The UK's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall, has called on police forces to clamp down on racial hatred based on nationality, particularly targeting Israelis. In a speech at a Policy Exchange event in London, Hall said Israelis are being demonised as a 'vehicle for hatred of Jews', and warned that failure to address anti-Israeli hatred leaves room for antisemitism.
Hall emphasised that the Public Order Act of 1986 defines racial hatred as hatred against a group defined by nationality, including citizenship. He argued that hatred towards Israelis must be recognised as a breach of this act. Hall noted that during pro-Palestinian protests, chants such as 'death to the IDF' or 'globalise the intifada' often go unchallenged, posing a palpable national security risk.
Hall also questioned why West Midlands police, despite intelligence that 'Islamists' were preparing to attack fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv in November, failed to enforce the law. He stated that the hostility was based on nationality, not football. Ministers have refused to comment on the future of Chief Constable Craig Guildford, who defended his officers, while an independent report into the ban on Israeli fans attending a match is expected this week.
The International Centre for Justice for Palestinians condemned Hall's comments, with head of public affairs Jonathan Purcell calling his conflation of antisemitism and anti-Zionism 'deeply problematic'. Purcell urged Hall to also concern himself with genocidal comments by Israeli officials. Hall, who backed listing Palestine Action as a proscribed terrorist group, insisted that Israelis deserve protection like any other group in a tolerant society.
