The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) extends a cautious thank you to the UK government for allocating £7 million to tackle antisemitism in schools and universities. However, we firmly assert that this funding fails to address the root causes of antisemitism and is severely undermined by the Metropolitan Police’s incompetence and the government’s inability to confront openly pro-Hamas sympathies among protesters and radical Islamist preachers within the UK.
While the financial commitment is a step in the right direction, the NJA is deeply concerned that these efforts are overshadowed by the ongoing negligence of law enforcement agencies. The rise in antisemitic incidents, which doubled in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, demands more than superficial funding. The Met Police’s reluctance to tackle extremist elements and their failure to act decisively against pro-Hamas agitators on campuses and in public spaces reveal a troubling disconnect between government promises and actionable results.
Furthermore, the strategy to combat antisemitism appears disjointed and ineffectual. Notably, the National Education Union (NEU) exhibits a blatant anti-Israel bias and collaborates openly with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign radicals, whose antisemitic sentiments are neither concealed nor condemned. This alliance not only perpetuates hatred but also nullifies the impact of the government’s funding by allowing antisemitic ideologies to flourish unchecked in other critical areas. Consequently, the government’s attempt to address antisemitism in educational institutions is rendered futile, casting serious doubts on the efficacy and sincerity of this £7 million investment.
Steve Winston, Managing Director of the NJA, stated, “While we appreciate the government’s gesture, it is nothing more than a band-aid on a festering wound. True progress requires comprehensive action, including holding the Met Police accountable and dismantling the anti-Israel networks within influential organisations like the NEU. Without these fundamental changes, the funding will achieve little and leave our community vulnerable to continued hatred and violence.”
The NJA urges the government to adopt a more robust and coherent approach to combating antisemitism.