Rising Tide of Hate: Antisemitism’s Resurgence in British Institutions
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As another UK medical professional is suspended after making numerous offensive remarks following the suspension of Wahid Shaida who led the UK branch of newly-designated terror group Hizb ut-Tahrir, it is clear that British institutions remain under great threat from those wishing to spread antisemitism.
The UK’s Jewish community is suffering from heightened rates of antisemitism following the terrorist attacks of October 07, with vital institutions like the NHS and local schools becoming breeding grounds for such hate.
Despite recent positive action including the UK government’s designation of Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organisation and the conviction of three women who attended a pro-Palestine protest in London while displaying images of paragliders on their clothing, antisemitism in the UK is still on the rise.
In another instance of a medical professional disseminating anti-Jewish hate with messages including claims that the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham would be better if it was ‘Jew free’, British Jews must now ask where they are safe from such hate. The doctor in question, Dimitrios Psaroudakis, has been suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC) for only three months.
The suspension period is another kick in the teeth for UK Jews, especially as an independent panel heard how Psaroudakis, a consultant gynaecologist operating in London’s prestigious Harley Street, heard that he made repeated antisemitic remarks to Jewish colleagues via the clinic’s IT systems in 2022.
Elsewhere, the UK Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry after footage of ‘death to Israel’ chants at an Islamic centre was revealed by a BBC investigation. The chants occurred at an Islamic Centre in West London in January where participants also were heard praising Iran’s former top military general Qasem Soleimani who was assassinated by a US drone strike in 2020.
Lancashire, located in the North-West of the UK has also recently been the subject of front-page UK news relating to the suspension of two Labour Party parliamentary candidates over antisemitic comments.
Leaked conversations from a single meeting of Labour councillors in October following Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel, captured what have been described by Jewish Labour supporters as ‘appalling’.
One of the suspended candidates, Graham Jones, said that any British nationals who fight for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) ‘should be locked up’. Another Labour candidate in the same meeting, Azhar Ali, claimed that Israel had ‘allowed’ the October 07 attacks to happen and that he blames ‘people in the media from certain Jewish quarters’ for the suspension of another Labour MP, Andy McDonald, after he called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza in late October at a pro-Palestinian rally.
Recent events have shone a light on the rampant antisemitism taking place in the UK separate to horrific standalone attacks including the arson attack of a Golders Green MP’s surgery in December, a predominantly Jewish area in London.
Another instance of clear antisemitism occurred in London’s popular Soho district during what was meant to be an evening of comedy at a theatre. In this example, comedian Paul Currie hurled abuse to an audience member after they refused to stand and applaud the flag of the Palestinian Authority at the end of the show. Following the story breaking, the theatre issued Currie with a ban and condemned his actions.
A UK Parliament briefing released in early 2024 illustrated the already rising antisemitism across the UK. The Metropolitan Police in late October disclosed that antisemitic hate crimes in London alone were up 1,350 percent compared with the same time period in 2022.
Moreover, the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) recently conducted a poll among British adults which revealed entrenched thoughts and age-old tropes which are commonplace within UK society. One such fact finding revealed that almost 20 percent of people believe Israel and its supporters ‘control the media’.
The connection between antisemitic rhetoric disclosed at pro-Palestine rallies and by individuals like those highlighted is clear. With a new steady stream of antisemitic commentary rippling through UK society at all levels, Jews are once more left extremely concerned about their own welfare.
As Jewish schools ramp up their security procedures and as UK Jews continue pondering their own safety in public spaces, a culture of hate remains acute throughout the UK.
From doctor surgeries to hospitals, schools and theatres, antisemitism is permeating all sectors of British society and UK Jews are rightfully concerned.
