Starmer commits to action to ‘reclaim’ streets and campuses for Jewish community during meeting with communal leaders

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has committed to ‘reclaim the streets’ for British Jews in a meeting with community leaders in Downing Street.

On Friday morning, Jewish community leaders including Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg, Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) chairman and chief executive Keith Black, and CST Chairman Sir Gerald Ronson, conveyed to the prime minister the “alarm” felt within the Jewish community over the last 14 months and said the recent aggression against Jewish communal spaces could not be allowed to “slide” anymore.

During the 45-minute meeting, Jewish communal leaders and representatives conveyed the community’s deep concerns over a recent “step change” in the extremism of anti-Israel activists, citing the intimidatory “mob” gathered outside JW3 in October and the activities of Palestine Action – which include the theft of two busts of Israel’s first president from a Jewish charity earlier this month, and attacks on banks and companies they allege harbour links to Israel.

The delegation asked the Prime Minister for a review of hate crime legislation, policing and prosecution, and spoke about the need to keep anti-Israel demonstrations away from synagogues and Jewish community spaces.

The community representatives discussed measures which the government can take to “tangibly improve” life for the British Jewish community, recommendations on combatting antisemitism, and ways in which to support Jewish charities and schools.

The groups present also highlighted the “important” need for the Jewish community to be “not just defended, but celebrated too, with a new British Jewish Culture Month to highlight the Jewish contribution to UK society, economy and culture."

Rosenberg, who was “very impressed” with the prime minister arranging the meeting within a week of receiving the request, told the JC Starmer was in “listening mode” during it.

The meeting was also attended by Board Chief Executive Michael Wegier, JLC director of policy and public affairs, Claudia Mendoza, CST Chief Executive Mark Gardner, as well as Union of Jewish Students President Sami Berkoff and Chair of Trustees Daniel Dangoor.

Berkoff explained to the prime minister the difficulties Jewish students run into when reporting instances of antisemitism they face on campus. Starmer reportedly agreed that action must be taken on a scheme whereby students can report cases anonymously.

The delegation further raised concern over the recent decision by the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and spoke of the cross-communal call for the proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of the Iranian regime.

The plight of the hostages and their families was also underscored. In one “moving” moment, Rosenberg said, Starmer described what the hostages and their families were going through as “torture”, including those of British hostage Emily Damari.

Following the meeting, Rosenberg, Black, Sir Ronson, and Berkoff said in a statement they reached an agreement to commit to cross government department action to ensure the Jewish community “reclaims our streets campuses, and community buildings from racist thugs, and ensures a secure and thriving future” for the community.

They raised the community’s “deep concern about the seemingly relentless antisemitism we have seen at protests, at Jewish community buildings, on campus, online, in workplaces, the NHS, the cultural sphere, and even against Jewish pupils on their way to school.

“Outside the Jewish community, businesses with real or imagined links to Israel, and indeed our politicians, have faced harassment and criminal damage. Some have even been chased from their homes, places of work or places of worship.”

Finding the prime minister to be “informed, concerned and engaged”, they shared their view that “this continued crossing of red lines is not just a threat to Jewish security. It is a threat to national security.”