Dal quotidian inglese “THE GUARDIAN”: Jewish schools in London close as police report surge in antisemitism

Vikram Dodd Richard Adams · 14 Ott 2023

Scotland Yard has recorded a “massive increase” in the number of suspected antisemitic offences in the capital compared with this time last year, with two more Jewish faith schools in north London closing over security concerns.
The leaders of Menorah high school in Dollis Hill and another unidentified school told parents yesterday that their schools would be closed until at least Monday. They join Torah Vodaas primary school in Edgware, which made a similar decision on Thursday.
Later, the Metropolitan police said 75 antisemitic offences occurred from 30 September to 13 October this year, while 12 were recorded in the same period in 2022. Incidents reported to police, which may include noncrimes, increased sevenfold year on year, from 14 to 105.
The Met deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said police had asked the attorney general and the Crown Prosecution Service for greater clarity about what may constitute an offence.
He added that displays of Palestinian flags were not an automatic offence, with context being key. “A lot of it depends on the circumstances,” Taylor said.
Taylor reiterated that support for last weekend’s attack by Hamas, or for the militant group, would constitute an offence and that as the group was banned under terrorism laws displaying its flag or chanting support would be a criminal offence.
Rallies and protests are planned this weekend in London including one demonstration starting at midday today in the city centre.
David Landau, the chair of governors at Menorah high school, told the BBC that the closure was owing to the difficulty of protecting staff and students from “lone wolf” attacks despite the additional support being received from the police.
“We have a situation where … this international ‘day of rage’ has been called, we’ve had horrible demonstrations in London where antisemitism is openly displayed and the deaths of Jews are celebrated. We’ve had attacks on Jewish shop fronts in Golders Green, near where we are based.
“Individually, in our school we are fairly isolated from the rest of the community, we are in a nice community, but nevertheless we are out there on our own and we felt that there was significant risks to the kids,” Landau said.
“Ultimately we were worried about individuals that might decide on a day like this to do something outstandingly stupid, and it’s very difficult to control against that.”
Sky News reported that a third, unidentified Jewish school in north London has also opted to close.
It was also reported that Ateres Beis Yaakov, a small private primary school and nursery, told parents that it was to close yesterday in the interest of safety.
Khaled Mashal, a former leader of Hamas, called this week for worldwide protests to be held yesterday in support of Palestinians.
Other schools have taken additional precautions but have opted to remain open.
The Jewish Free school in north London, the largest Jewish school in Europe, advised pupils to remove school blazers to avoid being identified, while others have practised emergency drills in the event of attacks.
Taylor said there was “no specific intelligence” of threats to Jewish schools in London, some of which have decided to close.
The education secretary, Gillian Keegan, said the government was working closely with a “small number” of Jewish schools.
Rishi Sunak condemned a “disgusting rise” in antisemitism. The prime minister said yesterday that intimidating behaviour and inciting violence or hatred would not be tolerated and would instead be met “with the full force of the law”.