Antisemitism: Terror Adviser Calls It National Emergency, Home Secretary Disagrees

Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s adviser on terrorism, has stated that attacks on Jewish people in the UK constitute “the biggest national security emergency” in nearly a decade. Hall observed that British Jews are “now thinking they cannot live a normal life” due to a series of recent incidents targeting Jewish communities. This declaration follows a stabbing attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, which police have classified as a terrorist incident.

This assessment comes amid a rising tide of antisemitic acts, culminating in the Golders Green stabbings of Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76. The context is one of increasing fear among Jewish people, as highlighted by Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the UK’s chief rabbi, who stated that the attack “proves that if you are visibly Jewish, you’re not safe and far more needs to be done.” The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council echoed this sentiment, calling for “meaningful action” beyond security measures alone.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood disagreed with Hall’s assessment of a “national emergency,” stating that the phrase “has particular connotations” and would mean changing democracy and disapplying elements of democratic society. She asserted, “I don’t believe this is where we are today.” However, Mahmood insisted the government views the issue as an “absolute priority” and an emergency for her in her role. She acknowledged that security measures only address the “end of the problem” and that antisemitism must be tackled “at its root.” The government has announced an additional £25 million in funding for increased police patrols and security around Jewish institutions.

For ordinary British people, particularly Jewish citizens, this means a continued climate of fear and the need for increased security simply to go about daily life. Labour MP Sarah Sackman, who represents Finchley and Golders Green, articulated this reality, saying that when she takes her children to synagogue, she finds herself “holding and gripping their hand a little bit tighter.” The funding for police and security aims to provide some immediate reassurance, but the underlying threat remains a significant concern.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp sided with Hall, calling it “shameful” that attacks are happening “on such a frequent basis” and agreeing that it amounts to a national emergency. Philp criticised the government, stating, “words are no longer enough.” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also labelled the situation an emergency, urging “real action” beyond mere rhetoric. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the British government to do more, referencing “weakness” in the face of “one antisemitic attack after another.”

The immediate next steps involve the deployment of the newly announced £25 million in funding for security enhancements and police presence. However, the broader challenge of addressing the “root causes” of antisemitism, as called for by various figures, remains an ongoing and undefined task. The government faces continued pressure to demonstrate concrete progress beyond financial commitments and verbal assurances.