On 27 January, the UK will commemorate the UK’s annual Holocaust Memorial Day. We do so at a time when the fabric of our diverse society feels increasingly fragile. Since October the UK has witnessed unprecedented increases in anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hate crimes. Much is made of the role of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza as a driver of this hatred: British Muslims being held falsely accountable for the killings of Israeli civilians by Hamas, and British Jews for civilians killed by Israeli military action in Gaza.
It’s undoubtedly true that the horrific violence we are seeing is heightening tensions, but the reality is this conflict is amplifying unaddressed issues of hate in our society. It is not concern for Jewish safety in Israel that compels someone to dump a pig’s head at a proposed mosque site, or a desire to express solidarity with the Palestinian people that makes someone scrawl swastikas on bridges. Both are motivated by hatred we can grow here at home.
