by Allison Pearson, Telegraph
As attacks escalate, those in power offer platitudes instead of protection. The failure to confront anti-Semitism is shameful
I was at a friend’s birthday party the other evening when a woman around my age came over and introduced herself. Instead of shaking my hand, the stranger, who knew about my support for Jews and British Friends of Israel, hugged me and when she pulled away I saw that her eyes were full of tears. “I was born here,” she said, “and I’ve always thought of myself as British first and then Jewish. But now I know I’m Jewish first.”
This is a painful realisation for so many Jews in our country who have never before had to worry about their ethnicity or religion. Our oldest, flawlessly-integrated minority is suffering amidst a truly shocking epidemic of anti-Semitism. Correction. I am no longer using that word. Call it what it is. This is racism of the most hateful and monstrous kind, raising spectres of the murderous past. In the aftermath of the October 7 massacres, criticism of Israel’s response to the rape, murder and kidnapping of its men, women and children by marauding barbarians has morphed into an escalating campaign against Jews here.
The attempted firebombing of Kenton United Synagogue in north-west London on Saturday was just the latest in a heinous wave of arson attacks. Last month, masked men set fire to four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in Golders Green. Life-saving vehicles that helped the whole neighbourhood for goodness sake – and there was abundant goodness in that caring community. Four people were subsequently charged by police.
Last week, a synagogue and the former premises of a Jewish charity, both in north London, were attacked. Two people have been arrested in connection with an attempted arson attack at Finchley Reform Synagogue. On the same day, a Persian-language media organisation opposed to the Iranian regime was also attacked. Three people have been charged with “arson with intent to endanger life”. Unsurprisingly, the evil Islamic Republic, with its stated aim of annihilating Israel and the Jews (before coming for the rest of us), has been implicated in the attacks.
Read also: Police need new powers to tackle anti-Semitic attacks, says terror watchdog by Charles Hymas, Telegraph