A deadly antisemitic attack at a Manchester synagogue during Yom Kippur has heightened concerns about the surge in hate violence in the United Kingdom, coinciding with the ongoing Hamas hostage crisis in Israel. At least two people were killed and four others injured when an assailant drove his car into pedestrians before stabbing at least one individual outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation. British police shot and killed the suspect, and the attack was designated a terrorist incident.
The incident has raised alarm as the U.K. and the U.S. have seen a significant rise in antisemitic incidents, particularly following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. The Community Security Trust (CST) reported a record of 4,103 antisemitic events in 2023, with over 1,300 incidents recorded in October alone. This surge has coincided with growing tensions over the Gaza conflict, with political leaders criticized for failing to address the root causes of the rising antisemitism.
Jonathan Ruhe, Director of Foreign Policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, noted that the escalation of antisemitism in both the U.K. and the U.S. can be linked to ideological and politically motivated sentiments related to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. He criticized European leaders for using their diplomatic weight to support a ‘viable post-Hamas future for Gazans’ instead of ‘punishing’ Israel, which he believes has contributed to the rise in antisemitic sentiment.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his condolences for the victims of the attack and emphasized the importance of strength and unity in combating terrorism. The attack on the Manchester synagogue comes just two weeks after the U.K. and other European leaders agreed to recognize a Palestinian state, a decision that has sparked controversy and debate.
The rise in antisemitic violence has also been noted in the U.S., where the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported a sharp increase in incidents, with some 9,354 documented cases last year. Ruhe argued that while the rise of open and violent antisemitism in America is more recent than in much of Europe, it is more concerning due to its rapid growth. He highlighted the need for colleges to act against far-left campus protests that aim to intimidate Jewish communities and those advocating for policies short of ending Israel’s existence.
Ruhe also pointed out that antisemitism is an increasing concern across the political spectrum’s extremes, with far-right and far-left groups both contributing to the normalization of such hatred. He called for stronger and clearer pushback from political leaders against narratives that trivialize or normalize antisemitism, such as major influencers questioning whether more context is needed when discussing Adolf Hitler and Nazism. This underscores the complex and multifaceted nature of the current antisemitism crisis, requiring a comprehensive and united response across all levels of society.