Leaders from the Board of Deputies, the Jewish Leadership Council, the Community Security Trust and UK Government Antisemitism adviser Lord Mann met Home Secretary Priti Patel today to speak about concerns over the security of the Jewish community arising from the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl thanked Priti Patel for setting up the meeting at short notice and also for her strong support for the Jewish community over these recent difficult days.
Among matters discussed were the abuse of Jewish residents by a convoy of cars bearing Palestinian flags; videos seeming to show police officers publicly siding with anti-Israeli protestors and concerns over individuals and groups fanning the flames of the conflict.
During the meeting, Jewish representatives called for the proscription of Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist organisation in the UK, as currently only the so-called military wing is proscribed. The group also called for the the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism by social media companies and their new regulator Ofcom.
After the meeting, the Home Secretary tweeted: “Yesterday I sat down with the @BoardofDeputies, @JLC_UK, @CST_UK & @LordJohnMann who shared their concerns after an incredibly unsettling & upsetting time for our Jewish community that saw outright antisemitism on our streets.
I will always stand with them & against such hatred.”
Attending the meeting were: Board of Deputies of British Jews President Marie van der Zyl, Board of Deputies Director of Public Affairs Philip Rosenberg, Jewish Leadership Council Chair Jonathan Goldstein, Jewish Leadership Council CEO Claudia Mendoza, Community Security Trust CEO Mark Gardner, the Government’s Independent Advisor on Antisemitism Lord John Mann.