Britain is better than this. That is what we must hold on to – even in the darkest of moments. Two Jewish men going about their ordinary lives on a North London street were attacked, stabbed, and targeted because of their religion. One of them, 34-year-old Shloime Rand, now recovering in hospital, says he feels God gave him back his life.
Those words should stop all of us in our tracks. The UK terror threat level has been raised to severe. An attack is now deemed highly likely in the months ahead. This is the reality we are living with – a country where communities are beginning to feel afraid simply for who they are. But how did we get here?
The conflict in Gaza has sparked deep anger and anguish. That anger is real and understandable. People have watched suffering unfold and felt compelled to speak out. Nobody should be silenced for that. But there is a line, and it is being crossed. Using Israel as an excuse to target Jewish people in Britain is not protest. It is hatred.
A Jewish person walking in Golders Green has no responsibility for the actions of a foreign government. To treat them as though they do is prejudice, plain and simple. The rhetoric must be dialled down on all sides. Words matter. They create atmospheres which can turn toxic and dangerous.
Keir Starmer is right to stand firm against anti-Semitism. This is not about political point-scoring. It is about protecting people and upholding the values Britain claims to stand for. Because if any community feels unsafe on our streets, then something has gone badly wrong. We must be better than this. And now, more than ever, we must prove it.
In other news, a tale of two styles: Donald Trump thrives on the spotlight, while King Charles lets quiet authority speak louder. The monarch did exactly what he came to do. He addressed Congress, stood up for democratic values, and never allowed himself to be dragged into the noise. Diplomacy at its best.
