British Jews urged to rally for Israel’s democratic future on Rabin anniversary
London demonstration marks 30 years since Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, with calls to defend democracy and peace
Israelis living in the UK and British Jews will take to the streets in central London this Sunday to mark three decades since the murder of Yitzhak Rabin, as organisers warn Israel’s democratic foundations remain under threat.
The gathering on 2 November at 2:30pm, coordinated by grassroots movement We Democracy, aims to honour Rabin’s belief that “the path of peace is preferable to the path of war” – a message he delivered minutes before being assassinated by an Israeli extremist in 1995.
Speakers will include Sir Mick Davis, former chair of the Jewish Leadership Council; Rabbi Charley Baginsky, co-lead of Progressive Judaism; and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg OBE, leader of Masorti Judaism. More speakers and performers are expected to be confirmed ahead of the event.
The exact location has not yet been made public due to security considerations. Participants are being directed to follow We Democracy’s online updates via its Linktree page.
Jenny Kananov, co-founder of We Democracy and one of the rally organisers, said British Jews have a crucial part to play at “a moment of moral reckoning”.
“This is not just about Israel’s democracy – it’s about the moral future of the Jewish people,” she said. “British Jews have a vital role to show solidarity with those in Israel who are fighting for justice, accountability and peace.”
The event comes as Israelis continue to debate the government’s conduct during and after the Gaza war, and amid warnings from civil society leaders that democratic checks and balances remain fragile.
Rabbi Baginsky said the anniversary serves as both a warning and a call for unity: “This is a sombre moment, as we remember a leader who strove to turn the hope of peace into reality. As we look ahead to the next 30 years, I hope this rally helps our community come together around the vision that Rabin’s life stood for – of complexity and hard truths, and of standing together.”
Organisers say they expect British Jews, Israeli expats, and allies to attend.
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