Published: 3 July 2025
Last updated: 6 July 2025
Many Israelis believe that Britain is a den of antisemitic iniquity.
Many American Jews believe the UK is on the road to a repeat of the violence of 1930s Germany.
Many evangelicals believe that Britain’s 300,000 Jews are about to be overwhelmed by the millions-strong Muslim community who have embraced Jihadism.
But while there has undoubtedly been an increase in antisemitism since October 7 and an intimidatory campaign shunning British Jews who identify with Israel, a probable majority of Jews would not recognise such simplistic claims of outsiders who do not actually live in the UK.
No doubt, the trauma of the last 18 months in Gaza and the trigger of the 12-day war with Iran has been a factor in the current external perception of the situation of Jews in the UK.
Even so, the events last week at the annual Glastonbury music festival will have stirred this brew of righteous indignation – and the outsiders would have been justified in their anger on this occasion.
“Who do I see on that f**king list of names but that bald-headed c**t I used to f**king work for”... “So look, we’ve done it all, all right? From working in bars to working for fucking Zionists.”
The words of one member of the Bob Vylan duo, Pascal Robinson-Foster, from the stage at this year’s Glastonbury festival referred to a former boss who had signed a letter condemning Kneecap, a northern Irish hip-hop group, which had glorified Hamas and Hezbollah on stage. Such comments will have united all Jews in condemnation, regardless of their views.
Comments3
Ian Grinblat9 July at 12:34 am
Philip,
Your comment is ok but bland.
What does it tell us about modern secondary level education that people feel that they can view any situation as a good-evil binary?
And what can we conclude when so many “passionate” young people so readily join chants inciting violence?
Wesley Parish8 July at 08:24 am
Firstly, if the IDF had not invaded Lebanon in 1982, Hizbullah would’ve stayed a local Shi’ite self-help group. Have you never thought of that, Colin Schindler? We simply would not hear of it if Hizbullah had not armed themselves to defend themselves against the psychotics who oversaw the Sabra and Shatila massacres. Take a hint from me – read Robert Fisk’s article “Terrorists” in John Pilger’s book “Tell Me No Lies”. Believe you me, once you’ve read that, “Death to the IDF” is no longer such a horrible thought. Take a read of
https://www.972mag.com/uk-idf-music-festival-antisemitism/
in particular these words”Distorting antisemitism in this manner in order to repress advocacy for Palestine is unquestionably dangerous for Jewish people: it makes Jews the face of authoritarian politics, and it also positions the fight against antisemitism as being at odds with broader human rights struggles, thus dividing Jews from progressive movements.”
philip mendes4 July at 04:22 am
Tremendous article as always Colin. I guess this is what happens when so many develop their views on Middle East politics from a photo on social media, rather than years and years of reading about the complexities on both sides of the conflict.