Britain’s Home Secretary Theresa May has urged fresh action to combat anti-Semitism amid fears in the Jewish community following the terror attacks in Paris.
Speaking at a service held to commemorate the Jewish victims of the terror attacks in France last week, May must redouble its efforts to wipe out antisemitism.
“I never thought I would see the day when members of the Jewish community in the United Kingdom would say they were fearful of remaining here in the United Kingdom,” she said, referring to a recent poll that showed 54% of the 269,000 British Jews feared they had no future in the UK and a quarter (25%) said they have considered leaving the country in the last two years.
“The attack on a Jewish supermarket, where four people were killed, is a chilling reminder of antisemitism, not just in France but the recent antisemitic prejudice that we sadly have seen in this country,” the home secretary stated during her speech at the event, organized by the Board of Deputies of British Jews. “I know that many Jewish people in this country are feeling vulnerable and fearful and you’re saying that you’re anxious for your families, for your children and yourselves.”.
“We must all redouble our efforts to wipe out antisemitism here in the United Kingdom,” she added.
May pledged more police patrols in key Jewish areas including synagogues and schools.
“I want to say this: Jewish people have long been an important and integral part of this country, we cherish the contribution you make, not just in the past but today and every day,” she said. “Following those attacks in Paris we saw a tremendous expression of unity as people came together in solidarity with the victims of France, people in countries all over the world repeating ‘Je suis Charlie’, ‘Je suis Ahmed’, ‘Je suis juif’. But the most important quote I heard I think was from French prime minister, Manuel Valls, who said: ‘If 100,000 Jews leave, France will no longer be French, the French Republic will be judged a failure.”
“It is a sentiment I well understand, one that holds true for Britain. Without its Jews, Britain would not be Britain, just as without its Muslims, Britain would not be Britain,” she declared. “Without its Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and people of other faiths, Britain would not be Britain.”
