A demonstration by an anti-Israel group outside a Jewish-owned restaurant in west London has sparked condemnation from politicians and community leaders, with one arrest made for stirring up racial hatred.
Protest Outside Notting Hill Eatery
On the evening of Friday, 9 January, approximately 50 protesters gathered outside the Miznon restaurant on Elgin Crescent in Notting Hill. The group identified itself as the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network. A significant police presence was observed monitoring the demonstration.
Activists were heard chanting slogans including 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free'. One protester, claiming to be a local resident, stated that Zionists were not welcome in Notting Hill and told them to 'get the hell out' of the area. Another, using a megaphone, described Zionism as being about 'racism, imperialism and genocide'.
Political Condemnation and Police Action
The protest drew swift criticism from Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch. She described the scene as 'yet another example of harassment and incitement to violence against Jews and law-abiding people on our streets'. Badenoch questioned police inaction, noting officers had 'stood by' as calls for armed resistance were made, and urged the Home Secretary to expedite new powers to crack down on such protests.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 35-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of using chants intended to stir up religious hatred. He has since been released on bail. The protest disbanded shortly after the arrest. A police spokesperson stated officers were present to balance the right to peaceful protest against minimal disruption to the community.
History of Targeting and Wider Reaction
This is not the first time the Miznon chain, founded by Israeli celebrity chef Eyal Shani in 2011, has been targeted. In July last year, a branch in Melbourne, Australia, was stormed by around 20 activists who hurled furniture and chanted 'Death to the IDF'.
Prominent historian Simon Sebag Montefiore also condemned the London protest, calling it a 'disgraceful scene' where a crowd shouted racism and intimidated clients and staff. The International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network said they organised the action to demand Zionist institutions be removed from their neighbourhoods, claiming to have held regular protests at the site for the past three months.
The incident occurs amid heightened tensions and a reported national increase in antisemitic incidents, placing a spotlight on the policing of protests and community safety in the UK.
