After a dinner speech addressing Jewish communities, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged £72 million in added security measures to fight anti-semitic hate crimes as both Jewish and Muslim hate crimes rise in the UK.
Government’s £72 Million Commitment
In a bid to combat rising antisemitism, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a £72 million package for Jewish institutions to spend on security after fears of safety in Jewish communities.
CST Receives £54 Million Boost
The Home Office disclosed that £54 million of the funding would go to the Community Security Trust (CST), covering security measures until 2028.
Sunak Ready to “Fight”
Sunak called the rise in anti-semitism “utterly sickening” in a speech at the Community Security Trust annual dinner, telling the audience, “We will fight this antisemitism with everything we have got”.
Previous Allocations to CST
The £54 million that Sunak promised in funding the CST is an additional £18 million than what was previously promised for 2024-2025, in a bid to keep school children and families safe from hate crimes.
Hate Crimes Surge
Both anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate crimes have surged in the UK and across the globe since the Hamas attacks towards Israelis on October 7th last year, which intensified conflict between Palestine and Israel.
Sunak Condemns Attacks
In his speech at the CST dinner, Sunak condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks as “the most abhorrent acts of terrorism against Israel that any of us have ever witnessed,” resulting in the Israeli Army performing military operations in Gaza.
Sunak Outraged at Anti-Semitic Crimes
Sunak called the increase in hate crimes, “shocking” slamming it as “hatred, pure and simple” followed by “an assault on Jewish people,” sentiments that were echoed by the CTS members.
Double Standards of Hate Crime
“This huge spike in anti-Jewish hate crime happens every time Israel is at war,” said Dave Rich, policy director for the CST, arguing that hate crimes do not increase for other wars.
Ukraine Example
Rich used Ukraine’s war against Russia as an example, arguing, “Other foreign conflicts such as the war in Ukraine do not trigger similar outbursts of hate crimes here in the UK.”
Shocking Anti-Semitic Hate Crime Surge
In the first two weeks since the Hamas terror attacks in Israel, general hate crimes soared by 651%, as the police recorded 533 incidents that involved 33 physical attacks against Jewish people and families.
Braverman Calls For Chant Ban
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman argued that even popular chants that are used in protests such as “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” are automatically anti-semitic and should be banned.
Braverman’s Interpretation of Chant
Braverman argued that the chant shows intent to destroy Israel, calling it “an expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world,” whereas others say it’s merely encouraging Palestine to be self-governed.
Former Home Secretary’s Controversial Remarks
The former Home Secretary is currently under scrutiny for her alleged “Islamophobic” rhetoric that has encouraged other Tory MPs to follow suit, with one being suspended as a result.
Braverman’s Remarks In Newspaper Column
In an article she wrote, Braverman argued that so-called “Islamists” have control over the country, saying “The truth is that the Islamists, the extremists and the anti-Semites are in charge now.”
Anderson Echoes Braverman
This encouraged former Tory MP Lee Anderson to launch a scathing attack on London Mayor Sadiq Khan, arguing that the Mayor and the city of London are now controlled by “Islamists” whom he called Khan’s “mates.”
Sunak’s Response to Anderson Comments
Rishi Sunak condemned Anderson’s comments, calling them “wrong” but refrained from calling them racist or Islamophobic, while never condemning Braverman’s words when asked.
Both Sides Call for Change
Islamophobia has also increased hugely since the October 7th attacks, rising by 140% in London alone, where both Muslim and Jewish communities have openly expressed condemnation of hate crimes against the other religion.
Calls for Tory Party Investigation
When Rishi Sunak was asked about whether he believed there was an Islamophobia problem within the Tory Party, he replied, “No, of course there isn’t,” despite many calling for an investigation.
Hate Crimes Must Stop
The rise in both anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate crimes in the UK since the attacks are issues that must be resolved, with the security package towards Jewish Communities a huge step toward achieving that.
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Oscar Davies, an expert in US and UK politics and sports, is renowned for his sharp and engaging writing style, appealing to a broad spectrum of readers.