We are seeking to recruit a General Counsel a Video and Content Creator to join our London office
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.
We use cookies to track use of our website and your preferences. Use of our website is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Read more.Accept cookies and our terms of useWe may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.
If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
Terms of use and privacy policyBy default you will receive weekly e-mails, but when you receive the first e-mail you can change to daily or monthly e-mails instead.
If you prefer to subscribe later, you can do so by scrolling right to the bottom of this page.
Critics of Jeremy Corbyn dismissed as “extreme Zionists”, Labour Party to “investigate”
Critics of Jeremy Corbyn, who is frontrunner to lead the Labour Party, are being smeared as extremists who are trying to stifle criticism of Israel. Mainstream Jewry’s concerns are neither “extreme” nor anything to do with Israel. As we have written before, we are concerned both by Corbyn’s associations and his many supporters’ apparent indifference to them.
Writing in yesterday’s Independent, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown implored readers to ignore the concerns raised by “extreme Zionists” and “the forces of darkness”, writing that “the overreactions of some extreme Zionists these days is tantamount to an attempt to censor all criticism of Israel’s political and military tactics”.
Labour MP John Mann, who Chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism, has complained to the Labour Party after his criticism of Corbyn resulted in a volley of abuse from Corbyn’s supporters, who called him “utter filth” and a “Zionist stooge”. Speaking to the Sunday Express, Mann said: “I have been described as a servant of the Israeli Prime Minister, a Nazi Zionist, a Zionist scumbag. This is all because I chair the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Anti-Semitism.”
The concerns are numerous and well-founded. Hamas and Hezbollah call for a worldwide genocide of Jews but Corbyn called them “friends” and invited them to Parliament. Ra’ed Salah promoted the antisemitic blood libel but Corbyn said “Salah is a voice that must be heard” and invited him to tea at Parliament. Rev Stephen Sizer was censured by the Church for posting a “clearly antisemitic” conspiracy myth about 9/11 on Facebook, but Corbyn protested that he had been “victimised” because he “dares to speak out against Zionism”. Paul Eisen is a self-professed Holocaust denier but we still have no explanation for the photographs of Corbyn at Eisen’s events – Eisen claims that Corbyn has attended “every single one” and even donated.
In response to our previous post on the subject, we received a number of comments on Facebook and Twitter. Some were civil but dismissive, such as the response from Luke Cresswell, a Labour Councillor on Sudbury Town Council who tweeted “He’s anti State of Israel, not anti Jew”. Other comments were vulgar and antisemitic, such as the contribution from Paul Norrison in Kingston upon Hull who commented on our Facebook page: “Jeremy Corbyn for Prime Minister…no one gives a s*** about the Jews, just get on with your lives and stop playing the victims all of the time. Go make something beautiful, contribute to a better tomorrow instead of feeding of the guilt and horror of the past like morose Golem vampires.” We have reported Norrison’s comment to the police.
The grave concern, expressed with rare unanimity by mainstream British Jewry about Jeremy Corbyn’s associations is well-founded and must be addressed. Partisan attempts to smear and whitewash should be seen for what they are. Britain’s Jews have good reason to be worried.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism will always be apolitical and non-partisan. However, we also must not fear to call out antisemitism wherever we see it. Jeremy Corbyn hails from the far-left, and whereas far-right antisemitism is anathema to the far-left, Jewish conspiracy myths and Islamist antisemitism are often accommodated.
Neo-Nazis cancel “White Man March” in Liverpool today after being blockaded in the left luggage room in Lime Street Station
A neo-Nazi march organised by fascist group National Action was cancelled today. The neo-Nazis had planned to march through Liverpool but in the end the 20 neo-Nazis who turned up were unable to leave the train station.
Liverpudlians turned out in force to protest the neo-Nazis’ presence, holding their own anti-Nazi marches through the city. When the National Action contingent arrived at Lime Street Station they were pelted with bananas by a crowd chanting “Master race? You’re having a laugh!” Police moved the neo-Nazis to the left luggage room for their own safety. National Action cancelled the march after the crowds in the station laid siege to the room.
A letter bearing the National Action logo addressed to the Mayor of Liverpool had previously threatened that “your city will go up in flames”, but National Action blamed the letter on an “agent provocateur”.
In June National Action vandalised the menorah in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, posting the video on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and WordPress. Despite our requests, none of these companies have removed National Action’s accounts. We understand that there have been no arrests by West Midlands Police, which is investigating.
National Action has reportedly been viewed by Scotland Yard as a potential threat to National Security. Its ‘official strategy’ documents feature photos of a smiling Adolf Hitler and masked activists performing Nazi salutes. The group has previously described itself as “the fascists your nan warned you about.” An investigation by the Daily Mirror reported that National Action was sending its members to paramilitary bootcamps, featuring knife fighting lessons. Earlier in the week, Terence Miles, who runs National Action’s training, reportedly posted a photo on Instagram of his “not entirely legal” pocket knife.
Man arrested for antisemitic abuse and assaulting an officer, another arrested for antisemitic abuse for the third time
Last night at 1am a Shomrim patrol in Lordship Park spotted a man acting suspiciously and looking into homes. Shomrim, which has an impressive record in reducing burglary, alerted the local police. When a police officer arrived the man hurled antisemitic abuse at a Jewish man nearby. When more police officers arrived, the man grabbed at their taser gun and was arrested for racially-aggravated harassment and assaulting a police officer.
In a separate incident at 1am the previous day, a man was arrested for antisemitic abuse. The man had been spotted by Shomrim who already knew him: he has a previous conviction for antisemitic abuse and this latest incident was a breach of his bail conditions for yet another antisemitic incident. In each case, the man had been reported to the police by Shomrim, whose volunteers also testified against him in court.
Meanwhile in Scotland, the Daily Record has reported that Nicholas Goodwin of Troon was convicted of racially aggravated harassment and sentenced to six months in prison for sending a Jewish woman a photograph of a Nazi flag. Goodwin sent the photo of himself and a friend with the flag emblazoned with a swastika.
Jeremy Corbyn and antisemites
The Campaign Against Antisemitism will always be apolitical and non-partisan. However, we also must not fear to call out antisemitism wherever we see it. Jeremy Corbyn hails from the far-left, and whereas far-right antisemitism is anathema to the far-left, Jewish conspiracy myths and Islamist antisemitism are often accommodated.
In the past week we have been approached by the Daily Mail to comment on two separate stories revealing Corbyn’s association with antisemites. We wonder why Corbyn has failed to distance himself from antisemites and in some cases has even praised them. For a prospective Labour Party leader, we would have thought that any proximity to antisemites would be toxic. Left unaddressed, it would surely prove fatal to their candidacy; not so for Jeremy Corbyn, frontrunner to become Leader of the Opposition according to recent polls.
Paul Eisen, a self-professed Holocaust denier, claims close association with Corbyn over several years and even that Corbyn has donated to his work. When confronted by the Daily Mail last week, Corbyn’s spokesman condemned Eisen’s views, but declined to comment on Eisen’s claims that Corbyn has attended “every single” one of his events and donated towards his work.
In February, the reverend Stephen Sizer, was ordered by the Church of England to stop using social media after posting an antisemitic conspiracy myth that Israel planned 9/11. While the Church said the material Sizer posted was “clearly antisemitic”, on Sunday the Mail revealed that Corbyn wrote to the Church defending Sizer, saying that he was being victimised because he “dared to speak out against Zionism”.
In April 2012, Corbyn warmly praised Ra’ed Salah, a prolific antisemite who claims that Israel planned 9/11 and who has, according to the Court of Appeal, even promoted the antisemitic blood libel that Jews bake bread using the blood of non-Jewish children. Yet Corbyn has said “Salah’s is a voice that must be heard” and publicly told Salah: “I look forward to giving you tea on the terrace because you deserve it!”
In July, the Telegraph revealed that Corbyn has accepted thousands of pounds in gifts from organisations closely-related to Hamas. This was particularly concerning following Corbyn’s 2009 speech to a conference at the House of Commons in which he said: “And I’ve also invited friends from Hamas to come and speak as well. Unfortunately the Israelis would not allow them to travel here. The idea that [Hamas] should be labelled as a terrorist organisation by the British government is really a big, big historical mistake and I would invite the government to reconsider its position on this matter and start talking directly to Hamas and Hezbollah.”
In its charter, Hamas openly calls for the genocide of all Jews: “our fight with the Jews is very extensive and very grave, and it requires all the sincere efforts… The hour of judgment shall not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them.” The Hamas charter also rejects any form of negotiation intended to lead to a peace deal: “[Peace] initiatives, the so-called peaceful solutions, and the international conferences to resolve the Palestinian problem, are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic Resistance Movement,” it states. Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah has been quoted by the New York Times saying: “If Jews all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide.”
Perhaps more worrying than Corbyn’s association with antisemites is that this appears not to bother his supporters.
Nobody attended the neo-Nazi demonstration against Jews in Finchley today
We have been watching for a month as the two dozen neo-Nazis we stopped from demonstrating in Golders Green in July tried to organise another demonstration against Jews in Finchley.
We have been in contact with the police throughout, but this time we did not have to take action to stop the neo-Nazis. They were defeated by lack of support from other neo-Nazis.
After the last demonstration, the neo-Nazis complained about “massive, negative and wholly untrue publicity” and the way that their “truthful opposition” had been “stifled”. Instead of looking like heroes, they looked like fools.
By standing firm instead of heeding calls to ignore the neo-Nazis we showed them that we are not an easy target, and we also showed the police that we will accept nothing less than zero tolerance.
It is possible that the neo-Nazis will try again. We are working with lawyers on means of crippling future attempts and also pursuing police complaints against two of their leaders.
Meanwhile, we continue our work against Islamist and far-left antisemitism as well as far-right antisemitism.
Hertfordshire Constabulary seek man following antisemitic incident outside pub
Police are looking for a man in connection with an antisemitic incident outside the Alfred Arms on Shenley Road in Borehamwood on Friday 12th June at 11:15pm.
Two families (four adults and five children) were passing the pub when a man began rubbing his fingers together in a money gesture and made derogatory comments about “filthy rich Jews”. As each member of the families passed, he made exaggerated sneezing gestures and said “Ah Jew”.
Hertfordshire Constabulary would like to identify and speak with the man pictured as he may have information which could prove useful to the investigation. If you know the man pictured please contact PC Golding Egbuniwe by calling 101 and quoting crime reference number J1/15/2125.
Our first birthday
It’s our first birthday. We don’t get too excited about birthdays, but to mark the occasion we have put together an updated website and also improved the way we keep in touch with you. Facebook and Twitter charge us to reach our supporters, and some of our supporters don’t have Facebook or Twitter, so now we can e-mail our updates to you. Please just click here and let us know which kinds of update you’re interested in, and how often you would like to hear from us. For those who have ‘liked’ our Facebook page, please go to our page, click on the arrow next to “Liked” and choose “Get Notifications” to make sure that we don’t have to pay Facebook to show you our posts.
In our first year, we have gone from a spontaneous protest outside the Tricycle to becoming a well-organised high-profile grassroots campaign with a rapidly-growing team of volunteers, both Jewish and non-Jewish.
At our rally at the Royal Courts of Justice we called for ‘zero tolerance law enforcement’ and these words now feature in every politician’s speech on antisemitism. Our Antisemitism Barometer survey showed how British Jews were feeling and highlighted antisemitism as a national challenge in the wake of the Paris attacks.
After launching our five-point plan to strengthen enforcement against antisemites at a meeting with the Home Secretary, Director of Public Prosecutions and Chief Executive of the College of Policing, we are now working closely with the police, CPS and the Government. We have intervened in numerous matters, without seeking publicity, to ensure that justice is done.
We have developed close links with senior journalists, helping them to better understand antisemitism in the UK and beyond through interviews, research and introductions to experts and victims. If you are a journalist or a victim willing to speak about your experiences, please do get in touch.
All this is being achieved without a single paid employee and practically no funding. We are providing a way for individuals to contribute their considerable talents to the fight against antisemitism.
We have exciting projects that cover education, outreach, awareness, training and public affairs. Our goal is to tackle antisemitism through education and enforcement, with the agility of a start-up, the expertise of established professionals in various fields and where needed, a dash of chutzpah.
Our success has been due to people like you who volunteer with us, donate to help cover our costs and respond when we ask the community to take action. Campaign Against Antisemitism was founded by members of the public who believe in the power of ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Together we can turn the tide against antisemitism in Britain.
Thank you for being part of it.
Teenager ordered to pay £185 for sending antisemitic tweet to Lord Sugar
A 17-year-old from Preston, Lancashire has been ordered by Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court to pay £100 in compensations, £85 in costs and complete an eight-month referral to a youth offender panel.
The antisemitic tweet called Lord Sugar an “Old Jewish c***”. Lord Sugar thanked Essex Police for “tracking him down”.
In the first six months of this year, 20% of the antisemitic incidents reported in the UK were online. It is time for the social networks to proactively seek out Jew hatred on their platforms.
Antisemitic outpouring online after Jewish terrorist burns down house, killing Arab infant
We join the many voices in the Jewish community, including the Israeli Prime Minister, which have denounced in unison the terrorist arson attack that took the life of an Arab infant in Duma.
We also condemn the vile outpouring of Jew hatred on social media. One good example was the Facebook page of Al Jazeera presenter Mehdi Hasan. When Hasan posted a Ha’aretz article about the attack, his followers piled in with racist abuse.
One Facebook follower of Hasan, Ruksana Arik, wrote: “Why will Cameron stop when he gets funded by the Jews. He has Jewish blood in him.” Mohammed Yusuf Khatri posted: “Americans and Zionist Jews are loving it.” Mudassir Dar’s contribution read: “Jews are devil deserve hell only.” Tan Moh implored: “Oh Allah please send the worse curse ever for the Jews who are killing innocent people!” Shafiq Abbasi wrote: “Showing their true colours the terrorist Jews.” Someone going by the name of ‘Moxemedqadar Blue Moon’ commented: “I think what these settlers did was to justify why Hitler burnt them to fumes.”
In the first six months of this year, 20% of the antisemitic incidents reported in the UK were online. It is time for the social networks to proactively seek out Jew hatred on their platforms.
ITV News London reports on increase in antisemitic incidents
Man arrested after antisemitic attack outside Stamford Hill synagogue
Last night at 22:45 a Jewish man leaving synagogue was violently shoved by a man who shouted racist abuse at him. A Shomrim patrol followed the attacker to Amhurst Park while the police were called. The attacker was arrested for racially-aggravated common assault.
Once again, Shomrim has shown an antisemite that his actions have consequences. Shomrim groups are immensely successful at reducing crime including antisemitic crime. Shomrim patrols are manned by volunteers and work closely with the police. Nobody should ever accept racism as a part of normal life and Shomrim are a case study in how vigilance and a policy of zero tolerance can have a powerful effect.
Shomrim Stamford Hill coordinator Barry Bard said: “This behaviour is totally unacceptable. Unfortunately antisemitic incidents are happening too often. Shomrim have recently facilitated many arrests, charges and successful prosecutions in relation to antisemitic hate crime incidents, I would like to thank the Police and the Courts for taking these incidents seriously and bringing offenders to justice.”
Violent antisemitic assaults double as antisemitic incidents increase by 53% in first half of 2015
Reported violent antisemitic assaults, including attacks using “extreme violence”, have doubled in the first six months of 2015.
The rise in antisemitic violence is part of a 53% increase in overall antisemitic incidents across the UK. The 53% rise is against the first six months of 2014, which in turn saw a 38% increase against the first six months of 2013. 2014 was the worst year on record for antisemitic incidents, although these latest CST figures suggest that 2015 could be worse still.
In London, the latest Metropolitan Police figures showed a 134% rise in antisemitic crime in the last 12 months (almost 200% in Barnet, which has the most concentrated Jewish population in the UK).
72% of antisemitic incidents go unreported, according to a study by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency.
It was not possible to ascertain the ideology of the perpetrators in all cases, but more than 1 in 4 incidents (26%) referenced neo-Nazism. 7% referenced Israel, 3% referenced Islamism and another 3% referenced more than one motivation. In his speech against extremism last week, the Prime Minister identified extremism as a gateway to antisemitism.
Almost a fifth of the antisemitic incidents reported now take place online and Campaign Against Antisemitism has called on social networks to take proactive steps against antisemitic abuse. Our talks with Twitter broke down however when Twitter’s Director of Public Policy for Europe wrote in an e-mail: “Your emphasis on proactive monitoring and reporting is not compatible with our basic structure and policies as a platform. I therefore think it is not possible to take this any further.”
Social networks say it is too difficult to proactively target antisemitic abuse online, but manage to proactively target advertising audiences, proactively removing child pornography and proactively blocking copyright content. We reject those excuses and in his speech, the Prime Minister said: “Well I’m sorry – I just don’t buy that.”
David Cameron speech highlights Islamist antisemitism
Neo-Nazis Banned from Golders Green after Campaign Against Antisemitism Rallies Thousands
Over a month ago, neo-Nazis announced their intention to hold a demonstrate against Jews in Golders Green on 4th July. It is no coincidence that they chose to demonstrate on the Jewish sabbath in the neighbourhood with the highest Jewish population in the country.
On April 18th, they demonstrated in Stamford Hill and were ignored. They identified the Jewish community as a ‘soft’ target and announced plans to demonstrate in Golders Green and elsewhere. Ignoring them made them bolder.
In response, Campaign Against Antisemitism rallied thousands of Jews and non-Jews to stand opposite the neo-Nazis in dignified defiance, unity and pride.
The neo-Nazi demonstration in Golders Green has now been cancelled following our discussions with the police and prospect of us countering in our thousands. We are therefore calling off our counter-protest.
The Metropolitan Police Service confirmed that it was our counter-protest which resulted in this success: “After carefully considering all the facts surrounding this protest and counter protest activity, including the impact on the Jewish and wider community of Golders Green, it is the assessment of the Metropolitan Police Service that the presence of these groups in the same area at the same time is likely to result in serious disorder, serious disruption to the life of the community and intimidation of others.”
The Metropolitan Police Service has therefore imposed conditions on the neo-Nazis under s.14 of the Public Order Act that require them to present themselves on a given central London pavement on Saturday where they will be kettled for 60 minutes, before dispersing on pain of arrest.
We have always said that we expected the authorities to exercise their full powers to cripple this threat to our community. The neo-Nazi demonstration has been crippled and as such we will now not be holding a counter-demonstration.
The issue was that of neo-Nazis being free to intimidate Jewish people in the heart of our community and they are no longer able to do so. The neo-Nazis have threatened to hold “flash mob” demonstrations in Golders Green in the future and we are now discussing the use of injunctions to prevent that with the Council and the Metropolitan Police Service.
Since neo-Nazis announced their plans to demonstrate in Golders Green this Saturday, Campaign Against Antisemitism pursued the twin tracks of intensive discussions with the Metropolitan Police Service and rallying thousands of people to stand opposite them on the day in dignified defiance.
Our approach has been vindicated. “Never again” means firmly standing up for our rights, in the streets if necessary, not ignoring aggressors.
For over a month our volunteers have worked tirelessly. We have held countless discussions and meetings with the various branches of the Metropolitan Police Service, Barnet Council and our government contacts. This has meant dozens of days of work and hours of work for our pro bono lawyers.
Our volunteers have simultaneously prepared for a demonstration for thousands of people in the middle of a busy road on Shabbat with huge logistical and security challenges. We have prepared thousands of placards and procured thousands of flags. We have distributed 7,500 flyers. We have contacted tens of thousands of people via social media and e-mail.
We would like to thank the dozens of volunteers who stepped forward to share this burden, allowing individual members of the community to contribute their considerable talents to the fight against antisemitism.
This neo-Nazi demonstration was an attempt to intimidate the largest Jewish community in the UK on the Jewish Sabbath at the heart of Golders Green, on the very memorial to those who lost their lives fighting Nazis.
We believe that “never again” is a call to action from our history, which is why we called thousands of Jews and non-Jews to stand together against this disgrace in dignified defiance, unity and pride.
Today’s decision by the Metropolitan Police Service is a victory for British values and we applaud their firm defence of our community.
Antisemitism is a societal disease and zero tolerance law enforcement and education are fundamental parts of the cure.
Campaign Against Antisemitism Joins Panel to Oversee Implementation of New Measures Against Hate Crime in London
On Tuesday, 19th May 2015, Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) Chairman Gideon Falter attended the first meeting of the London Hate Crime Panel convened by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). The Panel is chaired by the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Stephen Greenhalgh, and will oversee the delivery of London’s Hate Crime Reduction Strategy. The Panel includes senior representatives of the Metropolitan Police Service, Crown Prosecution Service, Ministry of Justice and National Probation Service.
Last summer MOPAC reported that July was London’s worst ever month for hate crime, and that 95% of that hate crime was directed at the capital’s Jewish community. CAA met the Deputy Mayor soon after our rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice last August, at which we called for zero tolerance enforcement of the law against antisemitic hate crime. Soon after that meeting it was agreed that CAA would work with MOPAC to oversee specific new strategies to better enable the authorities to enforce the law against antisemitic hate crime.
The creation of the London Hate Crime Panel is a very welcome development and we were pleased with the progress made during our inaugural meeting.
Campaign Against Antisemitism Attends Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism
Campaign Against Antisemitism attended the Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem at the invitation of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Forum was attended by senior representatives of governments and NGOs engaged in the fight against antisemitism and was opened by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We took the opportunity to continue to build the international partnerships necessary to advance our projects, particularly regarding social media.
Punishing antisemitic hate crime on social media requires that social networks cooperate with the British authorities. It is particularly important that social networks provide UK police forces with evidence such as IP addresses, which can be the key to identifying perpetrators.
Campaign Against Antisemitism Meets United States Antisemitism Envoy
On Thursday, 29th January 2015, Campaign Against Antisemitism Chairman Gideon Falter met with the United States’ Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Ira Forman, and representatives of other Jewish organisations from around Europe at a meeting in Brussels arranged by the European Jewish Association.
The discussion focussed on ways that the United States could help to fight antisemitism in Europe. The CAA asked the United States for help on four fronts:
The Special Envoy and the Chairman of the CAA will be continuing their discussions by telephone.
Earlier in the month, Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Director of Communications met with Gideon Behar, the Israeli envoy for combating antisemitism.
Annual Antisemitism Barometer Published
The Annual Antisemitism Barometer is the largest study of its kind. It reveals both the scale of antisemitic sentiment in Britain, and its effect on the increasingly-threatened British Jewish population.
Whilst antisemitism in Britain is not yet at the levels seen in most of Europe, the results of our survey should be a wakeup call. Britain is at a tipping point: unless antisemitism is met with zero tolerance, it will continue to grow and British Jews may increasingly question their place in their own country.
The year 2014 saw a record-breaking number of antisemitic incidents perpetrated against Jewish people and Jewish property in Britain. Antisemitism is usually most visible in Great Britain during crises involving Israel, but the sentiment behind it does not simply disappear when the crises end.
The Mayor of London’s office recently revealed that in July 2014, when fighting between Israel and Hamas peaked, the Metropolitan Police Service recorded its worst ever month for hate crime in London, 95% of which was antisemitic hate crime directly related to fighting between Israel and Hamas.
It was in response to this record-breaking wave of antisemitism that in August 2014, the Campaign Against Antisemitism organised a grassroots-led movement dedicated to identifying and combatting antisemitism of both a classical ethno-religious nature and also a political nature related to Israel.
Some antisemitic views may be totally unintentional but are no less offensive for it. Many people in the UK have simply never met Jewish people, and might have stereotypical ideas of them. This is a smaller problem which simply needs better education and discussion so that people can appreciate that, as with any minority group, Jewish people are not defined only by their religion or race. ‘Unintentional’ stereotypes should be highlighted more often, and those espousing them will be able to better understand that they are offensive.
To effectively fight antisemitism we must examine both its origins and its consequences. It is our hope that this study will shed light on both of these aspects of this pernicious form of racism, in order that we can reduce its presence in British society. Antisemitism is not a problem only for Jewish people, but for all of Britain, which must uphold its tradition of tolerance and pluralism.
Campaign Against Antisemitism Meets with Home Secretary, Police and CPS Chiefs to Address Antisemitism
On Thursday evening, 8th January 2015, the Campaign Against Antisemitism attended a private meeting convened at the Home Office to address last year’s record-breaking number of antisemitic incidents.
Joining the Home Secretary, Theresa May, at the meeting were Home Office Special Adviser, Nick Timothy; the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders; the Chief Executive of the College of Policing, Alex Marshall; and Campaign Against Antisemitism Chairman, Gideon Falter.
The meeting was held to discuss practical ways in which the authorities and the CAA could work together to address antisemitic hate crime and marks a major milestone in the CAA’s campaign for zero tolerance enforcement against antisemitism.
CAA Chairman, Gideon Falter, proposed a five-point plan which will be the focus of the ongoing discussions between the Home Office, Police, Crown Prosecution Service and the CAA.
The key points of the plan are:
Last summer, when antisemitism reached its highest recorded level, the CAA held a rally attended by thousands outside the Royal Courts of Justice calling for zero tolerance enforcement against antisemitic hate crime.
Since then the CAA has held a series of meetings with the government to deliver on its zero tolerance agenda, including at ministerial level, with the Home Office, Cabinet Office, Department for Communities and Local Government, Police and CPS, as well as at local authority level and with major corporations such as Twitter.
Home Secretary Theresa May said: “I was very pleased to welcome Gideon Falter to the Home Office so we could discuss the response of the police and prosecutors to antisemitism and hate crime. I hope we can continue to work together to eradicate antisemitism in all its forms.”
CAA Chairman Gideon Falter said: “Britain is at a tipping point. Antisemitism must be met with zero tolerance and British Jews must feel secure in their own country. I am pleased that the government is so determined to tackle antisemitism as was evident at my meeting with the Home Secretary, Police and CPS.”