearly far enough. It does not name culprits, nor does it recommend structural changes to disciplinary enforcement or oversight of the Students’ Union. It attempts to redefine antisemitism instead of using the International Definition of Antisemitism. If you cannot properly identify antisemitism, you cannot tackle it.

The report is far too reliant on and sensitive to the views of non-Jewish stakeholders, too many of whom may be motivated by a wish to ensure that their rhetoric and activism is not regarded as racist when in fact it is. It is outrageous that voices who have no regard for Jewish welfare should have had any input into an inquiry on antisemitism.

The particular irony for Goldsmiths is that it has one of the world’s foremost experts on antisemitism in its faculty. Its refusal to be guided by his own research demonstrates that this is an institution that puts ideology first. That is a difficult hurdle to overcome. Nevertheless, we will work with Goldsmiths and judge for ourselves how earnestly it seeks to change course.

The University must now, after years of allowing hatred to run rampant, prove that it understands how deep the problem of antisemitism goes and finally start uprooting it.

Become a Student Ambassador!

We are looking for Student Ambassadors for the coming academic year!

The Goldsmiths report is just the latest illustration of how the fight against antisemitism on campus is as urgent as ever.

If you are eligible or know somebody who is, visit antisemitism.org/become-a-student-ambassador for more information.

Let’s make a difference to campus life in the UK.

Help us expose.
Help us report.
Help us support.

Places are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so don’t wait to apply!

What is happening in our healthcare system?

Jewish doctors have said that they “fear for their safety” at the British Medical Association’s (BMA) annual conference, where 10% of the motions relate to Gaza – the only international conflict on the agenda at all.

A staggering 45 motions address the conflict in Gaza, with accusations of “apartheid” being levelled against the Jewish state and calls for boycotts of Israeli medical institutions and universities.

Our representative polling of the Jewish community has found that more than four-fifths (84%) of British Jews believe that boycotts of Israeli academics constitute intimidation, and 92% believe that claims that Israel is an apartheid state risk inflaming antisemitism.

The Jewish Medical Association, a key Jewish doctors group, said that Jewish doctors attending the BMA conference felt “intimidated, unsafe and excluded”, and that the union is no longer a safe place for them. The Jewish group requested additional security for its members attending their own union’s conference.

The conference came barely a week after the BMA was accused of ‘covering up’ a complaint relating to the Jewish community against its President, the GP Dr Mary McCarthy. An independent review decided that there was a case to answer, but the BMA then rejected the complaint because it had not been made by a member or employee of the union.

This state of affairs at the main medical union in Britain is intolerable. Both the medical sector and the trade union movement have forgotten their actual purpose – and Jews are suffering as a result.

The Co-op has stopped selling produce from the Jewish state

The Co-op supermarket chain has resolved to stop selling produce from Israel.

It is apt that this policy of boycotting the Jewish state was developed as part of a Co-op campaign titled ‘Hate Divides Communities’, because that is exactly what this policy is: hateful and divisive.

More than four-fifths (84%) of British Jews believe that boycotts of Israeli businesses selling Israeli products constitute intimidation, according to our representative polling.

Boycotts like this have real world effects on the Jewish community, as Jews know from centuries of such ostracism.

This is shameful from the Co-op, and its terrible reputation in the Jewish community is well earned.

Tens of thousands of young humanitarians at the country’s premier music festival chanting for “death”, in scenes reminiscent of mass rallies in Tehran or Sanaa, beamed into the homes of millions courtesy of our national broadcaster – which we are all forced to pay for.

There must be consequences for the expression and broadcast of such hate, and we will do whatever we can to hold those responsible to account.

, ,

Rap duo leads “Death to the IDF” chant at Glastonbury Festival

Rap duo Bob Vylan led a chant of “Death to the IDF” during its performance at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday.

Footage also shows a member of the duo addressing the audience: “We’ve done it all. From working in bars to working for f***ing Zionists.”

Eight in ten British Jews consider themselves to be Zionists; only 6% do not, according to our representative polling.

Footage also showed chanting of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” during the performance.

The genocidal chant ‘From the River to the Sea’, which is regularly heard at anti-Israel protests, refers to the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea, and, whether intended or not, is widely understood to represent a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state – and its replacement with a Palestinian state. It is reasonably interpreted to be a call for the annihilation of half the world’s Jews, who live in Israel. Our representative polling shows that 95% of British Jews consider the chant ‘From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free’ to be an antisemitic call to destroy the Jewish state. Only 2% do not.

The group was performing as the supporting act for Kneecap, whose member, Liam O’Hanna, has been charged with displaying a flag in support of Hizballah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, at a concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on 21st November last year. Footage of the concert in question appeared to show a member of the band, draped in a Hizballah flag, shouting to the crowd, “Up Hamas, up Hizballah.”

Several venues, including Eden Sessions and Plymouth Pavilions, dropped Kneecap from scheduled performances earlier this year, following calls by Campaign Against Antisemitism. We also wrote to Glastonbury Festival, calling for it to drop Kneecap from its line-up, but organisers did not respond.

During Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury, one of its members said that fans should start a “riot” at Mr O’Hanna’s upcoming court hearing.

It is understood that Avon and Somerset Police, in whose jurisdiction the Glastonbury Festival takes place, is reviewing footage of both Kneecap and Bob Vylan from the festival.

Bob Vylan has reportedly been dropped by UTA, its management agency, and U.S. visas for an upcoming concert have reportedly been revoked.

The BBC faced damning public backlash – making headlines in the The Times, the MailOnline and The Guardian – after it broadcast both Bob Vylan’s chanting and published Kneecap’s performance on BBC iPlayer, its online streaming service.

In a statement issued on Monday, the BBC accepted that it should have done better, saying: “The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence. The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves. In light of this weekend, we will look at our guidance around live events so we can be sure teams are clear on when it is acceptable to keep output on air.”

On Sunday, a statement was published on Glastonbury Festival’s Instagram account, which read: “Glastonbury Festival was created in 1970 as a place for people to come together and rejoice in music, the arts and the best of human endeavour. As a festival, we stand against all forms of war and terrorism. We will always believe in – and actively campaign for – hope, unity, peace and love. With almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share, and a performer’s presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs. However, we are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday. Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”

Bob Vylan and Kneecap were not the only acts at the festival which courted controversy relating to the Jewish community.

Gary Lineker was also listed to speak at the festival; at the end of his session, he said: “Free Palestine.” The BBC recently parted ways with Mr Lineker after he shared a post containing a video which misrepresented Zionism and featured a rat emoji. Campaign Against Antisemitism led the pressure on the broadcaster to end its relationship with the football commentator and activist.

Owen Jones, the columnist-activist who has previously claimed that Germany was “forcing” Palestinians to “pay” for the Holocaust, was also listed to give a talk titled, ‘Fighting injustice at home and genocide abroad’. Mr Jones was joined by Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) Director Ben Jamal. PSC is the main organiser of the regular Palestine marches in Britain. The protests have turned our urban centres into no-go zones for Jews.

Francesca Nadin was also on the schedule. Ms Nadin is a member of the soon-to-be-proscribed Palestine Action, an extremist group of thugs which gained even more notoriety after it recently claimed the sabotage of two RAF planes.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has called for Jewish attendees at Glastonbury to contact us at [email protected].

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Now in the UK, the chants are indistinguishable from the chants in Tehran, broadcast by our state broadcaster. Under Emily Eavis, Glastonbury has continued its headlong descent into a pit of extremism and hatred, but it is the behaviour of the BBC that is even more dangerous. We are formally complaining to the BBC over its outrageous decision to broadcast Bob Vylan’s calls for death and destruction, and to place Kneecap’s performance on iPlayer. Any artist claiming to be a humanitarian should be steering clear of Glastonbury, but more importantly, our national broadcaster must apologise for its dissemination of this extremist vitriol, and those responsible must be removed from their positions. That must inevitably include Tim Davie, the BBC’s Director-General, who has had more than enough chances to stop this abuse of licence fee payers’ money to platform bigots and extremists from Gaza to Glastonbury. If this is not met with the firmest condemnation and recourse, then it is the surest sign yet that Britain is becoming a haven for hatred and unsafe for Jews.”

, ,

CAA uncovers post by Palestine Action activist which appears to glorify terrorists

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Online Monitoring and Investigations Unit has uncovered a post by a prominent Palestine Action activist which appears to glorify terrorists.

The post, published on Paul K Shortt’s social media account, appears to glorify the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military unit of Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation. It reads: “Respect existence OR EXPECT RESISTANCE!!! Glory to the Al-Qassam Brigades.”

Mr Shortt, 52, was among a number of Palestine Action agitators who last year received suspended 23-month jail sentences in relation to convictions for burglary and damaging property at Elbit Systems in Bristol, an armaments company.

He was also required to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work and pay a surcharge and compensation to the victim.

He has also reportedly been referred to the police in relation to a post featuring his hand, tattooed with an inverted red triangle and holding a handgun. It is not clear if the handgun is real or not.

The inverted red triangle symbol has been used by some anti-Israel activists to signal support for proscribed terrorist organisations such as Hamas, inspired by the appearance of the symbol in Hamas propaganda videos to indicate targets for attack.

He has also used what we honestly believe, on the evidence available, to be an alias to post material that appears to be supportive of Hamas.

Plenty of further inflammatory and potentially illegal material has also appeared on these social media accounts.

There are also several posts comparing Israel to Nazis on these accounts and a further account that we honestly believe, on the evidence available, belongs to the same individual. According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Other posts read “All guns against the enemy,” and “Glory to the fighting arms.”

We are reporting Mr Shortt to Counter Terrorism Policing and will look to bring a private prosecution if necessary to secure justice.

, ,

Four arrested following sabotage of RAF planes

Counter Terrorism Police have reportedly arrested four people in Newbury, Berkshire, in connection with the sabotage of two RAF planes at a base in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.

According to reports, a 29-year-old woman of no fixed abode and two men, aged 36 and 24, from London, were arrested on terrorism charges. Police stated that they are suspected of “the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000”.

A 41-year-old woman of no fixed abode was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

All of the suspects remain in custody.

The incident took place last Friday, with Palestine Action claiming responsibility for the attack, leading the Home Secretary to announce that the group will be banned, following our calls to do so.

Footage that was published on the group’s X account appeared to show someone spraying an aircraft with red paint.

According to Palestine Action, two activists “repurposed fire extinguishers to spray red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers and caused further damage using crowbars”.

, ,

Palestine Action reportedly launches recruitment drive ahead of proscription

Palestine Action has reportedly launched a major recruitment drive just days before it is due to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation.

According to The Telegraph, Palestine Action is training its members – reportedly ranging from nursery teachers to surgeons and from clergy to academics, and aged 18 to 80 – on which British military targets to attack.

The “direct action workshop” comes after its activists claimed responsibility for the sabotage of two RAF planes at Brize Norton, an action that triggered the proscription announcement.

From one of its online meetings, The Telegraph has also disclosed details on advice to activists on utilising the legal aid system if they are arrested. They also reportedly discussed tactics at the meeting, including breaking into factories hitting “everything you can find with a sledgehammer”, as well as how to target military bases without detection.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “For Palestine Action to seek to surge its membership and activity following a proscription should be regarded as an insult to law enforcement and a repudiation of British values of decency, law and order and respect for our armed forces.

“It was said at the meeting, according to the newspaper, that activists should be ready to make ‘sacrifices’ for the cause. If they breach the law, police and prosecutors should ensure that they are enforced.

“The prospect of a network of autonomous cells using encrypted messaging platforms to conduct a wave of attacks on British military installations represents a dangerous escalation and, fundamentally, an attack on Britain.

“There can no longer be any doubt that Palestine Action should be proscribed as a terrorist organisation.”

,

Goldsmiths’ report published following antisemitism inquiry

Goldsmiths, University of London has today published a long-awaited report following an independent inquiry into antisemitism at the institution.

Below are just a selection of incidents that were quoted in the report:

  • Graffiti on campus containing swastikas and the text, “Gas the Jews.”
  • QR codes on campus with the text: “What you need to know about the Jews”. The QR code led to images of concentration camps.
  • Two events were held on campus in 2022 to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. The Jewish Students’ Community were not involved or consulted. There were no Jewish historians or Jewish speakers at the event. The events focused on other genocides, rather than the Holocaust.
  • The Islamic Society allegedly posted a religious text which appeared to suggest that the Hamas attack on 7th October 2023 was “justified or a message from God”.
  • One student reported that their flatmate at Raymont Hall used their kosher utensils to cook pork and then verbally abused them when they objected. The same student also found their mezuzah removed and desecrated, and faced antisemitic hostility from others, ultimately forcing them to leave the accommodation at significant personal expense.
  • Welcome and induction meetings for students, in addition to the Freshers’ Fair, were held on Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) when most Jewish students would struggle to attend.
  • Students told a Jewish student that their surname was a “Tory surname” before they spoke about how “all Jews are rich and own all the banks in the world.”
  • A lecturer singled out the only Jewish student to “defend Israel” in a debate on the Hamas-Israel conflict. When the student asked for assistance, the lecturer replied, “You can’t, it is indefensible.”
  • A Jewish student who was wearing a Star of David necklace was told by a fellow student that it was the symbol of a terrorist state and equivalent to a swastika.
  • Jewish students had attended lectures at which Hamas was discussed without mention of antisemitism and it appeared that Hamas was being endorsed.
  • A Jewish student was told that they “did not look like a Jew” and that Jews were “problematic” and that “they did not fit into the Goldsmiths image”.
  • During a departmental meeting, a Jewish staff member who supported the International Definition of Antisemitism was told that it was “not for that participant (who is Jewish) to decide or speak” on the Definition. Colleagues launched into a vitriolic, disrespectful rant, which the participant described as “gruesome”, prompting the Head of Department to follow up on their well-being.
  • A member of staff recounted how they found chants such as “Intifada ‘til Victory” and “from the River to the Sea” as triggering and that they were unable to enter an occupied area of the College “that is at the heart of [their] career”. Historically, Intifadas have been deadly terrorist campaigns against Jews. The genocidal chant ‘From the River to the Sea’, which is regularly heard at anti-Israel protests, refers to the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea, and, whether intended or not, is widely understood to represent a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state — and its replacement with a Palestinian state. It is reasonably interpreted to be a call for the annihilation of half the world’s Jews, who live in Israel.
  • A member of staff described that they had been prevented from teaching their students in the Stuart Hall building for a term due to a Gaza-related occupation by students. On one occasion during the occupation, the staff member had to walk through a group of students chanting “2, 4, 6, 8, Israel is a terrorist state,” which caused them to cry.
  • One staff member cited their colleague’s social media post, which read: “If you feel unsafe as a Jew, then you must be a Zionist”.

In June 2022, Goldsmiths announced an “independent review into antisemitism at the College” after Prof. David Hirsh was reportedly called a “far-right white supremacist” by the then-Students’ Union President in a social media post.

Initially, the Students’ Union apparently refused to investigate Sara Bafo, its then President, following allegations of antisemitism, despite being requested to do so by the University.

Ms Bafo’s alleged post was said to have been written in response to a tweet from Prof. Hirsh, a prominent and highly-respected antisemitism expert, which said: “There is an antisemitic edge to official, institutional, university campaigns to ‘decolonise’ education.”

In response to the University’s request for the investigation, Ms Bafo tweeted that the University “has tried to get the SU trustee board to investigate me for a tweet I made in response to a Zionist Goldsmiths academic’s explicit racist history & his delegitimisation of ‘Decolonisation’ campaigns,” adding: “This was a dirty tactic from the institution to silence me further as I was leaving.”

However, notwithstanding the Students’ Union’s refusal to investigate on grounds of “free speech”, the University announced that an independent probe would take place into allegations of antisemitism on its campus more generally.

At the same time, the University announced that it would adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism, but “without the case studies”, referring to the eleven integral examples that form part of the Definition. The University also stated that it would also be adopting the Jerusalem Declaration, which is a wrecking document intended to undermine the globally-recognised Definition, owing to the fact that the University’s “academic community” favoured it. This deficient adoption of the Definition and the concurrent adoption of a competing document designed to sabotage the Definition did not achieve the University’s presumed aim of demonstrating a commitment to fighting antisemitism.

Separately, the independent inquiry got underway, led by Mohinderpal Sethi KC, but has taken three years to report.

Campaign Against Antisemitism submitted a dossier of evidence to the inquiry, incorporating the testimony of students and details of incidents, as well as recommendations.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This report affirms what the Jewish community has long known: Jewish students and staff have been suffering antisemitism at Goldsmiths and the University has failed in its duty of care to them, so much so that the Jewish Society had to dissolve for safety reasons. This is an appalling dereliction of duty. Goldsmiths should be commended for launching this inquiry, and utterly shamed by its findings. The University must now accept that fundamental change is urgently required.

“Sadly, this report does not go nearly far enough. It does not name culprits, nor does it recommend structural changes to disciplinary enforcement or oversight of the SU. It attempts to redefine antisemitism instead of using the International (IHRA) Definition of Antisemitism. If you cannot properly identify antisemitism, you cannot tackle it. The report is far too reliant on and sensitive to the views of non-Jewish stakeholders, too many of whom may be motivated by a wish to ensure that their rhetoric and activism is not regarded as racist when in fact it is. It is outrageous that voices who have no regard for Jewish welfare should have had any input into an inquiry on antisemitism.

“The particular irony for Goldsmiths is that it has one of the world’s foremost experts on antisemitism in its faculty. Its refusal to be guided by his own research demonstrates that this is an institution that puts ideology first. That is a difficult hurdle to overcome. Nevertheless, we will work with Goldsmiths and judge for ourselves how earnestly it seeks to change course. The University must now, after years of allowing hatred to run rampant, prove that it understands how deep the problem of antisemitism goes and finally start uprooting it.”

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].

, ,

Coventry man jailed after targeting Jewish man on TikTok

A Coventry man has been jailed after publishing a TikTok video in which he targeted a Jewish man whom he believed to be serving in the IDF.

Shakeel Yunis, 44, of Craven Street, Coventry, was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, after he admitted to conveying a threat of serious harm.

In the video, Mr Yunis said that if the Jewish man was “caught in Nando’s with his family, people are not going to care. They’re going to drag him away from his family in front of his family…If he’s in his home, people are gonna go through his home like [name of victim] did with others in Gaza.”

Speaking directly to the camera, Mr Yunis said: “Do you think that people like me and many thousands with us are going to leave your people alone?”

Mr Yunis also said in the video: “You’re going to see the consequences of your actions.”

Apparently referring to Israel, he also said: “You see everything you’ve got your soldiers to do to others is now going to be returned to them tenfold.”

The victim moved homes, removed his image from social media and began using an alias due to fears for his safety as a result of the incident.

At the time that the video was published, the victim was soon due to give a talk at King’s College London as part of his charity work.

Whilst Mr Yunis believed that the victim was serving in the IDF at the time of the video, in fact the victim had already completed his service.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reported Mr Yunis to the Metropolitan Police on 28th March 2024, eight days after the video was published on TikTok.

On 19th June 2024, Campaign Against Antisemitism was granted a summons by the Westminster Magistrates’ Court to charge Mr Yunis in a private prosecution. He was charged with one count of sending a message that conveyed a threat of serious harm contrary to section 181 of the Online Safety Act 2023 and one count of sending, by means of a public electronic communications network matter, a message of a menacing character contrary to section 127(1)(a) and (3) of the Communications Act 2003.

Mr Yunis was arrested on 2nd August 2024, after which Campaign Against Antisemitism requested that the court proceedings adjourn whilst the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed its own charges against Mr Yunis. Campaign Against Antisemitism then requested that the court adjourn, as it was confirmed that the CPS’s charges related to the same conduct as in the private prosecution. The CPS then saw the case through to conviction and sentencing.

On 22nd August 2024, Mr Yunis pleaded guilty to one count of sending a communication threatening death or serious harm.

The court heard that Mr Yunis had “strong political views” but denied targeting people due to their race or religion. Matthew Cullen, Mr Yunis’ barrister, argued that he was acting on incorrect information and that he felt “severe guilt” about the matter.

In a letter to the court, Mr Yunis wrote: “I have had a long time to reflect on the mistakes I made. I have corrected a lot of the ways around how I conduct myself. I will think twice before letting my emotions take over and think twice before expressing my opinions the way I did.”

Judge Andrew Smith KC, sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court, said: “It was a very serious offence which undermines the operation of a stable and civilised society. The need for deterrence is established and is a highly relevant and important factor in your case.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Shakeel Yunis’ sentencing marks a victory against those who feel that they can target and endanger Jews with impunity. When antisemitism crosses the criminal threshold, there must be ruinous consequences, and that is exactly what Mr Yunis is facing. We are pleased to have played an important role in bringing this outcome about, and we thank the police and the CPS for treating this case with the seriousness that it merits.”

Image credit: West Midlands Police

, , , , , ,

Victory: Palestine Action to be proscribed

On Friday morning, activists from Palestine Action claimed responsibility for the sabotage of two RAF planes at a base in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.

Footage published on the group’s X account appears to show someone spraying an aircraft with red paint. According to Palestine Action, two activists “repurposed fire extinguishers to spray red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers and caused further damage using crowbars”.

By the end of the day – and a little over a week since Campaign Against Antisemitism provided her with a detailed dossier making the case for a ban of Palestine Action under existing laws – the Home Secretary announced that she would be proscribing the group.

Breaking into an RAF base to vandalise aircraft demonstrates Palestine Action’s real hatred for this country. This was an attack on Britain and the heroes who protect us daily, and jeopardises our nation’s security.

The vandalism at Brize Norton was reportedly the fourth attack by the group on key UK defence assets, and comes after a litany of attacks on branches of Barclays Bank, premises used by Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit, museums and numerous Jewish institutions, businesses and charities.

Nobody should be surprised that those who vandalised Jewish premises with impunity have now been emboldened to sabotage RAF jets.

We are pleased that the Home Secretary has listened to our representations over the last week.

The announcement by Yvette Cooper has been met with fury by Palestine activists, who appear to have gone on a new spree of criminal vandalism in London over the weekend ahead of a demonstration this afternoon against their proscription.

In advance of a protest by Palestine Action against the planned proscription this afternoon, the Met Police released a statement outlining conditions imposed on the demonstration outside Parliament under the Public Order Act. Remarkably, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley also announced that he was “shocked and frustrated” by the demonstration, which itself was shocking, given that it has been his persistent failure to robustly address anti-Israel protests that has allowed this climate of extremism to take hold.

Sir Mark needs to take his head out of the sand and look around. If he does, he may finally see what the rest of the country has seen for over a year and a half: extremists taking over our streets.

It is clear that the authorities will need to be ready to enforce the law as the ban takes effect.

After all, when a group of radicals takes to the streets to defend a soon-to-be proscribed terrorist group and protest against those who risk their lives to keep our streets safe, it is a frighteningly clear indication that something has gone very wrong in this country.

Frontline police officers’ struggle at times to contain the baying mob of Palestine Action supporters at the protest demonstrates exactly why our calls for the Government to ban this group were needed.

After she bans Palestine Action, we urge the Home Secretary to urgently turn her attention to proscribing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ansar Allah (the Houthis).

This country needs to clamp down on the domestic and foreign terrorists running amok on our soil.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has no place in Britain

Right now, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is operating freely in the UK. It is planning terrorist attacks and grooming young followers.

This madness can end with a stroke of Yvette Cooper’s pen.

As our Chief Executive, Gideon Falter, explained in an op-ed for The Telegraph, “Two governments have failed to act. This one still can. Both Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Foreign Secretary David Lammy promised before the last election to ban the IRGC.

“They must now honour that promise.”

Why is Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard a threat to Britain in 2025?

  • Officially a branch of Iran’s Armed Forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) operates as a parallel paramilitary force answering directly to the regime. But it’s more than an Iranian military force — it’s a global terror actor involved in plots, threats, and surveillance on British soil.
  • It was founded by Ayatollah Khomeini after the 1979 Islamic Revolution to protect the theocracy and advance its interests. The Iranian Government has a long and appalling record of promoting antisemitic propaganda, including Holocaust-denial, and funding and orchestrating violence against Jews. The IRGC is a principal instrument of the regime for these antisemitic and violent policies.
  • In 2023, the UK Government sanctioned IRGC figures. Why? They plotted to kill or kidnap people in Britain, including dissidents, journalists, and activists. These weren’t idle threats. British intelligence confirmed over fifteen credible threats to kill or kidnap UK-based individuals by Iran since 2022. The IRGC infiltrated Europe, surveilling targets and attempting assassinations.
  • It is not just in Europe. One shocking case was the abduction in the UAE of Rabbi Tzvi Kogan. It is believed that he was surveilled at his kosher grocery shop and murdered by terrorists linked to Iran.
  • There are examples of support for the IRGC in Britain, particularly following the US assassination of Qasem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC’s elite al-Quds Force and, it is believed, the second most powerful man in Iran. We have also observed IRGC flags at demonstrations in London. There have also been instances of IRGC figures trying to radicalise students in the UK and there are multiple cases of foiled abduction and murder plots by IRGC agents in Britain.
  • The IRGC is an indispensable backer of Shia militias in Yemen and Iraq as well as the proscribed terrorist groups Hizballah, Hamas, the Houthis and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Hizballah and Hamas pose direct threats to the UK by conducting intelligence operations, targeting Jewish communities, and supporting terrorism globally. The UK fully banned Hizballah in 2019 and Hamas in 2021, but both groups remain active, backed by Iran’s resources and intent on destabilising the West.
  • Despite the Labour Party stating that, if elected, they would ban the IRGC, this has not happened a year after the Party came to power. Today, the IRGC is not yet proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK, even though it clearly fits the criteria.
  • The US, Israel, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain already proscribe the IRGC. Why haven’t we? The UK must act. The IRGC is here in Britain and a threat to our security.

You can add your voice to the calls to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps by signing the petition.

With conflict raging between Iran and Israel, demonstrators took to the streets of London over the weekend in support of the antisemitic Islamic Republic.

As our Demonstration and Events Monitoring Unit documented, protesters held aloft signs displaying an image of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and urging onlookers to “choose the right side of history.”

Ayatollah Khamenei — and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which he controls — could not be further from the “right side of history”.

The signs were embossed with the logo of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, a controversial charity best known for Al Quds Day events, which in the past have featured IHRC-badged placards that read “We are all Hizballah”.

The IRGC is not just a threat to Britain’s Jews, but to Britain itself. It must be proscribed.

This Government previously promised to proscribe the IRGC. It must now keep its word.

Fun at the Maccabi Fun Run!

Yesterday, we attended the Maccabi GB Community Fun Run.

Thousands turned out to run, cheer and raise money for great causes.

We spoke with runners at this most energetic day of the Jewish community calendar, to find out: What keeps Britain’s Jewish community running, literally and figuratively?

A big thank you to everyone running for Campaign Against Antisemitism and to all of our brilliant volunteers who were present.

SRA confirms investigation into Hamas’s lawyer

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed an investigation into one of the lawyers acting on behalf of Hamas in its application to get de-proscribed in the UK, following action by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

We submitted a complaint to the SRA regarding the conduct of Fahad Ansari after our Online Monitoring and Investigations Unit uncovered a plethora of posts from his X account.

Mr Ansari is the Director and Principal Solicitor at Riverway Law, the law firm representing the terrorist group Hamas in a desperate bid to get the group de-proscribed in the UK. The application is being made to the Home Secretary.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has made a submission to the Home Secretary challenging the application for de-proscription.

According to posts on Mr Ansari’s social media accounts, he seems to find a bulldozer breaching the border fence between Gaza and Israel on 7th October to be “one of the most iconic, hopeful images of our time”, hails Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin as a “hero”, and, referring to “the heroic Palestinian resistance”, hopes that “every one of their bullets hit their targets”.

Another post read: “At this point, Israel could literally set up gas chambers for Palestinians during Ramadan and the genocide enablers in the Western media will be shouting ‘What about Hamas?’ and crying antisemitism if anyone draws a comparison with the Holocaust. Make no mistake, if these people were alive in the 40s, they would have sided with the Nazis.”

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Another post read, “Long live the Palestinian resistance,” and “Victory to the intifada.” Intifadas in the past have always been campaigns of terrorist violence, including suicide bombings.

Over the past week, we marked World Refugee Day, remembering those who were driven from their homes by antisemites.

Over the centuries, some countries took them in; others refused. Often, those who took them in would themselves later force them to flee once again.

Whether through proscriptions, private prosecutions, protests or other means, we will continue to fight to maintain Britain as a hospitable and safe place for Jewish people to live.

,

Home Secretary to ban Palestine Action following CAA action

The Home Secretary will be banning Palestine Action, following action by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

This morning, Palestine Action claimed the sabotage of two RAF planes at a base in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.

Footage that was published on the group’s X account appeared to show someone spraying an aircraft with red paint.

According to Palestine Action, two activists “repurposed fire extinguishers to spray red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers and caused further damage using crowbars”.

Campaign Against Antisemitism recently wrote to the Home Secretary, calling for the proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 and providing her with a detailed dossier on the group.

Palestine Action is a UK-based activist group which was formed in 2020. It has gained attention for what the organisation describes as “direct action” against companies and institutions which it considers to be linked to the Israeli Government, ranging from defence contractors to the BBC. The organisation is known for confrontational and criminal tactics, including damage to property, vandalism and the occupation of corporate or public facilities. Their most notable targets include Elbit Systems, an Israel-based defence contractor with subsidiary facilities throughout the United Kingdom. Since the 7th October 2023 terrorist attacks by Hamas and the subsequent war between Hamas and Israel, Palestine Action has increasingly been targeting cultural and educational sites.

The group’s methods often involve the destruction of property, disruption of business operations, and threats to public safety. Palestine Action revels in these activities and writes extensively about them on its website. The organisation has also published a handbook named “The Underground Manual”, which includes instructions on everything from forming “cells”, to how to “pick a target”, and how to commit criminal damage in the most harmful way. The handbook includes instructions on what to wear, how to use a burner phone, and which tools to use to cause the greatest damage.

Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We are pleased that the Home Secretary has listened to our representations over the last week. Nobody should be surprised that those who vandalised Jewish premises with impunity have now been emboldened to sabotage RAF jets. We now urge her to urgently turn her attention to proscribing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ansar Allah (the Houthis). This country needs to clamp down on the domestic and foreign terrorists running amok on our soil.”

, ,

Palestine Action claims sabotage of RAF planes

Palestine Action has claimed the sabotage of two RAF planes at a base in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.

Footage that was published on the group’s X account this morning appears to show someone spraying an aircraft with red paint.

According to Palestine Action, two activists “repurposed fire extinguishers to spray red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers and caused further damage using crowbars”.

Campaign Against Antisemitism recently wrote to the Home Secretary, calling for the proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 and providing her with a detailed dossier on the group. We continue to reiterate that call.

Palestine Action is a UK-based activist group which was formed in 2020. It has gained attention for what the organisation describes as “direct action” against companies and institutions which it considers to be linked to the Israeli Government, ranging from defence contractors to the BBC. The organisation is known for confrontational and criminal tactics, including damage to property, vandalism and the occupation of corporate or public facilities. Their most notable targets include Elbit Systems, an Israel-based defence contractor with subsidiary facilities throughout the United Kingdom. Since the 7th October 2023 terrorist attacks by Hamas and the subsequent war between Hamas and Israel, Palestine Action has increasingly been targeting cultural and educational sites.

The group’s methods often involve the destruction of property, disruption of business operations, and threats to public safety. Palestine Action revels in these activities and writes extensively about them on its website. The organisation has also published a handbook named “The Underground Manual”, which includes instructions on everything from forming “cells”, to how to “pick a target”, and how to commit criminal damage in the most harmful way. The handbook includes instructions on what to wear, how to use a burner phone, and which tools to use to cause the greatest damage.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The Home Secretary needs to ban Palestine Action urgently. They have graduated from vandalising Israel-linked companies to Jewish businesses and charities to now putting Royal Air Force planes out of action. Breaking into an RAF base to vandalise aircraft demonstrates Palestine Action’s real hatred for this country. This is an attack on Britain and the heroes who protect us daily, and jeopardises our nation’s security.

“Why are those who clearly have nothing but contempt for this country allowed to run amok? We have already provided the Home Secretary with a detailed dossier of evidence showing that the group’s activities fall, in our view, squarely within the definition of a terrorist organisation, and that Palestine Action should be proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000. There must be no further delay in banning this group. They must be outlawed now.”

, ,

Solicitors Regulation Authority confirms investigation into Hamas case lawyer following CAA action

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed an investigation into one of the lawyers acting on behalf of Hamas in its application to get de-proscribed in the UK, following action by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism submitted a complaint to the SRA regarding the conduct of Fahad Ansari after our Online Monitoring and Investigations Unit uncovered a plethora of posts from his X account.

Mr Ansari is the Director and Principal Solicitor at Riverway Law, the law firm representing the terrorist group Hamas in a desperate bid to get the group de-proscribed in the UK. The application is being made to the Home Secretary.

According to posts on Mr Ansari’s social media accounts, he seems to find a bulldozer breaching the border fence between Gaza and Israel on 7th October to be “one of the most iconic, hopeful images of our time”, hails Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin as a “hero”, and, referring to “the heroic Palestinian resistance”, hopes that “every one of their bullets hit their targets”.

Another post read: “At this point, Israel could literally set up gas chambers for Palestinians during Ramadan and the genocide enablers in the Western media will be shouting ‘What about Hamas?’ and crying antisemitism if anyone draws a comparison with the Holocaust. Make no mistake, if these people were alive in the 40s, they would have sided with the Nazis.”

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Another post read, “Long live the Palestinian resistance,” and “Victory to the intifada.” Intifadas in the past have always been campaigns of terrorist violence, including suicide bombings.

One post read: “Fact: Hamas has never been more popular around the world than it is today. Why is that? Possibly because people understand that it is the only thing that stands between the Western-backed Israeli genocidal army and the complete eradication of the Palestinian people.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are pleased that the SRA is investigating Fahad Ansari’s conduct. Judging by what we have uncovered from Mr Ansari’s X account, he appears to view a bulldozer breaching the border fence between Gaza and Israel on 7th October as ‘one of the most iconic, hopeful images of our time’, hails Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin as a ‘hero’, and, referring to ‘the heroic Palestinian resistance’, expresses hope that ‘every one of their bullets hit their targets’. This rhetoric is stomach-churning, even if it befits a lawyer who represents Hamas. It is ludicrous that someone with views like these is permitted to practice in the legal profession. If he is found to have breached any of his obligations as a solicitor, the SRA must take firm action.”

, , , , , ,

Home Secretary, it is time to clamp down

In view of current events in the Middle East, Campaign Against Antisemitism has reiterated its call on the Home Secretary to fulfil a pre-election pledge to ban the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and also to proscribe the Palestine Action group.

The Government must also finally proscribe Ansar Allah (the Houthis) and the various groups involved in the Hamas-led 7th October 2023 terrorist attack.

The Government must clamp down. Every day that the Home Secretary delays, people who endanger our country are running amok.

Iran’s IRGC is active in the UK. There have recently been arrests in London allegedly linked to the IRGC. Not so long ago an Iranian proxy was found to have three tonnes of high explosives in London. They say that they want to target Jews anywhere around the world and that means us. That means here in our country.

Sign the petition to ban the IRGC now.

Police forces and security services cannot move against IRGC operatives until they have evidence that they are actively planning an attack, which is why proscription is needed, so that they have the legal powers to move immediately to clean out the IRGC in the UK. The Government promised to do this when it came to power a year ago. The IRGC poses a mortal threat to British Jews and the Home Secretary should lay an order before Parliament today. What is the Home Secretary waiting for?

There is now a backlog of terrorist organisations that the Government is allowing to operate here without taking action. We have also asked the Home Secretary to proscribe the Houthis (Ansar Allah) — which fire on Royal Navy ships as well as seeking the death of all Jews — and the smaller Palestinian factions which participated in Hamas’ 7th October atrocities but, due to inaction by two successive Governments, still haven’t been proscribed two years later.

We need action now. The Home Secretary must give law enforcement the powers they need to keep us safe. We cannot wait another day.

Campaign Against Antisemitism calls for ban on Palestine Action

In recent days, Campaign Against Antisemitism has written to the Home Secretary calling for the proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000.

We have provided her with a detailed dossier of evidence demonstrating that the group’s activities fall, in our view, squarely within the definition of a terrorism organisation.

Palestine Action is a UK-based activist group which was formed in 2020. It has gained attention for what the organisation describes as “direct action” against companies and institutions which it considers to be linked to the Israeli Government, ranging from defence contractors to the BBC. The organisation is known for confrontational and criminal tactics, including damage to property, vandalism and the occupation of corporate or public facilities, with a latest attack just this weekend.

Since the 7th October 2023 terrorist attacks by Hamas and the subsequent war between Hamas and Israel, Palestine Action has increasingly been targeting cultural and educational sites.

The group’s methods often involve the destruction of property, disruption of business operations, and threats to public safety. Palestine Action revels in these activities and writes extensively about them on its website. The organisation has also published a handbook named “The Underground Manual”, which includes instructions on everything from forming “cells”, to how to “pick a target”, and how to commit criminal damage in the most harmful way. The handbook includes instructions on what to wear, how to use a burner phone, and which tools to use to cause the greatest damage.

We urge the Home Office to act swiftly to ban Palestine Action in order to minimise any further intimidation and property damage to the Jewish community and its institutions and to other businesses and cultural establishments.

Palestine Action is at the vanguard of an activist movement that is severely disrupting the lives of British Jews and the wider public. It is time to enforce the laws of this country and bring to justice those who seek to use what we believe the law defines as terror to advance their goals.

A huge “thank you!”

Last week, we ran our annual crowdfunding campaign, and we are enormously grateful to all of you who donated. We had more donors than ever, each giving because you believe in our work.

Our volunteers and staff see this as a huge vote of confidence in the efforts that we make every single day to defend the Jewish community and fight for the tolerant and decent Britain that we all cherish.

Thank you to everyone who donated to the campaign! It is because of you that we can continue to do our vital work and fight for our future here in Britain. You have helped ensure that our voices remain strong and that we can respond with urgency, clarity, and courage wherever and whenever we are needed.

If you did not have a chance to donate but still wish to, you can do so here.

From all of us at Campaign Against Antisemitism, thank you!

The true colours of the ‘Free Palestine’ movement

Following the second violent attack by a ‘Free Palestine’ terrorist in the United States, our Chief Executive Gideon Falter explained in an op-ed for LBC how verbal calls to ‘globalise the Intifada’ and vandalism are not the final destination of this hateful movement.

When they call for Intifada, they mean it.

You can read the full op-ed here.

Campaign Against Antisemitism challenges new application from CAGE to de-proscribe Hamas

The controversial activist group CAGE International has launched an application to get Hamas de-proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK.

According to CAGE, “The submission is the first of its kind to focus not only on procedural injustice, but on the systemic suppression of political speech, particularly within Britain’s Muslim communities.”

Given that the previous application, made by Hamas itself, made a similar argument, it is unclear why this new application is a ‘first-of-its-kind’, although granted it is better PR to claim that.

We have examined the application, which purports to “challenge the legality of the proscription on the grounds that it violates freedom of expression”.

The application includes several case studies, which CAGE uses to highlight how the proscription of Hamas – an antisemitic genocidal terrorist group that has murdered well in excess of a thousand Jews – apparently inhibits one’s right to freedom of expression.

So, which cases does CAGE cite in its application?

Here are some examples:

“The President of a Palestine Society at a prominent University circulated the headline ‘resistance fighters launch surprise attack against Israel’ as part of a weekly digest to update their audience of Palestine related news.”
❌ Why are people who murdered over a thousand people, raped women and burned families alive referred to merely as ‘resistance fighters’?

“M is a non-British student of Palestinian descent studying law…She was asked by a news journalist from a well-known publication to give a comment. She said: ‘We are so full of pride. We are really, really full of joy at what happened’ following the 7th October attack.”
❌ Hamas and fellow terrorist organisations murdered some 1,200 people and took over 250 hostage. Why is that something to be joyful about?

“Dr F [an NHS consultant] showed considerable support…for the right of the Palestinian people to resist. She publicly called for the de-proscription of Hamas.”
❌ That does not sound like an NHS consultant that a Jewish person would be comfortable consulting.

“S retweeted a drawing of Yahya Sinwar with the caption ‘hero’ without knowing who Yahya Sinwar was.”
❌ So S’s defence is that they are an idiot?

“A young man…allegedly uploaded videos said to be of Hamas to his social media page.”
❌ There is enough material on the internet that the young man could upload without resorting to terrorist content.

The Home Office stated that an academic “shared a document on a WhatsApp group chat, titled ‘Our Narrative – Operation Al Aqsa Flood’, published by Hamas’ media office”.
❌ Most ordinary people would be concerned that a teacher of their children is sharing material literally produced by a terrorist organisation and purporting to explain their rationale for murdering over a thousand people.

A non-British NHS doctor “reposted footage of music festivalgoers running from Hamas and commented: ‘If it was your home, you would stay and fight 🙂.’” In another post, she said: “Israel was never a country…Also, there are no civilians in Israel.”
❌ Yet another NHS clinician. Hundreds were murdered at that festival. Mocking young people running for their lives from murderous terrorists and suggesting that doing so is demonstrative of some political view is monstrous. This doctor needs to work on their bedside manner – but not at the NHS. The former Home Secretary would appear to have been right to say that her continued presence in the UK was not conducive to the public good.

A school boy wore a badge to his school which read: “Victory to the Intifada.”
❌ The intifada was a campaign of murderous Palestinian terrorism, including suicide bombings, that killed more than 1,000 Jews. Hamas was one of the leading terror groups involved.

These are curious illustrations for CAGE to rely on in its application. They are hardly the sort of opinions anyone should want in our hospitals, schools and campuses.

We have already provided a submission to the Home Secretary in response to the original application.

We will not allow Hamas to be de-proscribed in this country, and we will go to court if necessary.

“Jews aren’t welcome here” duo sentenced to prison

In November 2024, two men shouted “Jews aren’t welcome here” at four people leaving Marble Arch Synagogue.

Now, Hussein Altamimi and Ali Alanzi have been sentenced to prison at Isleworth Crown Court after being found guilty of four offences of religiously aggravated fear or provocation of violence and religiously aggravated assault. Both attackers were also found guilty of assaulting an emergency worker.

During the incident, when one of the victims began recording what was happening on her phone, Mr Altamimi struck her arm, causing her phone to fall from her hand. Mr Alanzi then threw a cup of alcohol at the victims.

The men were detained by synagogue security until the police arrived. During the arrest, Mr Alanzi assaulted a police officer.

Mr Alanzi was sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment, plus an additional twelve weeks from the activation of a suspended sentence. Mr Altamimi was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment.

If you have been a victim of an attack and need assistance getting justice, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

Meanwhile, Oghenochuko Ojiri, who has appeared on BBC’s Bargain Hunt, has been sentenced to two years and six months’ in prison.

Last month, Mr Ojiri pleaded guilty to eight offences of failing to disclose information during the course of business in the regulated sector when knowing, suspecting or having reasonable grounds for suspecting that another person has committed or attempted to commit an offence under Sections 15-18 of the Terrorism Act 2000, contrary to Section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The offences relate to the sale of several works of art to Nazem Ahmad, who is a suspected financier of Hizballah, a proscribed terrorist organisation. Mr Ahmad was sanctioned by the UK in 2023. The sales totalled nearly £140,000.

For some of the transactions, paperwork used names that were not Mr Ahmad’s, despite the sales being to him.

Messages recovered from Mr Ojiri’s phone showed him discussing money-laundering regulation with a colleague.

We welcome this verdict. Financing of antisemitic terrorist organisations has no place in the arts world.

James O’Brien and Jeremy Bowen

“Trump, in some ways, has already gone further than Kristallnacht.” So said LBC presenter James O’Brien on a recent morning show in reference to immigration enforcement riots in Los Angeles. You can listen to the full segment here.

Regardless of one’s feelings about current events in California, there is no comparison to be made to Kristallnacht.

The Nazi violence on Kristallnacht was one-way. There were no riots or mounted defences of the Jews. An estimated 7,500 Jewish-owned businesses were destroyed by the Nazi Government-backed vandals, and 91 Jews were murdered (although some scholars claim the number is much higher).

Within days, 30,000 Jewish men were rounded up and sent to concentration camps in what was effectively a dry run for what would become the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were slaughtered. Whatever may be happening in Los Angeles, it isn’t that.

This sort of hysterical commentary and implicit Holocaust distortion and trivialisation does nothing for the public’s understanding of the Holocaust and does real damage to the contemporary fight against antisemitism, which is more urgent than ever.

Constantly reaching for Holocaust analogies for every instance of violence or unrest not only confuses public understanding; it also cheapens history and disrespects victims.

Our suggestion to Mr O’Brien is that when he hears the words “shut up mate” in his head, it’s probably best to heed them.

Elsewhere, former UK Supreme Court Justice Jonathan Sumption is quoted by the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen as suggesting that the Jewish state is acting like the Jews’ historical persecutors and is committing a genocide.

The undisguised implication is that Israel is acting like Nazis.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

This is absolutely repugnant from one of Britain’s veteran jurists. What hope can British Jews have in our justice system when senior figures like Lord Sumption espouse views like these?

Of course it is always possible, though in this instance unlikely, that he has been misquoted by Mr Bowen, whose reporting has always left a great deal to be desired and whose abysmal reputation in the Jewish community speaks for itself.

But here we have one of the BBC’s most senior ‘journalists’ and one of the nation’s former highest judges egging each other on to vilify the Jewish state in ever more insulting terms.

Those who shamefully reference the history of Jewish persecution should worry less about urging the Jews to remember the past than doing so themselves.

Meanwhile, the BBC has issued a belated apology for publishing a video that claimed observant Jews spit on Christians in a “holiday ritual”.

On 5th October 2023, BBC Arabic published an article titled “Sukkot: Spitting and Assault on Christians and Harassment of Muslims on the Jewish Holiday,” with a video, in which it was claimed that observant Jews celebrate Sukkot (the festival of Tabernacles) in Israel by spitting on Christians.

It took the BBC nineteen months to issue an apology to our friends at CAMERA.

We have pointed out before that it is no longer clear if BBC Arabic is actually a genuine news channel or something else entirely.

We continue to call on the BBC to hold an independent investigation into its Middle East coverage, which any other institution engulfed in this many scandals would have done long ago.

Until then, the licence fee should be suspended. You can sign our petition here.

Friends of Palestine Society at Birmingham University suspended

The Friends of Palestine Society at the University of Birmingham has reportedly been suspended by the Guild of Students, following a protest last month.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has obtained footage of the protest, which took place on 15th May. The footage appears to show students chanting: “Resistance is justified when people are occupied.”

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, which was adopted by the University in 2020, “Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology” is an example of antisemitism.

Further footage shows protesters chanting: “Israel is a terror state.”

According to a statement on the Society’s Instagram account, it intends to appeal the decision.

A Jewish student at the University told Campaign Against Antisemitism: “I am pleased with the Guild of Students’ decision. Hearing these kinds of slogans on campus made me feel unsafe and uneasy. Jewish students should not have to face such intimidatory protests at an institution that is supposed to be a place of learning. I hope other universities will look at this case, impose similar measures, and take a clear stand against those who seek to intimidate Jews.”

This decision vindicates Jewish students at the University of Birmingham. This protest was yet another example of just how bad the situation is for Jews on campus right now.

Universities and student societies across Britain should follow this decision and take concrete steps to protect their students, who should be able to come to campus without fear for their safety.

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].

, ,

CAA calls for proscriptions today to protect Jewish lives

In view of events overnight and ongoing, Campaign Against Antisemitism is today reiterating its call on the Home Secretary to fulfill a pre-election pledge to ban the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and also to proscribe the Palestine Action group.

The Government must also finally proscribe Ansar Allah (the Houthis) and the various groups involved in the Hamas-led 7th October 2023 terrorist attack.

Yesterday, Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, calling for the proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “The Government must clamp down. Every day that the Home Secretary delays, people who endanger our country are running amok.

“Iran’s IRGC is active in the UK. There have recently been arrests in London allegedly linked to the IRGC. Not so long ago an Iranian proxy was found to have three tonnes of high explosives in London. They say that they want to target Jews anywhere around the world and that means us. That means here in our country.

“Police forces and security services cannot move against IRGC operatives until they have evidence that they are actively planning an attack, which is why proscription is needed, so that they have the legal powers to move immediately to clean out the IRGC in the UK. The Government promised to do this when it came to power a year ago. The IRGC poses a mortal threat to British Jews and the Home Secretary should lay an order before Parliament today. What is the Home Secretary waiting for?

“There is now a backlog of terrorist organisations that the Government is allowing to operate here without taking action. We have also asked the Home Secretary to proscribe the Houthis (Ansar Allah) — which fire on Royal Navy ships as well as seeking the death of all Jews — and the smaller Palestinian factions which participated in Hamas’ 7th October atrocities but, due to inaction by two successive Governments, still haven’t been proscribed two years later.

“We have also asked her to proscribe the domestic organisation Palestine Action, which operates a cell structure, uses burner phones and provides an entire manual on how to cause maximum damage. It is severely impacting British Jews and the wider public and we believe meets all of the criteria for being banned under the Terrorism Act 2000.

“We need action now. The Home Secretary must give law enforcement the powers they need to keep us safe. We cannot wait another day.”

,

CAA calls on Home Secretary to proscribe Palestine Action under Terrorism Act

Today, Campaign Against Antisemitism has written to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, calling for the proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000.

We have provided her with a detailed dossier of evidence demonstrating that the group’s activities fall, in our view, squarely within the definition of a terrorism organisation.

Palestine Action is a UK-based activist group which was formed in 2020. It has gained attention for what the organisation describes as “direct action” against companies and institutions which it considers to be linked to the Israeli Government, ranging from defence contractors to the BBC. The organisation is known for confrontational and criminal tactics, including damage to property, vandalism and the occupation of corporate or public facilities. Their most notable targets include Elbit Systems, an Israel-based defence contractor with subsidiary facilities throughout the United Kingdom. Since the 7th October 2023 terrorist attacks by Hamas and the subsequent war between Hamas and Israel, Palestine Action has increasingly been targeting cultural and educational sites.

The group’s methods often involve the destruction of property, disruption of business operations, and threats to public safety. Palestine Action revels in these activities and writes extensively about them on its website. The organisation has also published a handbook named “The Underground Manual”, which includes instructions on everything from forming “cells”, to how to “pick a target”, and how to commit criminal damage in the most harmful way. The handbook includes instructions on what to wear, how to use a burner phone, and which tools to use to cause the greatest damage.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Today, we have written to the Home Secretary calling for the proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000. We have provided her with a detailed dossier of evidence demonstrating that the group’s activities fall, in our view, squarely within the definition of a terrorist organisation.

“We urge the Home Office to act swiftly to ban the group in order to minimise any further intimidation and property damage to the Jewish community and its institutions and to other businesses and cultural establishments.

“Palestine Action is at the vanguard of an activist movement that is severely disrupting the lives of British Jews and the wider public. It is time to enforce the laws of this country and bring to justice those who seek to use what we believe the law defines as terror to advance their goals.”

, ,

“Resistance is justified”: Friends of Palestine Society suspended at University of Birmingham

The Friends of Palestine Society at the University of Birmingham has reportedly been suspended by the Guild of Students, following a protest last month.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has obtained footage of the protest, which took place on 15th May. The footage appears to show students chanting: “Resistance is justified when people are occupied.”

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, which was adopted by the University in 2020, “Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology” is an example of antisemitism.

Further footage shows protesters chanting: “Israel is a terror state.”

According to a statement on the Society’s Instagram account, it intends to appeal the decision.

A Jewish student at the University told Campaign Against Antisemitism: “I am pleased with the Guild of Students’ decision. Hearing these kinds of slogans on campus made me feel unsafe and uneasy. Jewish students should not have to face such intimidatory protests at an institution that is supposed to be a place of learning. I hope other universities will look at this case, impose similar measures, and take a clear stand against those who seek to intimidate Jews.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This decision vindicates Jewish students at the University of Birmingham. For all their virtuous anti-racism rhetoric, our universities have become epicentres of Jew-hatred, where Jewish students are abused, Jewish societies are trolled and Jewish institutions are vandalised. Our polling shows that 90% of young British Jews blame their fellow students for the increase in reported antisemitic incidents on UK campuses.

“This protest was yet another example of just how bad the situation is for Jews on campus right now. Universities and student societies across Britain should follow this decision and take concrete steps to protect their students, who should be able to come to campus without fear for their safety.”

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].

, , , , ,

We will do everything we can to defend the Jewish community

Today, we can announce that we have launched a private prosecution against David Miller.

Dr Miller was previously an academic at the University of Bristol and is currently a presenter on the Iranian channel Press TV.

The case relates to posts on X, which Dr Miller allegedly published in recent months. Three charges have been brought by Campaign Against Antisemitism alleging that Dr Miller used a public communications network to send messages of a menacing character, contrary to section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

As we are the prosecutors in this case, we are limited in what we can say about it at this stage, but you can read more details about the case here.

Our application for a criminal summons to be issued against Dr Miller was granted by Westminster Magistrates’ Court with a first hearing scheduled for next month.

Warrant issued for Reginald D. Hunter to attend court in separate Campaign Against Antisemitism private prosecution

A warrant has been issued for Reginald D. Hunter to attend court in relation to a private prosecution brought by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Mr Hunter is charged with three offences under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003, relating to posts on X that he allegedly published in September 2024.

The first hearing took place last Friday at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, but the professional comedian failed to appear.

A warrant has now been issued for him to attend court on a future date.

This is one of a number of private prosecutions that we are bringing, and there will be more to say on the case in due course.

Jewish world rocked by a second violent ‘Free Palestine’ attack in as many weeks

As Jewish people around the world began bringing in the festival of Shavuot, another horrendous ‘Free Palestine’ attack on Jews took place in Boulder, Colorado.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian immigrant to the United States (some reports suggest that he had been in the country illegally), is alleged to have targeted a demonstration to raise awareness of the hostages in Boulder Colorado with a flamethrower and Molotov cocktails.

He allegedly told authorities that he had been planning the attack for a year and that he wanted to kill Zionists and said that he would repeat the attack if he could.

He was reportedly heard yelling “Free Palestine” at the scene.

This is what happens when our societies refuse to comprehend what the ‘Free Palestine’ movement is capable of. When people say that “the only solution is Intifada revolution”, this is what that looks like.

We wish the eight victims a swift recovery, and call for swift justice against those responsible.

Why is Palestine Action still not banned?

One night last week, a Jewish business in Stamford Hill in North London was vandalised with red paint and had its windows smashed.

CCTV footage shows two masked individuals breaking the front window of the building and spraying it with red paint using a fire extinguisher.

Palestine Action has claimed responsibility for this abhorrent act of intimidation.

It is understood that the Metropolitan Police are investigating the incident as racially-aggravated criminal damage.

Palestine Action is a criminal enterprise operating freely in the UK and terrorising the Jewish community. It must be banned and its organisers and activists prosecuted.

We are examining legal and policy options.

If anyone has information about the incident, they should call the police on 101, quoting reference number CAD 1397/29MAY.

The role of the media

These violent attacks – murder, attempted murder, racially-aggravated property damage – are the result of a number of complementary factors, including the failure of the authorities to take decisive action but also the peddling of misinformation by the media.

  • After the UN’s humanitarian chief made the unfounded assertion that “14,000 babies” would die in Gaza within 48 hours, the UN retracted the claim. But that was not before all the news outlets amplified the lie. Some eventually retracted, some continued to amplify it. But some of those that retracted still have the unedited stories online. The BBC, for example, still has an unedited and uncaveated segment live on its website pushing the false claim with no indication in the text that the lie has been debunked and withdrawn.
  • BBC Arabic, meanwhile, has had to issue an on-air apology after one of its presenters claimed that there was no evidence of Hamas terrorists burning entire families during its barbaric attack in Southern Israel on 7th October 2023. The propagandistic and insulting statement was made during a programme in April in response to an Israeli researcher discussing the massacre on one of its programmes. It is not known if the presenter has faced any disciplinary action or indeed basic training in journalism since the incident.
  • Then, this week, the BBC promoted the false story that Israeli forces killed Gazans at a humanitarian distribution centre. After the BBC’s version of events changed several times – including the numbers of alleged fatalities and the methods of killing – eventually BBC Verify decided to do the work of traditional journalism and found the story to be untrue. That was not before footage of the supposed image had been viewed countless times online and the story made headlines in the UK.

The BBC recently reiterated its commitment to a thematic review into its Gaza coverage, including BBC Arabic.

This is not enough. We need a properly independent investigation to uncover what is really going on at our national broadcaster.

Until then, the TV licence fee must be suspended, pending an independent inquiry. Sign the petition now!

The BBC is funded by UK taxpayers through the TV Licence Fee. To stop paying yours now, read our guide at antisemitism.org/canceltvlicence.

Campaign Against Antisemitism continues to lead the campaign against the ‘Hamas case’

The Home Office has written to thank Campaign Against Antisemitism for our legal submission to the Home Secretary in response to Hamas’ application to be de-proscribed in the UK.

Whilst the Home Office is prevented from commenting on the application itself for legal reasons, the response noted that “National security is the Government’s first priority, and we are committed to tackling extremism and terrorism in all its forms. The barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas on 7th October 2023 was the most appalling attack in Israel’s history and the worst loss of Jewish life since the Second World War.”

The Home Office went on to say that “The UK retains a no-contact policy with Hamas and strongly condemns all acts of terrorism. Everyone in this country has the right to feel safe and we already have some of the strongest laws in the world to protect our citizens from hatred and terrorism. I want to reassure you and Campaign Against Antisemitism that this Government will do whatever is required to keep communities in the UK safe and protect our national security.”

There is absolutely no way that we will permit the proscription of Hamas to be overturned on our watch, and we are quite confident that the Home Secretary will reach the same conclusion given the appalling brutality of Hamas, its ongoing attempts to perpetrate terrorism, its foundational commitment to the murder of Jews, and the startlingly poor quality and maximalist position of its application for de-proscription.

If Hamas persists in its legal claim, we will pursue the matter at every stage in court.

On the other side of the case, one of Hamas’ lawyers, Franck Magennis, referred to Zionism as a “crisis” in an interview and extolled Ansar Allah (the Houthis) as having “shamed the rest of the world” in its “willingness to stand in solidarity with the Palestinians…taking real material sacrifices to militarily confront the Zionist entity.”

Ansar Allah is a terror group backed by Iran with a long history of violent attacks in a number of different countries, including firing drones and missiles at Jewish civilians. Despite widespread condemnation, they also persist in recruitment of child soldiers. The group’s slogan is “Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse the Jews.”

This is a disgrace to the legal profession.

We are waiting to hear from the Bar Standards Board regarding Mr Magennis’ (un)fitness to practice law in England.

Would you like to help Campaign Against Antisemitism?

Next week, we will be asking our supporters and the wider community for your help to Fund The Fight in our annual crowdfunder.

If you would like to be a Team Leader in this campaign, which will be run through Charity Extra, or you would like further information, please contact us at [email protected].

Team Leaders receive all the resources that they need in order to tell their family and friends about the work that Campaign Against Antisemitism does and how we use the donations that our supporters contribute.

We can only continue the fight against antisemitism with your help.

Explosive claim about alleged British funding of Hamas

The explosive claim last week that British taxpayer money not only may be going to Hamas but could actually be one of its main sources of funding should be prompting emergency meetings at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Handing money to third parties, including UN agencies and established charitable organisations, is no substitute for extensive due diligence and tight safeguards.

We all know that Hamas steals and diverts aid, whether in the form of money or food. So how can our Government be so irresponsible as to reportedly provide monies that ultimately go to Hamas ministries and organs?

In this case, it appears that the FCDO provided funding to UNICEF knowing that would go to a Hamas Ministry in Gaza for disbursement.

Civil servants are right to worry about the reputational risk to the British Government around such policies, because clearly this is extremely damaging.

The problem is that they apparently didn’t properly consider the other risks, including potentially to life and limb.

From one banned group to another?

We welcome reports that ministers are to get anti-terror-style powers to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

The proposal, which has been recommended by the Government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation and, if implemented, would fulfil a Labour pre-election promise, would introduce a fourteen-year prison sentence for anyone helping or benefiting from a banned state intelligence agency such as the IRGC.

A new criminal offence of inviting support for state agencies such as the IRGC or displaying their flags or insignia in public, would also be introduced, essentially replicating existing offences for proscribed terrorist organisations under the Terrorism Act.

For now, these are only proposals and they come from an independent advisor to the Government, so it remains to be seen whether the Home Office and FCDO will accept them.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has long called for the proscription of the IRGC, including recently in a submission to the Foreign Affairs Committee, and our representative polling shows that 93% of British Jews believe that the Government should proscribe the IRGC.

Antisemitism in the Middle East is not a new phenomenon

This week, we commemorate the Farhud.

In June 1941, the Farhud tore through Baghdad — a brutal pogrom where Jews were beaten, raped, and murdered in the streets.

Jack Hikmet was born in its aftermath. Growing up as a Jew in Iraq, his life was marked by fear, violence, and uncertainty. Listen to his story here.

The violent ‘Free Palestine’ attack in Colorado underscores just how urgent our fight against antisemitism is.

Our private prosecutions, complaints to regulators, scrutiny of the media, advocacy for victims, support for students are just a sample of our work, which is more vital than ever.

We will continue to do everything that we can – from the courtroom to Parliament and from the television studio to the classroom – to defend the Jewish community.

,

CAA commences private prosecution against David Miller 

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a private prosecution against David Miller. Dr Miller was previously an academic at the University of Bristol and is currently a presenter on the Iranian channel Press TV.

The case relates to posts on X, which Dr Miller allegedly published in recent months. Three charges have been brought by Campaign Against Antisemitism alleging that Dr Miller used a public communications network to send messages of a menacing character, contrary to section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

The first message was posted on 8th November 2024 in relation to a discussion on violence in Amsterdam after a football match involving an Israeli team. It read:

“…2. If the institutions do not do their duty of de-Zionising football by the stroke of a pen, the people will take care of it through material deZionisation on the streets. Last night’s response by the brave Muslim communities of Amsterdam was necessary, but extremely measured and not at all proportional to the genocidal violence unleashed by Zionist terrorists on the Levant, on Muslims worldwide, or indeed in the provocations that preceded the measured response. Future incidents will likely involve a more proportional response.

“3. As well as being unwelcoming to Zionist colonists coming from Occupied Palestine, Europe must be unviable as a base for Zionist terror by Jewish supremacists who have infiltrated and are camouflaged among us. Zionist terrorist entryists must be expunged from European institutions, whether political parties, media, thinktanks or elsewhere. Again, either institutions take the lead and conduct this work in orderly fashion with advice from experts on Zionist subversion, or the people will take care of it for them.

“The Flood is here and the ‘dam has broken.

“#DismantleZionism”

The second message was posted on 20th March 2025 where Dr Miller stated:

“Every genuinely anti-Zionist Jew can count on being kept safe by the movement, when the time comes. 

“Every Zionist Jew must be held accountable and de-Zionised.

“#DismantleZionism”

The third message was posted on 24th March 2025 where Dr Miller commented: 

“Protests are not enough. Listen to our brothers and sisters in Gaza.

“Those who are interested in ending this genocide must begin by targeting those responsible near them: the entire Zionist movement globally must live in fear of accountability until it is dismantled and its ideology eradicated.

“And let’s be clear, there are Zionists everywhere. In every town and city. Find out where they are.

“#DismantleZionism”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s application for a criminal summons to be issued against Dr Miller was granted by Westminster Magistrates’ Court with a first hearing scheduled for next month. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism is a volunteer-led charity dedicated to exposing and countering antisemitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law.

, ,

Warrant issued for comedian Reginald D. Hunter in private prosecution brought by CAA

A warrant has been issued for Reginald D. Hunter to attend court in relation to a private prosecution brought by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Mr Hunter is charged with three offences under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003, relating to posts on X that he allegedly published in September 2024.

The first hearing took place today at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, but Mr Hunter failed to appear. A warrant has now been issued for him to attend court on a future date.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “This is one of a number of private prosecutions that we are bringing, and there will be more to say on the case in due course.”

, , , , , ,

The real destination of ‘Free Palestine’

A crowd gathered on Thursday evening outside the Israeli Embassy in London for a vigil organised by Campaign Against Antisemitism to honour two diplomats who were brutally murdered on Wednesday night in Washington DC.

Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who both worked for the Israeli Embassy in the United States, were shot outside Capital Jewish Museum as they were leaving an event.

The shooting, by a suspect who shouted “Free Palestine!” at the scene and who later reportedly confessed to police, has sent shockwaves around the world.

The growing extremism of the ‘Free Palestine’ movement has been a ticking time bomb which has been waiting to explode.

This is what they mean when they yell ‘Globalise the Intifada’ on the streets of capital cities, on our campuses and at trade union meetings.

Addressing the crowd in London, Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “They were a couple, and had plans to travel to Jerusalem next week, where Yaron intended to propose to Sarah. That is what could have been. That is what should have been. Instead, their lives were stolen, and now, that proposal will never come. The family they would have built will never be realised. They were gunned down at the very gates of a Jewish museum — a place meant to preserve memory and culture — by a man shouting ‘Free Palestine.’ This was not peace. It was violence. This was not protest. It was murder.”

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis then addressed the crowd: “We will never lose our hope, and we have every reason to be filled with hope, and that is because we know that the peace we are committed to, the justice that we want to see in the world, will ultimately triumph over those who seek to kill and to murder.”

A statement from Tzipi Hotovely, Ambassador of Israel to the Court of St. James’s, was read on her behalf, as she was unable to join for security reasons: “At a time when tensions remain high, and Jewish communities are feeling vulnerable, this incident is a sobering reminder of the threats we face. All diplomats, and representatives of embassies across the world, should be able to work without fear for their lives or safety, as they work to achieve greater cooperation amongst nations. Last night’s events are a harsh reminder of the virulent antisemitism we are still seeing, in the US, here in the UK, and across the world.”

A two-minute silence for the victims was then observed, following which the crowd was led in song and prayer by Cantor Aaron Isaac. Attendees then sang the British national anthem and the Israeli national anthem.

We are locked in a battle for the soul of the West.

It’s long past time that our leaders and police chiefs here in Britain woke up and took firm action, otherwise these will not be the last lives taken by these fanatical extremists dressed up as peaceniks.

May their memory be a blessing.

Kneecap member charged following action by Campaign Against Antisemitism

A member of the Belfast rap trio Kneecap has been charged with a terrorism offence.

Liam O’Hanna, 27, was charged by post with displaying a flag in support of Hizballah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, at a concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on 21st November last year.

Mr O’Hanna is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court next month.

Footage of the concert in question appeared to show a member of the band, draped in a Hizballah flag, shouting to the crowd, “Up Hamas, up Hizballah.”

In a statement following considerable backlash, the group said: “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hizballah.”

Yet just one day after the charge was made public, Kneecap performed at the 100 Club in London. During the show, Mr O’Hanna claimed the group was being used as a “scapegoat” to avoid “talking about the real issue”.

His transparent deflection tactics may fool some within Kneecap’s unquestioning fanbase – but not us.

Shame on the 100 Club for putting profit before principle by hosting the band so soon after the charge.

Those who continue to associate themselves with Kneecap make clear that they care little for ethics or the concerns of Jews worldwide, for whom the threats posed by Hamas and Hizballah are not theoretical – they are existential.

Despite all of this, the group was still allowed to headline at Wide Awake Festival at Brockwell Park on Friday.

Following our calls on festival organisers to cancel Kneecap’s performance, Wide Awake Festival said in a statement that it was looking forward to “staging another unforgettable event”.

Those who oppose extremism will not forget this. This decision was a disgrace.

A welcome development

Abu Wadei, whose real name is understood to be Mosab Al Qasas, has been sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment.

He was sentenced following his guilty plea to attempting to enter the country on 6th March without leave or valid entry clearance.

The jailing of Mr Al Qasas after we revealed that he was part of a violent Hamas-endorsed unit is an extremely welcome development. However, this is only in respect to charges relating to immigration breaches.

We have called for the Crown Prosecution Service to bring terrorism charges against him as well, as we believe that he has committed serious offences and that it is in the interests of national security to bring a prosecution.

Failure to do so risks signalling that Britain is a safe haven for terrorists. For now, he is in prison, but we need clarity on what happens once he has served his term: will he be deported or will he be at liberty in Britain?

Will he face justice for his potential involvement in terrorist activity abroad, or will he walk free?

The general public and British Jews in particular must urgently be told the answers to these questions.

The Crown Prosecution Service must bring terrorism charges against him.

Are Hamas’ lawyers acting with honesty and integrity?

We have reported Franck Magennis and Daniël Michaël Grütters to the Bar Standards Board (BSB).

Mr Magennis and Mr Grütters are barristers who are working for Hamas on its desperate bid to get the group deproscribed in the UK.

Upon reviewing the application for deproscription, it is evident that Mr Magennis and Mr Grütters knowingly or recklessly presented, on behalf of Hamas, a false and misleading description of the 7th October 2023 massacre.

The Hamas false version of events denies that Hamas carried out a deliberate massacre of civilians in Israel, despite the mountain of evidence to the contrary — this deeply offensive assertion evokes Holocaust denial, in that it denies the veracity of a barbaric, deliberate mass-murder of Jews which is the subject of comprehensive, incontrovertible evidence.

It is accordingly a particularly reprehensible assertion for a barrister to make, even on instructions, knowing it to be untrue.

Rather than being incidental to the application, the Hamas false version of the events is central to the application.

Mr Magennis and Mr Grütters have knowingly prepared and presented a submission to the Secretary of State containing at its core a set of egregious falsehoods, which we charge breaches the requirement that all barristers “must act with honesty, and with integrity”.

The BSB must now open an investigation into Mr Magennis and Mr Grütters.

We have already reported Hamas’ solicitor, Fahad Ansari, to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

We are hiring!

Can you write good copy? Can you turn academic research into impactful messaging? Do you want to help combat rising antisemitism?

We’re looking for a Communications and Research Manager to join us in the fight against antisemitism.

For more information and to apply, visit antisemitism.org/jobs.

Are you a medical professional, or a recent patient?

We are collecting testimonies on antisemitism in the medical field.

We are interested to hear from doctors and other medical practitioners, staff, patients and anyone else who has encountered antisemitism in medicine over the past year and a half.

If you have been affected, please e-mail us at [email protected] with the subject: “Medical”.

It is vital that victims make their voices heard. We cannot raise awareness of antisemitism in medicine without your help.

We understand the significance of professional and privacy concerns, which is why victims trust us to amplify their voices and get justice. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Last week, the true destination of the ‘Free Palestine’ movement was revealed to the world. Jews across the globe were left reeling in horror as they were faced with the news of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky’s murder.

It is times like this when we are reminded of just how vital the fight against antisemitism is for the future of British Jews and indeed the West.

This is a battle that we cannot lose. We will continue to do everything we can to fight for our future.

Photo credit: Campaign Against Antisemitism

Vigil for murdered Embassy staffers, 22nd May 2025
, ,

Vigil in London for murdered Israeli Embassy staffers draws hundreds

A crowd gathered this evening outside the Israeli Embassy in London in a vigil organised by Campaign Against Antisemitism to honour two diplomats who were brutally murdered last night in Washington D.C.

Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who both worked for the Israeli Embassy in the United States, were shot outside Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. last night as they were leaving an event.

The shooting, by a suspect who allegedly shouted “Free Palestine!” at the scene and who later reportedly confessed to police, has sent shockwaves around the world.

Addressing the crowd in London, Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “They were a couple, and had plans to travel to Jerusalem next week, where Yaron intended to propose to Sarah. That is what could have been. That is what should have been. Instead, their lives were stolen, and now, that proposal will never come. The family they would have built will never be realised. They were gunned down at the very gates of a Jewish museum — a place meant to preserve memory and culture — by a man shouting ‘Free Palestine.’ This was not peace. It was violence. This was not protest. It was murder.”

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis then spoke to the crowd: “We will never lose our hope, and we have every reason to be filled with hope, and that is because we know that the peace we are committed to, the justice that we want to see in the world, will ultimately triumph over those who seek to kill and to murder.”

A statement from Tzipi Hotovely, Ambassador of Israel to the Court of St. James’s, was read, from which the following is extracted: “At a time when tensions remain high, and Jewish communities are feeling vulnerable, this incident is a sobering reminder of the threats we face. All diplomats, and representatives of embassies across the world, should be able to work without fear for their lives or safety, as they work to achieve greater cooperation amongst nations. Last night’s events are a harsh reminder of the virulent antisemitism we are still seeing, in the US, here in the UK, and across the world.”

The crowd then observed a two-minute silence for the victims, following which the crowd was led in song and prayer by Cantor Aaron Isaac. Attendees then sung the British national anthem and the Israeli national anthem.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The growing extremism of the ‘Free Palestine’ movement has been a ticking time bomb which has been waiting to explode. This is what they mean when they yell ‘Globalise the Intifada’ on the streets of capital cities, on our campuses and at trade union meetings. They are being honest and open when they call for ‘intifada’. It means murder and terrorism, and yet the authorities have gaslit us, telling us that these are peaceful protesters. They are anything but peaceful, and now they have shed blood. Two people are dead, never to return to their families. Yaron and Sarah’s young lives have been cut short, murdered at the entrance to the Jewish Museum

“These are the real colours of the ‘Free Palestine’ movement. Anybody surprised by this horrific double murder has had their head in the sand. We are locked in a battle for the soul of the West. It’s long past time that our leaders and police chiefs woke up and took firm action, otherwise these will not be the last lives taken by these fanatical extremists dressed up as peaceniks.”

Image credit: Campaign Against Antisemitism

, , ,

Kneecap member charged with terrorism offence

A member of the Belfast rap trio Kneecap has been charged with a terrorism offence.

Liam O’Hanna, 27, was charged by post with displaying a flag in support of Hizballah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, at a concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on 21st November last year.

Mr O’Hanna is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 18th June.

Footage of the concert in question appeared to show a member of the band, draped in a Hizballah flag, shouting to the crowd, “Up Hamas, up Hizballah.”

In a statement following considerable backlash, the group said: “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hizballah.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has written to a number of venues, including the Glastonbury Festival, to reconsider hosting the group. Several has cancelled gigs so far, and more may do so following the charge.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are pleased that police have acted swiftly after we and others reported Kneecap in relation to alleged events onstage at the November concert last year. Hamas and Hizballah are both proscribed terrorist organisations in the UK. The law must be enforced. We will be monitoring the case closely.”

, ,

Witness appeal: Theft of mezuzah in Golders Green caught on camera

Footage caught on a door-cam appears to show a man removing a mezuzah from a home in Golders Green in North London yesterday and walking away.

A mezuzah is a decorative case containing a prayer traditionally fixed to a Jewish home.

We are calling for witnesses to contact Shomrim North West London, the neighbourhood patrol group that retrieved the footage, which you can watch here.

If anyone has information, please contact Shomrim on 0300 9991234 quoting ref NW683-20/05/25.

A spokesperson for Shomrim North West London said: “The religious Jewish community have traditionally borne a lot of the brunt of antisemitic attacks because they are most visibly Jewish. This has a profound impact on our quality of life. This person is caught on camera. He must be identified. We urge anyone with information to come forward.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This sort of cowardly and costly vandalism targeting Jewish homes sends the message that British Jews aren’t safe, even in places where they think they are. We join Shomrim North West London in calling for information about the person captured in this video so that appropriate action can be taken. If this were your home, you would hope that others would help you get justice too.”

, ,

“Right to armed resistance”: Scandalous student union motion withdrawn following CAA action

A scandalous and potentially criminal ‘Solidarity with Palestine Policy’ motion has been withdrawn by the University of Manchester’s Students’ Union, following action from Campaign Against Antisemitism and others in the community.

One part of the motion read: “International law enshrines a right to resist occupation. Additionally, lawyers and scholars have argued that the use of armed military force by a people exercising the right to self-determination when all other avenues of resistance have been exhausted is legitimate under international law, and that the right of an occupied people to armed resistance is an extension of the right to national self-defence. On the other hand, the right to national self-defence does not extend to occupying nations in the land they are occupying. International law forbids occupying or oppressor nations from taking military action to suppress self-determination. This position has recently been reaffirmed by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese.”

It also stated: “In recognising that, as an occupied nation, the people of Palestine have the right to armed resistance under international law.”

The motion can be read in full here.

Our lawyers reviewed this policy and wrote to the University and the Students’ Union.

While there was no remorse in the announcement of the withdrawal, this success is an example of regulations working to protect a vulnerable community on campus.

We will continue to tackle extremism and antisemitism on university campuses wherever we find it.

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].

, , , ,

Gary Lineker finally gets a red card

After we led a week of public outcry and over 10,000 people signed our petition in only a few days calling on Gary Lineker and the BBC to part ways, the message has finally been received.

Today, it was announced that Gary Lineker is departing from the BBC.

The news comes after he shared a video last week, which was widely understood to portray ‘Zionists’ as rats in an echo of Nazi propaganda.

Our calls were amplified by Sharon Osbourne, who commented on our social media post saying, “Bye bye” to the controversial pundit and former footballer.

Mr Lineker’s departure from the BBC was long overdue. This latest incident comes after years of us pointing out his descent. He became a symbol of the rot at the heart of our national broadcaster: a man repeatedly allowed to flout the BBC’s own rules on impartiality, abusing his position to promote his increasingly propagandist politics, vilifying those he disagrees with, and even promoting dehumanising and extreme messages.

The BBC tolerated this for years despite our growing calls and in spite of its supposed values, because it no longer lives by them.

Impartiality at the BBC is dead, and Mr Lineker has been Exhibit A.

Gary Lineker could have been the Des Lynam of our generation. Instead, he transformed in front of the nation’s eyes into Mr Not So Nice Guy, an egotist who mistook celebrity for moral authority, a divisive figure who used his fame to inflame.

At last, the final whistle has been blown on his tenure at the BBC, and now it is time to ask how and why management allowed him to play on until now, foul after foul.

Mr Lineker became a high-profile symptom of the rot at the heart of our national broadcaster. The BBC is not yet rid of the rot; there is much more work to be done.

Our polling shows that the overwhelming majority — 92% — of British Jews believe media bias against Israel fuels antisemitism, and look on the BBC’s coverage unfavourably. It performs the worst among broadcasters in our poll.

That is why we need a full and independent inquiry into the BBC’s coverage of the Jewish state.

It cannot be the case that the BBC makes one concession and continues with business as usual. Our national broadcaster needs a real shake-up.

Sign our petition, calling for the licence fee to be suspended, pending an investigation!

What does it mean to cancel your licence fee?

If you want to cancel your licence fee but are concerned about the legal consequences, you can read our legal guide at antisemitism.org/canceltvlicence.

Defending the indefensible

Gary Lineker isn’t the only celebrity who has engaged in controversy relating to the Jewish community over the past week.

In a recent video, the provocateur podcaster Russell Brand says that Kanye West’s new song has a “good hook”.

Could the so-called hook be that the phrase “Heil Hitler” is repeated over and over? And the title of the song? Also “Heil Hitler”.

Mr Brand’s attempt to defend Kanye West (also known as Ye) in the face of outrage over Ye’s repeated and unapologetic praise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party isn’t just pathetic — it’s dangerous.

Whether he genuinely believes what he is saying or it’s just a desperate attempt to chase clicks through controversy, the outcome is the same: Mr Brand trivialises one of history’s darkest chapters.

Six million Jewish men, women and children were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. To this day, the global Jewish population has still not recovered.

Playing with Nazi slogans is not edgy or brave, and neither is Russell Brand.

End of the line

Farrukh Najeeb Husain, a solicitor who was struck off by the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) last year in a case in which Campaign Against Antisemitism gave expert testimony, has lost his appeal at the High Court.

The case was originally brought by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA) against Mr Husain. Following the hearing, the SDT found a number of his social media posts to be antisemitic and offensive.

The SRA investigated Mr Husain, an immigration and employment solicitor, following complaints regarding his conduct on X, which was reported to the regulator by Bevan Brittan, a law firm that employed him at the time.

The SRA claimed that Mr Husain’s conduct online was “offensive” and, in some cases, antisemitic. Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, gave expert witness testimony to assist the SRA in its case.

Farrukh Najeeb Husain’s posts were vile, there was no evidence of remorse for his actions, and in the words of Mr Justice Chamberlain, “No lesser sanction than striking off would suffice.”

Mr Husain was represented at the High Court by none other than Franck Magennis, a barrister who counts among his other clients the Hamas terrorist organisation. We will have more to tell you about Mr Magennis next week.

There must be zero tolerance for bigotry in the legal profession.

Manchester Students’ Union backs down after action by Campaign Against Antisemitism

A scandalous and potentially criminal ‘Solidarity with Palestine Policy’ motion has been withdrawn by the University of Manchester’s Students’ Union, following action from Campaign Against Antisemitism and others in the community.

One part of the motion read: “International law enshrines a right to resist occupation. Additionally, lawyers and scholars have argued that the use of armed military force by a people exercising the right to self-determination when all other avenues of resistance have been exhausted is legitimate under international law, and that the right of an occupied people to armed resistance is an extension of the right to national self-defence. On the other hand, the right to national self-defence does not extend to occupying nations in the land they are occupying. International law forbids occupying or oppressor nations from taking military action to suppress self-determination. This position has recently been reaffirmed by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese.”

It also stated: “In recognising that, as an occupied nation, the people of Palestine have the right to armed resistance under international law.”

Our lawyers reviewed this policy and wrote to the University.

This proposal never should have been even drafted, let alone proposed. Jewish students have the same right to feel safe on their campus as any other group.

While there was no remorse in the announcement of the withdrawal, this success is an example of regulations working to protect a vulnerable community on campus.

We will continue to tackle extremism and antisemitism on university campuses wherever we find it.

Unity Shapes Love?

Eurovision is supposed to be a celebration of togetherness, using music to bring nations closer.

This year, however, the competition has served as a stark reminder of the harsh reality faced by Jews and Israelis. Prior to the event, Israel’s National Security Council issued a warning advising Jews and Israelis visiting Switzerland to “avoid displaying Israeli and Jewish symbols in public” for their own safety.

This warning was all the more chilling given that Israel’s Eurovision entrant was Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the horrific 7th October Nova music festival massacre, where a reported 364 people were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists.

Ms Raphael only managed to survive by hiding under a dead body in a bomb shelter for eight long hours.

Despite all of this, there were still those calling for Israel’s exclusion from Eurovision. Indeed Graham Norton, providing commentary on the show for the BBC, observed the “controversy” around Israel’s participation but did not mention Ms Raphael’s biography. A fairer broadcaster might have decided to mention both or neither; but the BBC is not a fair broadcaster.

This year’s Eurovision theme was “Unity Shapes Love”. Some would do well to remember that ‘unity’ includes Jews.

So we decided to go to Soho and, in view of the ordeal that Ms Raphael went through on 7th October 2023, hand out yellow ribbons for the hostages in Gaza to Eurovision fans.

Not everyone was happy to take one…Watch the full video here.

But it’s not all bad news.

Despite incessant efforts to intimidate and even attack Ms Raphael, she performed well enough to win the public vote in the UK and across Europe, coming second overall (including jury votes).

It is an inspiration to see someone go through what Ms Raphael did a year and a half ago and rise to such heights.

Welcome home, Edan!

After 584 days in the hands of Hamas terrorists, Edan Alexander has finally returned home.

We will continue to call for the release of all the hostages, who remain in unimaginably brutal conditions. Every day that passes is another day too long.

Bring them home.

Are you a medical professional, or a recent patient?

We are collecting testimonies on antisemitism in the medical field.

We are interested to hear from doctors and other medical practitioners, staff, patients and anyone else who has encountered antisemitism in medicine over the past year and a half.

If you have been affected, please e-mail us at [email protected] with the subject: “Medical”.

It is vital that victims make their voices heard. We cannot raise awareness of antisemitism in medicine without your help.

We understand the significance of professional and privacy concerns, which is why victims trust us to amplify their voices and get justice. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

We are recruiting!

Do you want to support Jewish students on campus and develop the skills and experience to become a powerful voice in the fight against antisemitism?

We are looking for a full-time paid intern for up to twelve months, starting in September 2025.

You will be working alongside our Education Officer in our Central London office.

For more information and to apply, please visit antisemitism.org/jobs.We fight because nobody should be above the law or social norms. Gary Lineker thought that he was invincible. Today, he has learned otherwise.

If you want to support our work holding public personalities to account when nobody else will, you can do so here.

The campaign to humble Mr Lineker has taken years. Our persistence is thanks to your support.

, ,

Abu Wadei sentenced to prison following CAA investigation

Abu Wadei, whose real name is understood to be Mosab Al Qasas, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment today at Canterbury Crown Court.

He was sentenced after he pleaded guilty this morning to attempting to enter the country on 6th March earlier this year without leave or valid entry clearance.

Mr Wadei, who arrived in the United Kingdom on a dinghy on 6th March 2025, was arrested following an investigation by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

The initial investigation found that Mr Wadei has been part of a Hamas-endorsed unit responsible for violence on the Gaza-Israel border, and has told a rally in Gaza that he wanted to “die for the sake of Allah”, along with various other details.

We also uncovered a video posted to Facebook on 18th September 2024, in which Abu Wadei is heard praying: “Oh Allah, punish the Jews and those who support them. Oh Allah, punish the Jews and those who support them. Oh Allah, punish the Jews and those who conspire with them. Oh Allah, punish the Jews and those who are in league with them. Oh Allah, kill them all ,and do not leave a single one of them. Oh Allah, destroy them completely, scatter them completely, and make the earth fall from under their feet.”

He is also heard praying: “Oh Allah give us strength against the criminal Jews. Give us strength against them, Oh Lord of the worlds. Give us strength against them, Oh God.”

Mr Wadei seemed to have been living without attracting attention in Switzerland and Germany for two years, despite having hundreds of thousands of followers on social media accounts that showcase his involvement in violence in Gaza. It then appeared that he decided to cross Europe and risk his life to come to Britain.

We also obtained a WhatsApp number that appears to be his, registered in Greece.

It appeared that he was receiving money via PayPal using paypal.me/MosabAlqassass. We reported the account to PayPal.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The jailing of Mosab Al Qasas (Abu Wadei) after we revealed that he was part of a violent Hamas-endorsed unit is an extremely welcome development. However, this is only in respect to charges relating to immigration breaches. We have called for the CPS to bring terrorism charges against him as well, as we believe that he has committed serious offences and that it is in the interests of national security to bring a prosecution. Failure to do so risks signalling that Britain is a safe haven for terrorists. For now, he is in prison, but we need clarity on what happens once he has served his term: will he be deported or will he be at liberty in Britain? Will he face justice for his potential involvement in terrorist activity abroad, or will he walk free? The general public and British Jews in particular must urgently be told the answers to these questions.”

, ,

Gary Lineker quits BBC following CAA action

Gary Lineker is reportedly departing from the BBC following complaints to the broadcaster from Campaign Against Antisemitism.

The complaints were backed by our petition calling for his removal that rapidly gained over 10,000 signatures after he shared a video widely understood to portray ‘Zionists’ as rats, in an echo of Nazi propaganda.

On Wednesday, Mr Lineker issued an apology, saying: “It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.”

He also said: “I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has led calls for the BBC to part ways with Mr Lineker.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Gary Lineker’s departure from the BBC was long overdue — this latest incident comes after years of us pointing out his descent. He became a symbol of the rot at the heart of our national broadcaster: a man repeatedly allowed to flout the BBC’s own rules on impartiality, abusing his position to promote his increasingly propagandist politics, vilifying those he disagrees with, and even promoting dehumanising and extreme messages.

“The BBC tolerated this for years despite our growing calls and in spite of its supposed values, because it no longer lives by them. Impartiality at the BBC is dead, and Mr Lineker has been Exhibit A.

“Gary Lineker could have been the Des Lynam of our generation. Instead, he transformed in front of the nation’s eyes into Mr Not So Nice Guy, an egotist who mistook celebrity for moral authority, a divisive figure who used his fame to inflame. At last the final whistle has been blown on his tenure at the BBC, and now it is time to ask how and why management allowed him to play on until now, foul after foul.”

,

“Bye bye, Gary!”: Sharon Osbourne gives Gary Lineker the red card, following CAA petition signed by thousands

Sharon Osbourne has given Gary Lineker the red card, saying “Bye bye” to the former footballer under Campaign Against Antisemitism’s social media post advertising its petition, calling for the BBC to cut ties with its highest-paid star.

The number of signatories on the petition is currently 6,000 and counting.

The petition, which was launched after Mr Lineker shared an anti-Israel video, can be found at antisemitism.org/firelineker.

The video misrepresented Zionism and featured a rat emoji.

On Wednesday, Mr Lineker issued an apology, saying: “It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.”

He also said: “I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The game is up. Gary Lineker has been playing the public for fools by pretending to be one. He can’t get away with posing as a knowledgeable campaigner and simultaneously claiming to be an ignoramus who had no idea that portraying people as rats is dehumanising. He’s had too many chances to apologise and now everyone can see through him. The BBC would do well to follow the lead of Sharon Osbourne and thousands of others who have signed our petition demanding that Mr Not So Nice Guy is given the red card.”

, ,

Solicitor loses High Court appeal after being struck off in case where CAA provided expert opinion

Farrukh Najeeb Husain, a solicitor who was struck off by the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) last year, has lost his appeal at the High Court.

In the appeal, Mr Husain was represented by Franck Magennis, who was instructed by niche UK-Qatari law firm Five Pillars Law.

Campaign Against Antisemitism recently reported Mr Magennis to the Bar Standards Board for knowingly or recklessly presenting to the Home Secretary, on behalf of Hamas, a false and misleading description of the 7th October 2023 massacre.

The case was originally brought by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA) against Mr Husain. Following the hearing, the SDT found a number of his social media posts to be antisemitic and offensive.

The SRA investigated Mr Husain, an immigration and employment solicitor, following complaints regarding his conduct on X, which was reported to the regulator by Bevan Brittan, a law firm that employed him at the time.

The SRA claimed that Mr Husain’s conduct online was “offensive” and, in some cases, antisemitic. Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, gave expert witness testimony to assist the SRA in its case.

Mr Husain represented himself over the course of the hearings, which began in September 2023.

The posts in question were directed at Simon Myerson KC, a barrister, and Hugo Rifkind, a journalist. Among the posts were characterisations of Mr Rifkind as a “Zionist pig”, references to Mr Rifkind’s “eastern European kin” and the claim that Mr Myerson “wreaks of white privilege”.

Throughout the case, Mr Husain made several accusations against the SRA and Capsticks, a law firm that was representing the SRA at the tribunal. He claimed that the SRA was “weaponising new antisemitism” and subverting the International Definition of Antisemitism, and even accused the regulator of being “in bed” with Campaign Against Antisemitism. He also claimed that the solicitor acting on behalf of the SRA was an “imperialist” and asserted that she “bang[ed] on about the Holocaust because [she] wants to hide [her] country’s own crimes,” apparently referring to her British heritage.

During her cross-examination of Mr Husain, he said: “Mr Myerson is a fascist.”

Mr Husain extended his accusations towards Mr Silverman too during cross-examination and said: “It is you who are engaging in the antisemitic trope that there is a collection of Jews who are self-haters, who have turned against their nation and who are spouting conspiracy theories.”

Mr Silverman then asked the defendant if he was calling him an antisemite, to which Mr Husain responded: “Yes.”

Mr Husain also baselessly accused Campaign Against Antisemitism of being set up and funded by a former Israeli diplomat.

Throughout the proceedings, Mr Husain was repeatedly reminded by the chairperson to conduct himself in an appropriate manner. In one instance, the tribunal panel addressed the defendant directly and accused him of “bordering on being abusive to Mr Silverman at times.”

Mr Husain appealed the decision of the SDT to the High Court, where he was represented by barrister Franck Magennis, on the instruction of UK-Qatari law firm Five Pillars Law.

In his judgment, Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled that in addition to Mr Husain’s hostility on the basis of race or religion, “there was clearly a bullying element and puerile and crude sexual references.” He found no fault with the SDT for finding that Mr Husain showed “no contrition” and that he had been unduly combative during the proceedings.

Concluding, Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled: “In my judgment, the Tribunal explained adequately why it had concluded that no lesser sanction than striking off would suffice. In essence, it was because, having considered all the evidence and formed clear impressions about Mr Husain’s motivations at the time of the misconduct and his attitude at the time of the hearing, it was not satisfied that a lesser sanction would protect the public from a repetition of his behaviour.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The High Court has made the right decision. Farrukh Najeeb Husain’s posts were vile, there was no evidence of remorse for his actions, and in the words of Mr Justice Chamberlain, ‘No lesser sanction than striking off would suffice.’ The SRA is vindicated in its decision to bring this case in the first place to restore confidence in the legal profession, and we were pleased to be able to contribute expert evidence at the initial hearing in order to inform the tribunal. There must be zero tolerance for bigotry in the legal profession.”

, ,

Thousands sign CAA petition demanding the BBC to cut ties with Gary Lineker

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a petition demanding that the BBC cuts ties with Gary Lineker after he shared an anti-Israel video.

The petition can be found here at actionnetwork.org/petitions/firelineker.

The post, which was shared on his Instagram account, has now been removed. The post contained an anti-Israel video which misrepresented Zionism and featured a rat emoji.

Yesterday, Mr Lineker issued an apology, saying: “It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.”

He also said: “I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in.”

The petition can be found here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/firelineker.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Gary Lineker is playing the public for fools by pretending to be one. He claims to want to spread awareness about events in the Middle East but also claims to be so ignorant as to be unaware of the dehumanising connotations of a rat symbol.

“Such aloofness and reckless indifference would be appalling from any public figure, but Mr Lineker is the BBC’s number one star, and has built himself a media empire that gives him immense influence. That comes with an accountability that Mr Lineker has repeatedly refused to accept. Mr Lineker has had too many chances to act with greater responsibility. The time has passed for him to apologise. The BBC must remove him now.

“Frankly, the fact that he is still there is a sign of a much deeper rot and culture of impunity at the BBC, which has only emboldened people like Mr Lineker, allowed bigots to become journalists and influencers, and even led to the BBC’s humiliating admission that it sent money to the family of a Hamas official. That rot will only end when firm action is taken and an example made of those who are turning our national broadcaster into a national embarrassment.”

,

CAA calls for Gary Lineker to be removed from post after sharing inflammatory video

Campaign Against Antisemitism is calling for the BBC to part ways with Gary Lineker after sharing an anti-Israel video.

The post, which was shared on his Instagram account, contained an anti-Israel video which misrepresented Zionism and featured a rat emoji.

This is not the first time that Mr Lineker has courted controversy. When asked if he thought that it was a problem that the narrator of the BBC’s controversial so-called Gaza documentary was the son of a Hamas official during a recent interview, he answered: “I don’t think so, no.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Gary Lineker really has the worst luck when it comes to campaigning for his causes without aligning himself with extremists and antisemites. Not only does this video deliberately misrepresent Zionism — the belief that Jews have the same right to self-determination as everyone else — but it adds a rat emoji in doing so.

“Perhaps Mr Lineker is not as naive or accident prone as he might like us to believe. As the BBC’s highest-paid presenter and owner of a major media enterprise, maybe he knows exactly what he’s doing. We will be submitting a complaint to the BBC over this latest post. Having looked the other way until now, at this point, it is clear that Mr Lineker’s continued association with the BBC is untenable. He must go.”

, , , , ,

We won’t let the pressure let up on Kneecap

You will recall that the provocatively-named Northern Irish hip hop band, Kneecap, appeared to have given its support to Hamas and Hizballah last November in London at their concert at the O2 Forum Kentish Town.

One member, draped in a Hizballah flag, shouted to the crowd, “Up Hamas, up Hizballah.”

We submitted a complaint to Counter Terrorism Police, which is investigating.

They were also revealed in recent days to have said in November 2023: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”

The band has issued a defiant statement purporting to be an apology.

We have been clear that concert-goers must be allowed to enjoy live performances without worrying about whether they may be subjected to open support for proscribed terrorist organisations that have openly declared it their mission to murder Jews.

Accordingly, we have written to a number of venues and festivals to cancel. Eden Sessions and Plymouth Pavilions have cancelled concerts, as have numerous venues in Germany. We hope that more will follow.

We are not alone in our concern.

Henry Schachter BEM – whose parents were murdered in the Holocaust and who only survived thanks to the courage of a Christian family who hid him – has, like us, written to Glastonbury.

He said: “It is highly inappropriate for Glastonbury festival to allow such an entity to perform at the UK’s largest music festival. If the performance goes ahead, that would be a disgrace.”

We are yet to hear from Glastonbury, which is coming under pressure from political figures as well. The silence from the organisers of the world-renowned festival is shameful.

We also asked the British public what they think about Kneecap, and whether its concerts should be cancelled. Watch the full video here.

For an anti-establishment band that hates the United Kingdom, Kneecap also seem to have received an awful lot of public funding from the British state.

What does it say about Government grants, National Lottery funding and the British Film Institute that such controversial groups are reportedly awarded in excess of £1.5 million pounds over the years?

We have also led the media coverage and analysis of the Kneecap controversy as it relates to antisemitism.

The Hamas lawyers

Today, we have reported Fahad Ansari to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Mr Ansari is the Director and Principal Solicitor at Riverway Law, the law firm representing the terrorist group Hamas in its desperate bid to get the group deproscribed in the UK.

According to posts on Mr Ansari’s social media accounts, he seems to find a bulldozer breaching the border fence between Gaza and Israel on 7th October to be “one of the most iconic, hopeful images of our time”, hails Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin as a “hero”, and, referring to “the heroic Palestinian resistance”, hopes that “every one of their bullets hit their targets”.

Another post read: “At this point, Israel could literally set up gas chambers for Palestinians during Ramadan and the genocide enablers in the Western media will be shouting ‘What about Hamas?’ and crying antisemitism if anyone draws a comparison with the Holocaust. Make no mistake, if these people were alive in the 40s, they would have sided with the Nazis.”

This rhetoric is stomach-churning and brings the legal profession into disrepute.

It is ludicrous that someone with views like these is permitted to practise law in Britain. The SRA must urgently open an investigation into Mr Ansari.

Meanwhile, one of the barristers representing Hamas says that Hamas’ call to “end Israel” — the world’s only Jewish state — is really just “a call for peace. It’s a call for a democratic state.”

Not only is Mr Magennis’ argument absurd, it is also deeply insulting to Jewish people in general and to the victims of Hamas’ barbaric attack on southern Israel on 7th October 2023 in particular. When terrorists murdered around 1,200 people, took over 250 hostages, and committed horrific acts of sexual violence, they were not “calling for peace” — they were carrying out the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

It is shocking that someone like Mr Magennis is a practicing barrister in the UK.

What is a Zionist?

This week, we celebrated Yom Haatzmaut, which marks the founding of Israel, the world’s only Jewish state.

According to our polling, eight in ten British Jews identify as Zionists, so the occasion resonates with most Jews in this country.

But what is a Zionist? And for that matter, what is an anti-Zionist? Watch here to find out.

A wake-up call for Western academia

“No other group was constantly told that their history was a sham, that they or their co-religionists or co-ethnics were supremacists and oppressors, and that they had no right to the protections offered by anti-bias norms. Many Jewish students told us they feel like objects of suspicion.”

The report on antisemitism released this week by Harvard University is absolutely damning.

It details, case by case, how its campus became a hostile environment for Jews and just how low what was once one of the West’s premier institutions of learning has sunk.

Unvarnished antisemitism and victimisation of Jews by students and faculty, privileging of intimidatory protests over the rights of Jewish students, instances of downplaying the Holocaust and 7th October, litmus tests for Jews and more. The report is a catalogue of shameful incidents and testimony. It vindicates the brave Jewish students and faculty who have been blowing the whistle and fighting for their basic rights for the past year and a half.

This is a wake-up call for academia across Western society.

Universities have never been immune to antisemitism – indeed there have been eras when they have been incubators of it. Sadly, we are living through just such a time.

Institutions of higher learning around the world, including in the UK, must urgently take heed.

Educating against antisemitism

Harvard – like so many campuses in Britain – demonstrates why we cannot simply wait until students get to university to educate about antisemitism.

That is why we educate all ages – including pupils and, just as importantly, their teachers.

For example, we recently delivered our ‘Understanding Antisemitism’ course to Thomas’ Battersea, a preparatory school in south London that educates 600 boys and girls between the ages of four and thirteen.

Our training was the core component of the school’s all-staff INSET Day, delivered at the request of the headteacher and attended by approximately 100 staff members.

By equipping educators with the tools to recognise, understand and challenge antisemitism, we are supporting teachers in the broader fight against anti-Jewish hate in our society and enabling them to share these insights with their pupils.

If you would like to arrange a training session for your organisation or community, please e-mail us at [email protected].

Do you want to take a step forward in the fight against antisemitism?

This year, you can run in the Maccabi GB Community Fun Run on behalf of Campaign Against Antisemitism!

If you plan to be in London on Sunday 22nd June, sign up now, get sponsored and get fit!

As we celebrated the founding and endurance of the world’s only Jewish state this past week, we have been reminded of how Zionism means so much to so many British Jews.

Israel occupies such a central part of the identity of so many Jewish people and represents the last refuge from antisemitism.

Kneecap and others might wish to bear this in mind when they reflect on why their words are so insulting, not to mention dangerous, for British Jews.

, ,

BBC reiterates commitment to thematic review of Gaza coverage

The BBC has reportedly reiterated its intention to launch a “thematic review” into its Gaza coverage and BBC Arabic.

Samir Shah, the Chair of the BBC, has told Times Radio: “The [BBC] Arabic service, we are looking at it, we’ve been examining it. I think this whole business of how we’ve covered Israel-Gaza is a proper thing to examine thoroughly, which is why we’re going to identify… we’re going to get hold of an independent figure to look at our coverage.”

This comes after the BBC told Jewish media last month: “We take the matters raised with us extremely seriously and have updated them [the Board of Deputies] on a number of the topics they raise, including around training for staff and launching an independent Thematic Review of our Israel-Gaza coverage. The BBC is committed to upholding the highest possible editorial standards across our output, reporting impartially to maintain the trust of audiences. The conduct and welfare of all of our staff is an absolute priority and we have well-established and robust processes in place to handle any concerns or complaints raised with us.”

It is understood that this “thematic review” of the standard of the BBC’s Gaza coverage will be drafted for presentation to the BBC Board, and will be “independent and published in full”.

The announcement, such as it is, comes some two months after Mr Shah suggested before the Culture Media and Sport Committee that a thematic review might be on the table, and just days after yet another BBC Arabic contributor who reports on the Hamas-Israel conflict was alleged to have published antisemitic rhetoric on social media.

The scandal has arisen following the broadcast earlier this year of a so-called documentary, ‘Gaza How to Survive a War Zone’, which was narrated by the son of a senior Hamas official, whose family was paid with licence fee funds for the son’s participation. The BBC launched an internal review, which, almost three months since the broadcast, has yet to report its findings.

Our polling shows the overwhelming majority — 92% — of British Jews believe media bias against Israel fuels antisemitism, and look on the BBC’s coverage disfavorably (it performs the worst among broadcasters). We need a full and independent inquiry into the BBC’s coverage of the Jewish state.

Since the scandal erupted earlier this year, Campaign Against Antisemitism has:

  • Called for an independent investigation into the scandal and into BBC bias in its Israel coverage more broadly.
  • Held multiple protests outside Broadcasting House.
  • Urged the scrapping of the ‘BBC First’ policy, whereby the BBC, uniquely among broadcasters, is able to mark its own homework before a complaint can be escalated to Ofcom.
  • Commissioned and published polling (conducted by YouGov) that showed that 57% of the British public back an independent investigation into the BBC Gaza film scandal and only 21% do not.
  • Launched a petition calling for a suspension of the licence fee pending an independent investigation.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Why go through the charade of an internal review only to accept, weeks later, the need for an independent investigation? We called for that from the start but the BBC, as usual, tried to dig in its heels. Given the BBC’s record, does anyone trust the BBC to appoint someone truly independent to investigate itself? BBC bosses still haven’t got a grip on this scandal.”

,

University Rector wins appeal following dismissal over comments which made students “fear for their safety”

Stella Maris, the Rector of the University of St Andrews has reportedly won her appeal after she was removed from her position on the University’s court over comments which made some students “fear for their safety”.

The University said that it is “carefully considering” the ruling and is seeking advice from legal counsel.

In November 2023, Ms Maris sent an e-mail to the University’s student body, in which she accused Israel of “genocidal attacks”. The statement came just under two months after Hamas carried out barbaric attacks in Israel on 7th October 2023, murdering over 1,200 Israelis and taking some 250 people hostage.

It is understood that before sending the e-mail, the Rector met with students from the University’s Jewish Society to discuss a statement that she had prepared regarding Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

However, once the e-mail was sent out, the Jewish Society published a statement online: “The Rector of St Andrews, Stella Maris, published a statement regarding the events in Israel and Gaza, which was e-mailed to all students at the University. The Rector is elected by students as a representative voice. However, her words were divisive, harmful and not based on fact. Whilst constructing this statement, [Ms] Maris met with the Jewish Society, but her published statement was significantly different to that which was shared with us, deliberately misleading members of our community […]”

It was also reported that a letter was sent to Ms Maris, signed by over 1,400 current students and alumni, which said: “We are concerned that your letter does not demonstrate equal care for Palestinian and Israeli lives. Moreover, your letter does not show any appreciation for how your inflammatory and unfounded accusations of ‘genocide,’ ‘apartheid,’ and ‘occupation’ concerning the Jewish state will further embolden attacks and hatred against the Jewish students whom you were elected to care for. It is unacceptable for the Rector to be selective in their responsibility to represent all students.”

Regarding the e-mail, the University’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, said: “We are utterly dismayed that the Rector, on this occasion, put her right to freedom of expression ahead of her duty to represent all students, and to be concerned for their welfare.”

Ms Stella responded to allegations of antisemitism online, saying that she would “not have antisemitism weaponised” against her. 

She also reportedly shared a graphic, which said, “I don’t hate Jewish people, please stop being weird,” and another that claimed Zionism is “an ideology based on racial elimination”.

An independent investigation was then launched. 

Chaired by Judge Lady Ross, then Morag Ross KC, the investigation concluded that Ms Maris had exercised “poor judgment”. 

It added that while Ms Maris had been entitled to free speech, she ignored the possibility that her comments could “encourage antisemitic behaviour by others”.

The University concluded in its investigation that Ms Maris had made some students “fear for their safety”.

Ms Maris will remain in her position as Rector until the end of her term in October 2026.

Prior to her appeal Ms Maris said: “It is clear that I have been removed from court because I called for an end to Israel’s war crimes against Palestinians, and I will not apologise for doing so. As a young, neurodiverse black woman with limited financial resources, I have faced the full force of the university, including a KC investigation, all because I made a statement supported by the overwhelming majority of students, calling for an end to a genocide.”

At the time of the initial ruling, an apology was issued by Ray Perman, the Chairman of the University’s court, to all those affected by Ms Maris’ comments.

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].

, ,

Kneecap dropped from Plymouth venue, following CAA action

The Plymouth Pavilions has cancelled an upcoming performance by Irish hip hop band, Kneecap, following action by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others.

Plymouth Pavilions said in a statement: “The safety of our valued visitors is always our primary concern and as such we feel confident in this decision.”

The cancellation comes just one day after Kneecap’s performance was cancelled at the Eden Sessions festival.

The band appeared to give its support to Hamas and Hizballah last November in London at their concert at the O2 Forum Kentish Town.

One member, draped in a Hizballah flag, shouted to the crowd, “Up Hamas, up Hizballah.” This is the emblem of a terrorist group committed to the extermination of Jews.

In a statement following backlash, the group said: “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hizballah.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism also wrote to Glastonbury and other festivals to demand that Kneecap be dropped from their line-ups. Any venue that hosts them risks sending a message that hate has a place on the stage, and that Jews are not welcome.

Concert-goers must be allowed to enjoy live performances without worrying about whether they may be subjected to open support for proscribed terrorist organisations that have openly declared it their mission to murder Jews.

We have also reported Kneecap to Counter Terrorism Police, which is now reviewing footage of the concert, and instructed our lawyers to prepare for a private prosecution if necessary.

, ,

Kneecap dropped from Eden Sessions festival, following CAA action

The Eden Sessions festival has cancelled an upcoming performance by Irish hip hop band, Kneecap, following Campaign Against Antisemitism’s letter to the festival organisers.

The band appeared to give its support to Hamas and Hizballah last November in London at their concert at the O2 Forum Kentish Town.

One member, draped in a Hizballah flag, shouted to the crowd, “Up Hamas, up Hizballah.” This is the emblem of a terrorist group committed to the extermination of Jews.

In a statement following backlash, the group said: “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hizballah.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism also wrote to Glastonbury and other festivals to demand that Kneecap be dropped from their line-ups. Any venue that hosts them risks sending a message that hate has a place on the stage, and that Jews are not welcome.

Concert-goers must be allowed to enjoy live performances without worrying about whether they may be subjected to open support for proscribed terrorist organisations that have openly declared it their mission to murder Jews.

We have also reported Kneecap to Counter Terrorism Police, which is now reviewing footage of the concert, and instructed our lawyers to prepare for a private prosecution if necessary.

, ,

We will privately prosecute Kneecap if necessary

The provocatively-named Northern Irish hip hop band, Kneecap, appears to have given its support to Hamas and Hizballah last November in London at their concert at the O2 Forum Kentish Town.

One member, draped in a Hizballah flag, shouted to the crowd, “Up Hamas, up Hizballah.” This is the emblem of a terrorist group committed to the extermination of Jews.

Kneecap’s onstage antics aren’t just childish — they’re reckless and incendiary.

This rhetoric and conduct goes well beyond performance art.

We have written to Glastonbury and other festivals to demand that Kneecap be dropped from their line-ups. Any venue that hosts them risks sending a message that hate has a place on the stage, and that Jews are not welcome.

Labour Member of Parliament for Hemel Hempstead, David Taylor, has also written to Glastonbury Festival, for which we are grateful.

Moreover, Hamas and Hizballah are both proscribed terrorist organisations in the UK.

We have reported Kneecap to Counter Terrorism Police, which is now reviewing footage of the concert, and instructed our lawyers to prepare for a private prosecution if necessary.

Yom HaShoah

Last Thursday was Yom HaShoah v’HaGevurah (The Day of the Holocaust and the Heroism), when we remembered the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust and paid tribute to the courage of the survivors, the bravery of the rescuers and the sacrifice of the liberators.

We also took the opportunity of Yom HaShoah to ask members of the British public about the Holocaust. Watch the full video here.

A problem in our supermarkets

We are hearing from many of you about kosher and Israeli-sourced supermarket produce being vandalised.

The fact that British Jews are unable to buy kosher food without facing damage caused by anti-Israel extremists is completely unacceptable. It is a clear demonstration of how anti-Israel obsessiveness seeks to threaten the well-being of Jews in this country.

Is it any wonder that, according to polling we released this year, more than four-fifths (84%) of British Jews agree that boycotts of Israeli artists, academics or businesses selling Israeli products constitute intimidation?

Generally, the supermarkets are unaware of these incidents and do not tolerate them, so please let a manager know and they will rectify the situation. If they fail to do so, please e-mail us with information at [email protected].

We recently examined the issue of boycotts, their history and their impact on Jewish communities today. You can watch here.

Campaign Against Antisemitism calls for more bans on terror groups while battling to safeguard existing ones

We recently published our submission to the Foreign Affairs Committee, following calls for evidence on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

We made the following recommendations to the Committee:

  • The Government should treat Hamas as an illegitimate entity and ensure that any policy that it pursues ultimately aims towards a world in which Hamas does not exist. It would be unconscionable for the British Government to risk appearing to endorse a group that is proscribed in the UK as a respectable partner abroad.
  • The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) must make greater efforts to ensure the safe and swift return of all of the remaining hostages. This must be undertaken in a way that does not legitimise or empower Hamas, especially through pressure on Iran, Qatar and Egypt, all of which have relations with and leverage over Hamas.
  • All of the organisations that were involved in the 7th October 2023 attack must be proscribed in full under the Terrorism Act 2000.
  • Hamas is an offshoot of the Society of the Muslim Brothers, popularly known as the Muslim Brotherhood. This organisation is proscribed in a number of countries, and the UK should follow suit.
  • Ansar Allah (the Houthis) is a terror group backed by Iran with a long history of violent attacks in a number of different countries, and whose slogan is “Death to America, Death to Israel, Damn the Jews.” The Houthis must be proscribed in full under the Terrorism Act 2000.
  • The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the US, Canada, Israel, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Britain must finally follow suit, in fulfilment of Labour’s pre-election pledge.
  • Any British funding to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) must be carefully vetted to ensure that it does not directly or indirectly benefit terrorist organisations or promote antisemitism, in addition to rigorous safeguards against corruption. The FCDO must disclose whether legal advice was sought or obtained in relation to the decision to resume funding to UNRWA, and must publish a summary of the legal advice. British Jews in particular have a clear and significant interest in understanding how the British Government is guaranteeing that funds to UNRWA are not being used to directly or indirectly benefit terrorist organisations or promote antisemitism.

Read the full submission here.

Elsewhere in the world, Jordan has announced a ban on the Muslim Brotherhood.

Our representative polling shows that more than four-fifths (85%) of British Jews think that the British Government should proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group.

This organisation is proscribed in a number of countries, now including Jordan, where the Interior Minister has announced on television that membership of the Brotherhood has been prohibited and all of its offices in the Kingdom have been closed.

The UK should follow suit and proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood now.

Even while we are calling for further proscriptions under the Terrorism Act 2000, we are battling to safeguard existing ones.

We have now written a detailed legal letter to Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, urging her to dismiss the application to deproscribe Hamas.

The ‘Hamas case’ is 500 pages of propaganda dressed up as law and a bad-faith attempt to mainstream genocidal antisemitism.

To remove Hamas from the UK’s list of proscribed terrorist organisations would not only embolden a group that has proudly claimed responsibility for the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, but would also endanger the safety and wellbeing of Jewish communities in the United Kingdom.

The Home Secretary must act now to reassure the Jewish community and the wider public that support and funding for Hamas will remain illegal in Britain.

A series of bad appointments

It has been announced that Baroness Gohir is to serve as a member of the Government’s new Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition.

Baroness Gohir is a crossbench peer in the House of Lords and the Chief Executive Officer of Muslim Women’s Network UK.

In 2022, we wrote to the Cabinet Office’s Honours Forfeiture Committee regarding several posts published on Baroness Gohir’s social media. We still have not received a decision from the Committee on the status of her OBE.

In 2014, a post on her X profile read: “The hold Israel has over world leaders including Muslim ones is extraordinary that they continue to murder Palestinians and get away with it.”

Another post read: “It’s a shame that media does not highlight all those Jews who are against the Israeli aggression against Palestinians even in Israel.”

Baroness Gohir’s social media is riddled with rhetoric that breaches the International Definition of Antisemitism. She has no place on a Government committee that is supposed to tackle hatred.

You can’t fight bigotry with bigotry. There is an irony that someone who has breached one Government definition is chosen to work on another: is the Government even serious about these definitions?

We have written to Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner.

Clearly this appointment must be rescinded.

At the United Nations, Francesca Albanese has been reappointed as Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This decision is disgraceful and once again demonstrates the UN’s disdain for Jewish people and the Jewish state.

What does it say about the United Nations that it reappoints an official who compares Israel to the Nazis and talks about the “Jewish lobby”?

How hypocritical of all the national governments who claim to stand against antisemitism but simply stand by when someone like this is rewarded for their vitriol.

Shameful.

BBC big beasts tell us what they really think

“He was the son of a Hamas official. Isn’t that a problem?”
“I don’t think so, no.”

Gary Lineker has taken off the mask.

He feels that the BBC never should have removed its so-called documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, from iPlayer, even after it was revealed that the narrator was the son of a Hamas member. In fact, he sees no issue with it whatsoever.

Even BBC Chair Dr Samir Shah said that the fact that this film was aired was “a dagger to the heart of the BBC’s claim to be impartial and to be trustworthy.”

Mr Lineker has revealed his true feelings, and people can see him now for who he really is. Watch his shameful interview here.

Former BBC presenter Jonathan Dimbleby recently victim-blamed the Jewish community during a podcast interview.

He made the abhorrent claim that “One of the consequences of not being critical of the government of Israel today is that it exacerbates that antisemitism.”

Antisemitism is fueled by those who hate Jews, not by Jews themselves, who Mr Dimbleby seems to think are obligated to denounce Israel’s leadership.

To suggest that antisemitism is somehow worsened because Jewish people aren’t vocally opposing Israel absolves antisemites of their despicable actions, and is itself a breach of the International Definition of Antisemitism.

When a Jewish schoolboy is assaulted outside his school as his attackers yell “Free Palestine”, it isn’t because Jews haven’t spoken out on Israel.

This kind of rhetoric is commonplace in vociferous anti-Israel circles. It can hardly escape notice that it now also comes from a veteran former BBC broadcaster. Every other day, the public gets more and more of a sense of how those at the BBC feel about Jews.

Shame on you, Mr Dimbleby.

The BBC goes from one embarrassment to another. Here is its response to our complaint that it did not mention that a Gazan whom it profiled was the nephew of a senior terrorist from a group involved in the 7th October massacre:

“We give careful consideration to all aspects of our reporting to ensure that we have been providing our readers with accurate and duly impartial information, in line with the BBC editorial guidelines.”

So when the BBC profiled Alaa Abu Hilal, the nephew of a major now-deceased terrorist, and didn’t tell readers about his familial connections to that terror group, that was in line with its editorial guidelines?

Then those guidelines aren’t fit for purpose.

Reports indicate that on 9th October 2023, just two days after the barbaric Hamas-led attack on Israel, a post on Alaa Abu Hilal’s Facebook account mourned the death of his terrorist uncle, Rafat Harb Hussein Abu Hilal. Rafat Harb Hussein Abu Hilal was the head of the military section of the ‘Popular Resistance Committees’, a group heavily involved in the attack.

If the BBC’s editorial guidelines advise its journalists to omit information that links its subjects to an antisemitic terror group, then how can the BBC’s reporting be trusted?

Our national treasure has become a national embarrassment.

The TV licence fee must be suspended pending an independent investigation into BBC bias. If you have not already, sign our petition now.

As the Jewish world prepares to mark Yom HaZikaron this week, we remember the victims of decades of antisemitic terror attacks in Israel, culminating in 7th October 2023.

As Hamas attempts to get itself deprocribed in the UK, we will continue do whatever it takes to stop that happening — and to get other groups proscribed who mean Jews harm.

It is the least that we can do to honour the memory of the victims.

May their memory be a blessing.

, ,

CAA makes submission to Foreign Affairs Committee

Campaign Against Antisemitism has made a submission to the Foreign Affairs Committee, following calls for evidence on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The full submission can be read here.

We made the following recommendations to the Committee:

  • The Government should treat Hamas as an illegitimate entity and ensure that any policy that it pursues ultimately aims towards a world in which Hamas does not exist. It would be unconscionable for the British Government to risk appearing to endorse a group that is proscribed in the UK as a respectable partner abroad.
  • The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) must make greater efforts to ensure the safe and swift return of all of the remaining hostages. This must be undertaken in a way that does not legitimise or empower Hamas, especially through pressure on Iran, Qatar and Egypt, all of which have relations with and leverage over Hamas.
  • All of the organisations that were involved in the 7th October 2023 attack must be proscribed in full under the Terrorism Act 2000.
  • Hamas is an offshoot of the Society of the Muslim Brothers, popularly known as the Muslim Brotherhood. This organisation is proscribed in a number of countries, and the UK should follow suit.
  • Ansar Allah (the Houthis) is a terror group backed by Iran with a long history of violent attacks in a number of different countries, and whose slogan is “Death to America, Death to Israel, Damn the Jews.” The Houthis must be proscribed in full under the Terrorism Act 2000.
  • The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the US, Canada, Israel, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Britain must finally follow suit, in fulfilment of Labour’s pre-election pledge.
  • Any British funding to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) must be carefully vetted to ensure that it does not directly or indirectly benefit terrorist organisations or promote antisemitism, in addition to rigorous safeguards against corruption. The FCDO must disclose whether legal advice was sought or obtained in relation to the decision to resume funding to UNRWA, and must publish a summary of the legal advice. British Jews in particular have a clear and significant interest in understanding how the British Government is guaranteeing that funds to UNRWA are not being used to directly or indirectly benefit terrorist organisations or promote antisemitism.

The full submission can be read here.

, , , ,

The ‘Hamas case’, and what it means

Three British lawyers have announced that they are representing Hamas, the antisemitic genocidal terror group, in an application to have it removed from the list of proscribed terrorist organisations in the UK.

We will not let this happen and our lawyers are on the case.

Our assessment is that the submission is amateurish and desperate. It demonstrates that Hamas is struggling by any means necessary to stay afloat as pressure is brought to bear on the murderous Islamist group. If Hamas is no longer proscribed, it can be funded from the UK.

The lawyers bringing the case are understood to have been instructed by Musa Abu Marzouk, a Hamas leader who, in addition to his role in Hamas, is alleged to have provided funds to some of the 9/11 hijackers and has spent time in a US prison. He is also reportedly a billionaire, like several other Hamas leaders who have dubiously enriched themselves while Gazans languish in poverty under Hamas’ tyrannical rule.

In a particularly grotesque irony, the case to de-proscribe Hamas is being made as a human rights claim. In other words, a group that has deprived well in excess of a thousand Jews of their lives and some two million Gazans of their safety is basing its appeal on human rights.

Specifically, the case argues that the proscription of Hamas deprives British citizens of their rights to freedom of expression and protest.

Of course, we’ve been told for a year and a half that all the protesters on our streets and the activists who have spent months intimidating Jews on campuses, in cultural institutions and elsewhere are not terrorist sympathisers. So whose rights are being curtailed, exactly?

Are there people in Britain who are desperate to be able to reveal that they support Hamas and its aspiration to annihilate the Jewish people? This case appears to rest on the claim that there are.

What does the application say?

The so-called legal case to is essentially 500 pages of propaganda dressed up as law. Here are some of the most outrageous lies — and the truth.

📣 1. “Hamas does not target British citizens either in the UK or anywhere else.”

❌ False. British citizens were murdered and taken hostage on 7th October. Hamas has never distinguished by nationality—only that the target is Jewish or Israeli.

📣 2. “We reject any allegations that we are antisemitic or that we target Jewish people.”

❌ Absurd. Hamas’s founding charter calls for the murder of Jews. It cites The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Its leaders regularly incite against Jews as a people, not ‘just’ Israelis.

📣 3. “Knife attacks against occupying Israeli soldiers” are described as “low-level violence.”

❌ Knife attacks are attempted murder. Trying to rebrand stabbings as minor unrest tells you everything you need to know about the moral compass behind this submission.

📣 4. One effect of the prolonged Israeli occupation…has been to stifle Palestinian democracy.

❌ No. Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007. It overthrew its rivals in a violent coup and hasn’t held elections in nearly 20 years. That’s on Hamas, not Israel.

📣 5. The UK is complicit in genocide, colonialism and occupation.

❌ This isn’t legal argument—it’s radical propaganda. The submission accuses Britain of war crimes. Is this what a serious legal case looks like?

📣 6. Hamas is comparable to the ANC.

❌ Nelson Mandela’s ANC rejected violence against civilians and built a democratic, multi-racial South Africa. Hamas glorifies terror, preaches antisemitism and rejects peace. The comparison is a disgrace.

📣 7. Proscription has a chilling effect on political engagement.

❌ No it doesn’t. You can campaign for Palestinian rights, criticise Israel, or support a two-state solution. What you can’t do is promote a terrorist group that rapes, tortures and kills civilians.

The bottom line?

The Hamas case is a bad-faith attempt to mainstream genocidal antisemitism.

The UK is right to ban Hamas — and this sham of a submission only proves why it must stay banned.

The courts must stand firm against Islamist antisemitism, and the Home Secretary must take seriously what this claim represents.

We are writing to the Home Secretary with a brief on why the application must be refused, and we will take the matter to court if necessary.

We have also contacted the companies hosting the ‘Hamas case’ website, to have it taken down.

You can read an op-ed article that our Chief Executive wrote about the Hamas case for LBC here.

What of the lawyers behind the application?

The solicitor representing Hamas is Fahad Ansari, the Director and Principal Solicitor at Riverway Law.

Our Online Monitoring and Investigations Unit has uncovered numerous diabolical social posts media from his X (Twitter) account.

He seems to find a bulldozer breaching the border fence between Gaza and Israel on 7th October to be “one of the most iconic, hopeful images of our time”, hails Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin as a “hero”, and, referring to “the heroic Palestinian resistance”, hopes that “every one of their bullets hit their targets”.

He has also downplayed the brutality of the 7th October attack, mocked the hostages and referred to deceased Hamas leaders as “martyrs”.

We will be writing to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Why did the police just stand by?

A march took place on Saturday in a residential area of Southend, Essex, which has a Jewish community. The march passed one synagogue directly, and passed within the close vicinity of other synagogues.

Essex Police should never have permitted this hateful procession through the heart of a small Jewish community, as families walked home from synagogue after Sabbath prayers during Passover. Not only did police allow this march, despite it apparently being organised without the required legal notice, they took minimal action as marchers shouted ‘Stop killing children’ — a chilling echo of medieval blood libels — and openly displayed support for terrorist organisations banned in the UK.

Protesting a conflict thousands of miles away had no place in a quiet residential neighbourhood; this was, in reality, a demonstration targeting Jews.

A volunteer from our Demonstration and Event Monitoring Unit was assaulted for filming the march, yet police failed to intervene. The few arrests made were far too little, too late, as another Jewish community in the UK was intimidated into staying indoors while police stood by inertly.

The Government has not acted to compel police to enforce the law robustly. British Jews were abandoned by authorities who appear increasingly unwilling to protect their Jewish citizens, allowing extremist mobs to act with impunity.

“Well done Israel, Hitler would be proud.”

A Metropolitan Police officer has been dismissed without notice and placed on the College of Policing barred list after sharing what his own force described as “antisemitic and grossly offensive” content on social media.

In the days after the 7th October 2023 terrorist attack, DC Ibrahim Khan took to Instagram to post:

  • An image comparing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler alongside the text, “The irony of becoming what you once hated.”
  • A graphic juxtaposing a mass grave from 1945 with what was claimed to be a mass grave in Gaza.
  • The text: “Well done Israel, Hitler would be proud.”

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Police said that Mr Khan also made several posts suggesting that the events of the 7th October attack “were a fabrication”.

While the Met has taken action against Mr Khan, it is worrying that he was ever in a position of authority to begin with.

Campaign Against Antisemitism calls for terrorism charges against Abu Wadei

After we revealed that Mosab Abdulkarim Al-Gassas (Abu Wadei), who recently arrived to Britain by dinghy, was part of a Hamas-endorsed unit responsible for violence on the Gaza-Israel border and used antisemitic rhetoric at foreign rallies and online, he was arrested by British authorities on immigration charges.

Last week he was denied bail at a court hearing.

In addition, our solicitors have written to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) calling for terrorism charges to be added to the charge sheet.

We believe that Mr Al-Gassas has committed serious offences and that it is in the interests of national security to bring a prosecution. Failure to do so risks signalling that Britain is a safe haven for terrorists. We cannot be a soft touch.

The only way to deter more Islamist extremists from entering our country is to ensure that the extremists already arriving here face the full force of the law. We have offered the CPS any assistance to help their assessment of the charges.

Have your say on the BBC

The BBC is running a survey to find out what the British public wants from our public broadcaster.

While the survey is not specifically about matters of Jewish interest, you may wish to complete the survey and raise any concerns about bias in its reporting.

You can access the survey here.

Please note that you must be registered with the BBC to complete the survey.

If you have not yet signed our petition calling for the suspension of the licence fee pending an independent investigation into BBC bias, you can do so here.

Campaign Against Antisemitism puts the spotlight on the International Committee of the Red Cross

As the Jewish community prepared to celebrate Passover, a festival commemorating Jewish liberation, our thoughts were – and still are – with the 59 hostages being held hostage in the captivity of antisemitic genocidal Hamas terrorists.

Much of the international response to the plight of these hostages has been lacklustre and vapid, with empty promises to take action with no follow-through.

Among the pitiful responses has been that of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

This organisation is dedicated to “ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for people affected by armed conflict and other violence”. When it comes to the hostages, however, the world has borne witness to its apparent indifference.

Many in the Jewish world no longer regard the ICRC as much more than a glorified taxi service, sitting aside for months as hostages languish in abominable conditions and then patiently waiting as psychopathic terrorists parade their traumatised captives onstage in grotesque ceremonies before carting them away as though nothing had happened.

The ICRC claims that “for the hostages in Gaza, the Red Cross is neutral” but denies being mere “bystanders”. Tell that to the families of the hostages longing for their loved ones to come home. Tell that to the Jewish people waiting for their brethren to return.

ICRC, we say to you: let my people go!

As we battle lawyers who seem to want us to imagine that a group of genocidal antisemites did not massacre innocent Jews in the present Middle East, this week we are also remembering how another group of genocidal antisemites murdered untold numbers of innocent Jews in wartime Europe.

As the Jewish world commemorates Yom HaShoah v’HaGevurah (The Day of the Holocaust and the Heroism), we honour their memory by fighting to ensure that the antisemitic hate that the victims and survivors of the Holocaust endured does not prevail in our day.

May the memory of all of those killed simply because they were Jews be blessed.

,

“Stop killing children”: Anti-Israel march in Southend

A march took place on Saturday in a residential area of Southend with a small Jewish community. The march passed one synagogue directly, and passing within the close vicinity of other synagogues.

The march took place despite the marchers appearing to fail to give police the required legal notice of their plans. Police did not intervene to stop or move the march.

There were multiple arrests on the march — which featured chants of “Stop killing children” and expressions of support for proscribed terrorist organisations — but police largely failed to act.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism, e.g. blood libel, to characterise Israel or Israelis,” is an example of antisemitism.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Even by the standards of the past 18 months, the march in Southend was despicable. Essex Police should never have permitted this hateful procession through the heart of a small Jewish community, as families walked home from synagogue after Sabbath prayers during Passover. Not only did police allow this march, despite it apparently being organised without the required legal notice, they took minimal action as marchers shouted ‘Stop killing children’ — a chilling echo of medieval blood libels — and openly displayed support for terrorist organisations banned in the UK. Protesting a conflict thousands of miles away had no place in a quiet residential neighbourhood; this was, in reality, a demonstration targeting Jews.

“A volunteer from our Demonstration and Event Monitoring Unit was assaulted for filming the march, yet police failed to intervene. The few arrests made were far too little, too late, as another Jewish community in the UK was intimidated into staying indoors while police stood by inertly.

“The Government has not acted to compel police to enforce the law robustly. British Jews were abandoned by authorities who appear increasingly unwilling to protect their Jewish citizens, allowing extremist mobs to act with impunity.”

, , ,

CAA uncovers social media posts from account of lawyer representing Hamas

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Online Monitoring and Investigations Unit has uncovered a plethora of inflammatory posts from Fahad Ansari’s X account.

One post read, “Long live the Palestinian resistance,” and “Victory to the intifada.” Intifadas in the past have always been campaigns of terrorist violence, including suicide bombings.

Another post read: “Fact: Hamas has never been more popular around the world than it is today. Why is that? Possibly because people understand that it is the only thing that stands between the Western-backed Israeli genocidal army and the complete eradication of the Palestinian people.”

Another post on the account read: “At this point, Israel could literally set up gas chambers for Palestinians during Ramadan and the genocide enablers in the Western media will be shouting ‘What about Hamas?’ and crying antisemitism if anyone draws a comparison with the Holocaust. Make no mistake, if these people were alive in the 40s, they would have sided with the Nazis.”

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Mr Ansari is the Director and Principal Solicitor at Riverway Law, the firm that is currently representing Hamas in a bid to have the group de-proscribed in the UK.

The application is being made to the Home Secretary.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Judging by what we have uncovered from Fahad Ansari’s X account, he appears to view a bulldozer breaching the border fence between Gaza and Israel on 7th October as ‘one of the most iconic, hopeful images of our time’, hails Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin as a ‘hero’, and, referring to ‘the heroic Palestinian resistance’, expresses hope that ‘every one of their bullets hit their targets’. This rhetoric is stomach-churning, but it befits a lawyer who represents Hamas. It is ludicrous that someone with views like these is permitted to practise in the legal profession. We will be writing to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.”

We are seeking to recruit an Education and Outreach Officer to join our London office

Join the fight

Subscribe
Volunteer
Donate

Campaign Against Antisemitism is a volunteer-led charity dedicated to exposing and countering antisemitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law. Everything that we do is done by people who volunteer their time, using donations contributed by members of the public. Join the fight against antisemitism by subscribing to our updates, volunteering, or donating.