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14 Jan 2015

Anti-semitism makes Jews ‘question their future in UK’

Some 45 per cent of British Jews say they may not have a long-term future in Britain, with a quarter having considered emigrating in the last two years because of anti-semitism.

Some 45 per cent of British Jews say they may not have a long-term future in Britain, with a quarter having considered emigrating in the last two years because of anti-semitism.

(Anti-semitic graffiti in north London)

These are the findings from two surveys carried out for the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), which also reveal that 45 per cent of Britons hold at least one anti-semitic view.

A YouGov poll for the CAA shows that 25 per cent of people believe Jews “chase money” more than others, while 17 per cent say Jews think they are better than other people, with 13 per cent saying Jews talk about the Holocaust to gain sympathy.

Some 20 per cent say Jews’ loyalty to Israel makes them less loyal to Britain than other people, 10 per cent would be unhappy if a relative married a Jew, and 11 per cent believe Jews are less honest in business than others.

The poll finds that Ukip supporters are more likely to hold anti-semitic views than other voters.

A separate survey of 2,230 British Jews reveals that 56 per cent feel anti-semitism now echoes the 1930s, while 58 per cent are concerned Jews may have no long-term future in Europe.

Some 45 per cent feel threatened by Islamist extremism, while 63 per cent believe the authorities allow too much anti-semitism to go unpunished.

'British Jews shouldn't be forced to flee because of anti-semitism'

Rabbi Arnold Saunders, from Salford, knows what anti-semitism feels like, having been punched in the face "out of the blue" by "a young white fellow" as she was making his way to synagogue. Although his attacker did not speak, Rabbi Saunders was convinced it was an anti-semitic assault because "I was easily identified as an orthodox Jew, he had no other motive and the police regarded it as anti-semitic".

He told Channel 4 News he was surprised the survey had found that so many Jews were considering their future in Britain and contemplating a new life abroad. "I'm slightly shocked the figures were so high. People have started to think about it, rather than actively making plans, and the majority of those plans might have just asked the question about moving.

"My own experience is, yes, people are concerned, yes, there's definitely been an increase in anti-semitism, yes, people are starting to ask questions about whether they should stay here. But we haven't got lots of people waiting to leave."

Rabbi Saunders said a murderous attack on Jews, like the supermarket siege in Paris, could change this, "but those who wish to remain in place in this country shouldn't be forced to flee because of anti-semitism".

Last year, more anti-semitic incidents were recorded by police since records began 30 years ago.

Gideon Falter, chairman of the CAA, said: “The results of our survey are a shocking wake-up call straight after the atrocities in Paris. Britain is at a tipping point. Unless anti-semitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own country.”

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Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: “Jews are an important part of the British community, and we would be diminished without them. Anyone who peddles anti-semitic views is attacking Britain and British values.”

There are 269,000 Jewish people in Britain, 0.4 per cent of the population.

'The only way to keep the Jewish community here is to make them feel safe'

Jewish mother-of-three Aurelie, who moved from France to Britain a decade ago, believes anti-semitism is so widespread in her homeland that the family has decided not to move back. "I know I will never go back to France," she said. "You've seen the news last week. That's how my country is getting, worse and worse."

She now lives in London, "but if there is an attack on Jewish people here in the future we'd consider moving to America". For Aurelie, who did not want to give her surname, it is vital that Jews are protected in Britain.

"That's what they didn't do in France," she said. "The only way to keep the Jewish community here is to make them feel safe and make them feel they can be themselves."