A rally against anti-Semitism organized in London this Sunday

Almost two weeks after that in Paris, a march against anti-Semitism is organized in London, this Sunday, November 26, at the call of the association Campaign against anti-Semitism (campaign to fight against anti-Semitism in French, Editor's note). She will leave from the Royal Courts of Justice, in the heart of the city, at 1:30 p.m.

This march is presented as “the largest British demonstration against anti-Semitism since 1936”, report our colleagues from the Telegraph. On social networks, the poster for the event was circulating widely a few days before the event. We see a crowd marching, armed with Israeli or British flags, with the slogan, “stand shoulder to shoulder with British Jews” [se setre alongside les Jews britiques en français, NDLR].

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, anti-Semitic acts have exploded in the country, as elsewhere in Europe. The Community Security Trust (CST) indicated that it had recorded “at least 1,324 anti-Semitic incidents” between October 7 and November 15 in the United Kingdom. This is the “highest” toll ever recorded in 40 days according to this organization which has recorded anti-Semitic acts since 1984, reports AFP.

Over the same period in 2022, the CST recorded 217 “anti-Semitic incidents”. Among the 1,324 incidents recorded, there were, according to this organization, 64 attacks, 92 damage and desecration of property belonging to Jewish people and 1,045 abusive behaviors including verbal attacks and hate mail.

Last Wednesday, Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt announced that he was releasing nearly £7 million over three years to finance organizations fighting anti-Semitism in schools and universities. “I am deeply concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism in our country,” he declared during a budget presentation to Parliament. “I am also renewing the £3 million increase to the Community Security Trust,” the organization responsible for protecting the security of the Jewish community, he added.

However, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak banged his fist on the table ten days after the start of the war. “There is no place for anti-Semitism in our society and we will do everything possible to eradicate it, and where it is present, we will fight it with the full force of the law,” he declared. by denouncing “unacceptable” acts during pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Also read: Why are pro-Palestine demonstrations more important in London than elsewhere in Europe?

Since the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, several demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine have taken place in the capital, including that of November 11 which brought together nearly 300,000 people. If the latter took place in relative calm, it was marred by the presence of Hamas sympathizers but also that of nationalist counter-protesters, Rishi Sunak also deplored.

This November 26 will be the first major demonstration against anti-Semitism. And the announcement has already caused some stir within the BBC editorial staff, reports The Telegraph. “BBC staff have accused the company of double standards after being ordered not to take part in a march against anti-Semitism this weekend,” our colleagues across the Channel report.

Employees of the media wishing to participate in the march “were referred to the guidelines which ask them not to take part in public gatherings on controversial subjects”, continues the British media. The employees countered that the anti-racism protest “should not be viewed as a controversial or partisan issue.” But the BBC did not give up, telling its staff that they must follow “the same guidelines that have prevented them from attending pro-Palestinian rallies in recent weeks”.