On September 8th 2025, National Jewish Assembly’s (NJA) fourth Solidarity Mission to Israel since the October 7 atrocities met with Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, to discuss the escalating challenges facing Jewish communities in the UK and across Europe.
During the meeting, NJA representatives presented a troubling picture of rising antisemitism in Britain. Jewish students continue to face harassment on university campuses, while weekly protests in London increasingly feature hostile rhetoric that leaves Jewish residents feeling unsafe. Delegates also expressed concern about biased media narratives, particularly within the BBC, that frequently echo propaganda and misrepresent the conflict in Israel and Gaza.
Minister Chikli outlined several initiatives being undertaken by the Diaspora Affairs Ministry to support Jewish communities worldwide. These include strengthening Jewish education, expanding identity-building programmes such as Momentum, a US-based initiative that takes Jewish mothers to Israel in the belief that strengthening their connection to Jewish identity will, in turn, influence their families and communities, and boosting digital monitoring capabilities to counter online hate and incitement. Minister Chikli also stated that he felt that Jewish leadership in Europe was failing and needed to either change or be replaced by those who understand and stand up to the challenges.
A key point of discussion was the role of online surveillance in preventing real-world harm. Minister Chikli cited the 2024 Amsterdam attacks as a case in point: early detection of threatening online activity allowed for timely intervention and enhanced security, significantly reducing the potential impact on Israeli nationals and Jewish institutions in the city. The case underscores the need for tech-driven, intelligence-led approaches to protecting Jewish communities.
“The threats we face today are increasingly global and sophisticated,” said Laurence Julius, Vice Chair of the NJA. “We need coordinated international strategies that blend education, advocacy, and technology to ensure Jewish communities remain secure and resilient.”
The NJA remains committed to voicing these concerns and building international partnerships to confront antisemitism head-on.
