Pro-Palestine campaigners are planning to go ahead with a London march next month despite accusations that such protests “incubate” antisemitism and should be banned.
The Stop the War Coalition, which is planning a major demonstration in London on May 16, said attempts to link recent “horrific antisemitic attacks” in the capital with marches in solidarity with Palestine are “false”.
Jonathan Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, has said it is currently “impossible” for such marches not to “incubate” antisemitism.
It comes after Wednesday’s Golders Green terror attack in which two Jewish men were injured.
There have been a series of arson attacks on Jewish sites in London since late March, as well as an incident where a drone was flown near the Israeli embassy.
Describing recent attacks on Jews as a “massive national security emergency”, Mr Hall called for a “moratorium” on pro-Palestinian marches, in comments to Times Radio.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, speaking in the wake of the latest attacks, called for “zero-tolerance of antisemitism, with regard to hate marches”, saying these and other events including the “purposeful anti-Israel demonisation” all “contributes to a tone of antisemitism, which is in our country”.
He added: “When you have hate speech, it’s only one step away from hate action, as we saw today.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who visited the scene at Golders Green on Thursday, accused the Government of having been “weak, weak, weak on all of this”.
He told reporters: “I’m afraid we have allowed marches to take place, with chants being heard over the streets of London and other cities.
“We’ve not acted and the Government has been weak, weak, weak on all of this.
“I’m not pretending we can reverse this tide of hatred overnight. We can’t. It’s here. It’s embedded.”
Stop the War said its demonstrations are “in support of the people of Gaza and against the genocide of the Israeli government”, and it described Mr Hall’s call for a pause on such marches as “unacceptable”.
The organisation said: “Attempts by some to connect the series of horrific antisemitic attacks in north London with the marches in solidarity with Palestine are false.”
The group said it “condemn unequivocally these attacks, as we do all forms of antisemitism and racism”, adding: “No-one should be attacked for their race or religion.”
It branded attempts to “connect” such attacks with the Palestine marches “wrong”, saying the demos are “in protest at the role of the Israeli government, and the complicity of the British Government in these attacks (in Gaza)”.
It added: “These marches are supported by many Jewish people who attend. They are not the ‘hate marches’ described by right-wing politicians but expressions of solidarity and support for those under attack.”
The group suggested such calls “appear to be part of a wider agenda to clamp down on protest more generally, and to limit our rights”.
Stop the War said it would “continue to exercise” the right to peaceful protest, adding: “We will be marching on May 16 for the Nakba.”
Demonstrators organising a May 16 march to mark Nakba Day, commemorating the 1948 displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel, said they sent details to the Met in December, but earlier this month were still waiting to have their route approved.
On the same day, a “Unite the Kingdom, Unite the West” rally promoted by Tommy Robinson is set to take place.
Speaking at the scene in Golders Green on Wednesday, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said debate about international affairs should not be allowed to justify antisemitism.
He said: “Legitimate concern or debate about international affairs must never be allowed to be used to legitimise antisemitism or violence against Jewish people here in Britain.
“When that line is blurred, attacks become more likely.”
