A month ago, I wrote in this newspaper an article called “Ambulances – no place for sanctuary.” It spoke about arson attacks on ambulances in London run by the voluntary organization Hatzalah. The analogy was used of setting fire to the lives of UK Jews as well as hammering four nails into the coffin of future Jewish life in Britain, one for each ambulance.
Last week, the fifth nail in the coffin was hammered home by the knifeman who stabbed two Jewish pedestrians in Golders Green, the most iconic area for secular and haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews of London. At the same time, what emerged was the vision of the boot on the other foot as we witnessed that the response of the Israeli president and prime minister to the outrage was as strong as the UK response was weak.
But metaphors are not the only expressions that were used in response to the episode. Other weapons of the English language were also deployed. Platitudes came out in force as politicians condemned the acts of violence in time-honored meaningless words. The government spokesmen spoke of their shock as to what had happened whilst serving up a good mix of “word salad.”
Condolences without action
So many politicians’ “hearts went out to the Jewish community,” one wonders how they managed to breathe. “They all felt our pain,” though we saw none writhing in agony.
They wanted us to know that “words are not enough,” though they clearly hoped they would be. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has time and again shown himself incapable of doing anything that might directly confront Muslim voters, or criticize any Middle Eastern country other than Israel, did not even visit Golders Green on the day of the atrocity, as he knew he would be barracked with the chant of “shame on you.”
Instead of visiting, Starmer ordered a Cobra security meeting be convened to consider the problem of Jews under attack. After all, after talking comes considering. Unfortunately, talking and considering does not equal doing.
Starmer will not grasp any nettle that needs grasping nor take any bull by either of its horns.
Meanwhile, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, brought in alliteration to help him. He was “angry” and “appalled,” as well as feeling our pain, of course. In reality, he was returning from Spain where he took the opportunity to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and discuss their shared views on Gaza.
One need not be a fly on the wall to predict how that conversation went, although I suspect they forgot to mention recent attacks on Jews. Antisemitism is meat and drink to Spain. Sanchez and Khan behind closed doors would have spewed hatred for Israel and the genocide of which they continue to accuse them.
But Khan would have made sure to not step over the line he shares with the UK left-wing government by blaming the Muslim community. This way, the title that all agree is coming Khan’s way, that will enable him to sit in the House of Lords, will flow smoothly from Starmer as one of the few positive things he will not hesitate to do.
Finding a solution to Jew hatred
So what is the answer to the epidemic of hatred of Jews? Can our politicians find comfort from the agony that they apparently feel? Of course. What should they do?
The primary answer is to stop expressions of Jew hatred by banning the marches that have spoiled life in UK streets not just for Jews but all citizens, except those who seem to prefer the idea of living in Gaza or indeed Iran rather than in the UK.
Can the marches be stopped? Of course they can. But what of “freedom of speech,” I hear you ask – is that not an absolute right of all citizens? No.
In 40 years as a criminal advocate and the remainder of my career as a judge, I never once dealt with someone saying: “But my rights of freedom of speech entitle me to put people in fear.” No, they don’t. Or my freedom of speech allows me to march week in, week out, referring to the Jewish state’s genocide or globalizing the intifada. No, it does not.
Freedom of speech and other liberties are not unfettered. They are a balancing act, and where they are abused, it is for judges to set examples to those who have no notion of “red line” behavior.
And so we come to that other metaphor, the boot being on the other foot. For my whole life, the Jewish Diaspora has felt and been invested in the Jewish state. David Ben-Gurion observed that too many people were prepared to die for Israel but not enough to live for her. But what of the quid pro quo?
Since October 7, 2023, Israel – whilst trying to deal with the wars with its neighbors – has had to look on at the plight of Jewish brothers and sisters in Ireland, Spain, UK, wherever.
But as there is a momentary pause of the action in Iran or Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog have proclaimed that Britain appears to be unable to keep its Jews safe.
Thank you, Israel. You are right. So, Israel and the Diaspora see how we are all involved in the same struggle, whose fate hangs on a knife edge and is always difficult to predict.
UK Jews who say they do not feel safe in the UK are right not to. Those who want to live their lives as Jews must do so in Israel.
The writer is an author and a former judge and barrister in the United Kingdom.
