- Increased security at UK Jewish schools.
- Concerns over rising antisemitism.
- Police patrols and safety measures.
As concerns about the possibility of an increase in antisemitic attacks against children develop, Jewish schools have increased security.
Parents in London and Manchester are “terrified” for the safety of their children in light of the increased patrols around certain schools.
To avoid being identified as Jewish, some students have been told not to wear blazers in public.
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly called Jewish community protection a “absolute priority.
“History has shown us that Jews in the UK are targeted in response to actions in the Middle East, completely inappropriately so,” he explained.
Israel has lost nearly 1,000 people since Hamas unleashed its barbaric attack three days ago. As a result of retaliatory strikes on Gaza, 830 people have been slain.
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At the Jewish Free School in Kenton, north London, students have been informed that after-school detentions are not enforced and that the donning of a blazer featuring the school’s logo is not mandatory.
David Moody, the school’s headmaster, stated in an email to parents, “The utmost priority is to ensure the safe passage of students between home and school and to ensure that this institution is prepared to care for our children throughout the school day.”
Suzi, whose son is 14 years old and attends the school, stated, “The ripple effects extend beyond the school and into the community.”
“As a parent it’s very hard because you want to protect your children, both emotionally and physically.”
Her 18-year-old eldest daughter attended the school previously and was two years younger than Nathanel Young, who perished in the Saturday attack by Hamas.
“He was traversing the same corridors as she was,” stated Suzi, whose complete name is withheld.
She stated that the Jewish community was “sadly” accustomed to stringent security in communal areas.
“This is merely an additional level of escalation in response to what has transpired.” “Everyone is in a state of bewilderment and sorrow,” she continued.
Another Jewish school in Manchester has experienced a decline in enrollment and an increase in police presence (police patrols).
King David School headmaster John Dalziel said police were at the school Tuesday morning to reassure parents and kids.
In public, he additionally recommends that students remove their blazers or conceal the crest on their uniforms.
He stated that he has instructed students to report any antisemitic incidents and to be proud of their heritage.
Michal, another Salford mother with three children at Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School, noticed more community patrols.
“They have put extra security in place, cancelled school trips. And they’re making sure all doors are locked during the day,” according to her.
“The worse part is that Manchester residents are celebrating Jewish deaths.”
Michal, whose last name we won’t publish, said she worried about the kids’ safety despite the school’s attempts.
Local police are implementing the increased security with the assistance of the Community Security Trust, a charity that assists Jews in the United Kingdom with antisemitism and security concerns.
It stated working with the government to coordinate and plan school security.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says every effort is done to protect the Jewish community.
He also stated on Tuesday that he wished to remind everyone that Hamas was a banned terrorist organization. And that anyone convicted of aiding them would be held responsible.
Suella Braverman, the home secretary, has urged police commanders in England and Wales to enforce the “full force of the law” against demonstrations of support for Hamas and attempts to intimidate the Jewish community in the United Kingdom.
“Behaviors that are permissible under certain conditions, such as the display of a Palestinian flag, may lose their legitimacy when they are employed to glorify terrorist acts,” she wrote.
“Nor is it acceptable to drive through Jewish neighborhoods, or single out Jewish members of the public, to aggressively chant or wave pro-Palestinian symbols at,” she continued.
After a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the Israeli embassy in Kensington, west London, on Monday, three individuals were detained.
At Downing Street, British Jews staged a vigil to pray for the captives and light candles for the victims.
An investigation into “Free Palestine” graffiti on Golders Green bridges in north London, a primarily Jewish neighbourhood.
British Transport Police stated, “No one should be subjected to violence or harassment on the basis of their identity.”
The foreign secretary advised British citizens who wished to depart Israel to utilize commercial transport instead. As he verified that no evacuation facilitated by the British government was currently underway.
In response to whether this policy could be changed, Mr. Cleverly said things were “extremely rapidly progressing.” And he would not “speculate as to what might occur in the future”.
His statement differentiated the situation in Israel from numerous consular matters due to the “extremely, extremely large number of British-Israeli nationals” present, a significant proportion of whom consider Israel to be their permanent residence or are enlisted in the military.
