The UK's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation has issued a stark warning, stating that the demonisation of Israelis is being used as a 'vehicle for hatred of Jews' and that police forces must be held accountable for clamping down on this form of racial hatred.
Call for Police Action on Nationality-Based Hatred
Jonathan Hall KC made his remarks during a speech at a Policy Exchange event in London. He argued that targeting a nationality, specifically Israelis, constitutes a clear breach of the Public Order Act 1986. Hall emphasised the legal definition of racial hatred, which explicitly includes nationality and citizenship.
He stated that a failure to tackle anti-Israeli hatred creates 'wriggle room for those who indulge in antisemitism but formally disavow it'. Hall described tolerated hatred towards Israelis as a flame that is carried around, posing a palpable national security risk when police prioritise public order over law enforcement.
Controversy and Condemnation from Pro-Palestine Groups
Hall's comments were swiftly condemned by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians. The group's head of public affairs, Jonathan Purcell, criticised what he called a 'deeply problematic' conflation of antisemitism and anti-Zionism. Purcell argued this erases anti-Zionist Jewish voices within pro-Palestine marches and suggested Hall should focus on comments from Israeli officials.
In his speech, Hall, who has supported proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist group, noted that for some, any signs of Israeli life are seen as illegitimate. He cited protests against Israeli-owned restaurants in London, Australia, and the US, including an incident where a restaurant was attacked by protesters shouting 'Death to the IDF'.
Specific Incidents and Police Accountability Questioned
Hall directly questioned police actions in several high-profile cases. He expressed concern over the West Midlands police's handling of intelligence in November, which suggested local Islamists were preparing to attack fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv in Birmingham. Hall asserted the motive was hatred of Israelis, not football rivalry.
An independent report into the force's decision to bar Israeli fans from the match against Aston Villa is expected this week. Chief Constable Craig Guildford has defended the safety-based decision, stating there was 'no conspiracy'.
Furthermore, Hall referenced a recent demonstration outside the Israeli-owned Miznon restaurant in London's Notting Hill. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, addressing the protest, stated his force takes the impact on Jewish Londoners 'very, very seriously'.
Concluding, Hall argued that Israelis, like any other national group, deserve protection in the UK's tolerant society. He placed ultimate responsibility on police forces, stating they 'have got to be responsible for the safety of their citizens', explicitly including Israeli citizens and Jews living among them.
