The Metropolitan Police has initiated a significant security enhancement across London in anticipation of the Jewish High Holy Days. This operation includes increased patrols and a heightened response to antisemitism reports, coordinated with other UK law enforcement agencies.
The High Holy Days commence with Rosh Hashanah on Friday evening and conclude with Yom Kippur on September 21. The increased police presence comes after the UK government imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
Senior Conservative politicians have voiced concerns that the timing of the Prime Minister's decision to sanction settlements could heighten the risk of antisemitic incidents targeting British Jews. Last year, a terrorist attack outside a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur resulted in two fatalities and three injuries.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police stated that the force has collaborated with Jewish community leaders and groups such as the Community Security Trust (CST) and Shomrim to develop a comprehensive policing plan. A key component of this year's strategy is the Community Protection Team, tasked with combating antisemitism in northwest London. Officers from this team will conduct visible patrols, visit synagogues and community venues, and work with the CST and Shomrim to provide an enhanced response to antisemitic hate crimes.
Det Ch Supt Luke Williams, leading policing in northwest London, acknowledged the impact of recent antisemitic incidents on communities and pledged to ensure those responsible are brought to justice. He emphasized the commitment to providing a visible and effective police presence during the High Holy Days, working with partners and community representatives to ensure safety and confidence.
A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomed the reinforced security measures for Jewish institutions, citing the previous year's terrorist attack as evidence of the need. However, the group also called for the Prime Minister to articulate a strategy for addressing the surge in antisemitism over the past three years, arguing that true safety requires confronting the threat rather than relying solely on enhanced security.
The sanctions on West Bank settlements were announced by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who described actions by settlers in the disputed areas as 'ethnic cleansing.' Israel has responded by announcing it will close the British consulate in East Jerusalem that serves the Palestinian Authority.
Britain's Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, criticized the trade ban on settlements, labeling it 'gesture politics' that could embolden those who use hatred against Jews. He stated that the sanctions do not advance peace and could make the community less safe, particularly at a time of heightened vulnerability to extremism.
Foreign Secretary Miliband rejected these criticisms, asserting that while more needs to be done to combat antisemitism, it is possible to do so while upholding British values. Shadow foreign minister Alicia Kearns warned that the decision risked increasing hatred against British Jews, while Kemi Badenoch suggested the move could exacerbate antisemitism at home.
These developments follow a report revealing that Britain experienced the largest increase in antisemitic incidents among major Jewish diaspora communities outside of Israel. The report from the J7 Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism indicated that anti-Jewish attitudes are becoming more widespread, with the organization expressing alarm at the levels of antisemitism confronting Jewish communities worldwide, unprecedented since World War II. Researchers noted that antisemitic incidents remain elevated compared to the period before the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023, though they did decrease in four J7 countries last year following peaks in 2024.