Pro-Palestinian protestors are planning a demonstration on Sunday outside a London synagogue in what Jewish organizations are dubbing another attempt to intimidate British Jews.
The United Synagogue, an umbrella organization representing Orthodox Judaism in Britain, noted in a post on X/Twitter that it was aware of the protest outside one of its synagogues and was coordinating with local authorities.
“Jewish life has to be allowed to continue in this country without British Jews feeling under threat,” the organization stated.
The UK’s Metropolitan Police also stated on X that it was aware of the protest, adding that its officers would be at the location and it had used “Public Order Act conditions to prevent disorder and disruption.”
“We understand why the group’s decision to protest at this location will cause concern to some communities,” the police added.
Two protestors arrested so far, UK police say
The Metropolitan Police later announced that officers had arrested two individuals at the event. One of those arrested was detained for “failing to comply with the Public Order Act conditions.” The other was arrested “on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.”
Pro-Israel group Stop The Hate UK responded to the planned protest by launching a counter-protest of its own.
According to a post on X by the group, the counter-protest was initiated to defend the synagogue against pro-Palestinian protestors who wish to “terrorise the local Jewish community and our place of worship.”
Stop The Hate UK added, “We will never accept protests or intimidation outside our synagogues. They shall not pass.”
Additionally, the Board of Deputies of British Jews slammed the pro-Palestinian protest as “absolutely unacceptable”. It said that it had been coordinating with the Community Security Trust, Stop The Hate, and other local partners ahead of the demonstration.
The protest follows a similar one that took place in New York City last week, when anti-Israel protesters gathered outside a Nefesh B’Nefesh event hosted at Park East Synagogue.
