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Anti-Semitism surge deeply disturbing - Robert Jenrick | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
On Sunday a video was posted on social media appearing to show a man shouting anti-Semitic abuse from a megaphone | |
There has been a "deeply disturbing" upsurge in anti-Semitism in recent years, the communities secretary says. | |
Robert Jenrick told MPs incidents over the weekend in north London and Essex were "intimidatory, racist and extremely serious crimes". | |
"Every time the virus of anti-Semitism re-enters our society it masks itself as social justice," he added. | |
It comes amid rising tension between Israel and Palestinians in the Middle East. | |
Israel has conducted dozens of air strikes on the Gaza Strip, after Palestinian militants fired barrages of rockets at southern Israeli cities. | |
The pre-dawn raids on Gaza were some of the heaviest seen since the fighting began a week ago. | The pre-dawn raids on Gaza were some of the heaviest seen since the fighting began a week ago. |
Responding to an urgent question in the Commons, Mr Jenrick said there had been a particular upsurge in anti-Semitism on social media and condemned those who posted content online glorifying the Palestinian militant group Hamas. | |
What is Hamas? | |
Four arrested in anti-Semitism video investigation | |
Rabbi injured in 'cowardly' attack near synagogue | |
He said the Community Security Trust had reported "a steep rise" in anti-Semitic incidents of 320% in a week, adding that this was likely to rise further because of delays in reporting. | |
Mr Jenrick said the government was taking robust action to root out anti-Semitism and would shortly name and shame councils and universities which had refused to sign up to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism. | |
He said grants had also been introduced to provide security at Jewish schools, synagogues and community buildings. | |
On Sunday a video was posted on social media appearing to show a convoy of cars with Palestinian flags driving down a street, with a man apparently shouting anti-Semitic abuse from a megaphone. | |
The Met Police said the video appeared to have been filmed in the St John's Wood area of north London, which is home to a Jewish community. | The Met Police said the video appeared to have been filmed in the St John's Wood area of north London, which is home to a Jewish community. |
Four men have been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offences, the force said. | |
Superintendent Jo Edwards, who is in charge of the investigation, said extra patrols had been arranged in the area in response to the "shocking" incident. | Superintendent Jo Edwards, who is in charge of the investigation, said extra patrols had been arranged in the area in response to the "shocking" incident. |
Meanwhile, a rabbi needed hospital treatment after he was assaulted outside his synagogue in Chigwell, Essex, on Sunday. | Meanwhile, a rabbi needed hospital treatment after he was assaulted outside his synagogue in Chigwell, Essex, on Sunday. |
Police responded to reports of a religiously-aggravated assault, after two teenagers were reported to have spoken about his religion in a derogatory way before attacking him. | Police responded to reports of a religiously-aggravated assault, after two teenagers were reported to have spoken about his religion in a derogatory way before attacking him. |
'Chilling effect' | |
Conservative MP Robert Halfon, said the "air has become even tighter" for Jews following Sunday's "horrific" incidents. | |
He added: "As a proud British-Jewish MP, I never imagined that I would live at a time when myself and the Jewish community would question whether Britain is a safe place for Jews any more." | |
Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, who is also Jewish, told the Commons: "Tragically, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict will not go away and we have to be able to debate and disagree without Jew hate or Islamophobia taking over." | |
Earlier, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan urged people to report anti-Semitism to the police, saying any alleged hate crimes would be taken seriously. | |
"Many of us are angry, upset, heartbroken by the events in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza," he told the BBC. | |
"That's no excuse, though, for anti-Semitism.... We're not going to tolerate it in London." | |
Thousands of people attended a protest on Saturday, which called on the UK government to step in and "stop allowing Israel's brutal violence against and oppression of the Palestinian people to go unpunished". | |
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign - one of the organisers of the protest - has also condemned Sunday's incident in north London. |