Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
UK Minister Writes to London Police Over ‘Openly Jewish’ Comment
Error: Contact form not found.
by Reuters and Algemeiner Staff
British Home Secretary James Cleverly makes a statement on the publication of the Part 1 Angiolini Inquiry report at the House of Commons in London, Britain February 29, 2024. Photo: UK Parliament/Maria Unger/Handout via REUTERS/file photo
British interior minister James Cleverly has written to London’s Metropolitan Police after an officer stopped a man who was wearing a traditional kippah cap from crossing a road during a pro-Palestinian march on the grounds he was “openly Jewish.”
The charity Campaign Against Antisemitism released a video late on Thursday which showed a police officer preventing Gideon Falter, its chief executive, from crossing a road in the capital because of the protest on April 13.
The officer was videoed telling Falter he feared his presence could prompt a “reaction” because he was “quite openly Jewish.”
Falter said he was walking through London after attending a synagogue and was not part of “any protest or counterprotest.”
The Metropolitan Police apologized for the “use of the term ‘openly Jewish’ by one of our officers. We know it will have caused offense to many. We reiterate our apology,” the police said in a statement on the X social media platform on Friday.
“Being Jewish is not a provocation. Jewish Londoners must be able to feel safe in this city.”
Cleverly has written to the Met, the Home Office, or interior ministry, said on Saturday, but it offered no details of the letter’s contents, saying it was a private communication.
“We welcome the Met Police’s apology, and recognize the complexities of policing fast-moving public protests, but simply being Jewish – or of any other race or religion – should never be seen as provocative,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“Anyone of any religion should be free to go about their lives and feel safe doing so.”
Anti-Israel protesters regularly demonstrate in London to demand a halt to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, which was launched on Oct. 7 after Hamas terrorists invaded the Jewish state, killed 1,200 people, and took over 250 hostages.
Britain’s policing of the protests has caused criticism from several sides. Late last year, then interior minister, Suella Braverman, accused London’s police force of taking a softer stance towards left-wing causes.
