Davey: It’s perfectly possible to be critical of Netanyahu without fuelling antisemitism

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said it has been “incumbent” upon him to be “very critical” of the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, as he visited a London Synagogue to express solidarity with the community in light of a surge in antisemitic attacks.

“I think it is really important how we make those criticisms,” Davey, added describing himself as a “long-standing friend of Israel” and a supporter of self-determination for the Palestinian people.

“I believe we have shown—just as many in our Jewish communities have—that it is perfectly possible to be critical of what Netanyahu is doing, to stand up for human rights and international law, to speak out on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza—without fuelling antisemitism,” he added.

Later, speaking to Jewish News, Davey declined to express any regret for describing events in Gaza as “genocide.”

In his speech he had stressed there was a need for leaders to be careful with the language they used around Israel and Palestine.

Asked directly if he regretted using the term genocide, he said: “I have been critical of Prime Minister Netanyahu and cabinet members like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich because I think what they have done in Gaza is unacceptable.”

“We have always tried to show, in the Liberal Democrats, that we stand with the Jewish people and are the strongest opponents of antisemitism.”

“We always have been, and we always will be.”

He also revealed he has a friendship with Israeli opposition politician Yair Lapid. Davey said: “Although I don’t talk about it very publicly, I have Yair Lapid’s WhatsApp on my phone. And we communicate, and I find that connection extremely important.”

Speaking at the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in central London, the Liberal Democrat leader said warning signals indicating that antisemitism was on the rise had been missed by many onlookers.

Davey likened the surge in antisemitism in the UK to a “frog in boiling water” that most people had not noticed.

He continued:“But you noticed: the Jewish community hasn’t been able to avoid it because this has been building for a long time, and last week’s attack must be a turning point where our whole society takes this as seriously as you do and stamps it out.”

Davey said he had “heard the pain” of the Jewish community, adding: “It’s absolutely vital that politicians of all parties come together—working across party lines and beyond politics—to ensure that now is the time to act decisively as a country.”

“I’m afraid there have been too many attacks on British Jews, too many incidents of antisemitism where, as a country, we have not taken the tough action we now need to.”

He continued:“But you noticed: the Jewish community hasn’t been able to avoid it because this has been building for a long time, and last week’s attack must be a turning point where our whole society takes this as seriously as you do and stamps it out.”

Davey also said he had “heard the pain” of the Jewish community in recent weeks adding: “It’s absolutely vital that politicians of all parties come together—working across party lines and beyond politics—to ensure that now is the time to act decisively as a country.”

“I’m afraid there have been too many attacks on British Jews, too many incidents of antisemitism where, as a country, we have not taken the tough action we now need to.”

He launched a scathing attack on Green Party leader Zack Polanski and his deputy Mothin Ali.

According to Davey, Polanski “spent more time complaining about antisemitism being weaponised against his own party than he does tackling antisemitism itself.”

He added:“I remember a few years ago when we had a lot of Jewish members join our party from Labour, and they told us about the antisemitism that was allowed to run life under Jeremy Corbyn.

“They told us how they no longer felt welcome or even safe in Corbyn’s party, and to be fair, one thing I will always applaud Keir Starmer for is the way he changed his party away from that. Sadly, I fear the Green Party is picking up where Jeremy Corbyn left off.”

The Lib Dem leader added that, rather than standing in solidarity with the community after last week’s Golders Green attack, Polanski had “chosen to criticise the police response.”

He also told the Press Association that the drive to stop antisemitism “has to go further than just security”.

He said: “We need to make sure, whether it’s in our schools, in our communities, in our faith groups, that antisemitic language is unacceptable.”

Sir Ed also said: “I’d also suggest that we need to tackle those forces who are pushing this.”

Davey also told Jewish News that voters were “now rightly appalled” by Polanski’s Green Party, following revelations of candidates being antisemitic.

“The action taken by them has not been sufficient,” he added.

He praised Keir Starmer for tackling antisemitism within Labour, and renewed his party’s call for the proscription of Iran’s IRGC.

Davey said the Lib Dems are “strong in many areas and expect to make a lot of gains” in Thursday’s local elections.

Asked why they were not contesting more seats on Barnet Council, which has a large Jewish community, he said the party could count on support from Jewish community members nationwide, and expected gains against both Labour and the Tories.

Earlier, Gavin Stollar OBE, honorary chair of the Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel, delivered a speech inside the synagogue in which he condemned those seeking to divide Jewish and Muslim communities in the UK, as well as Israelis and Palestinians.

Stollar said  this “zero-sum opposition” was a “lie” that only benefited those who sought to fracture society “in order to benefit their own agenda.”

“The truth is simpler, and more hopeful,” he added. “What we face is not Jew versus Muslim, not Israel versus Palestinian, but moderates versus extremists.”