Farage’s comments on UK policing effort and Jews in Brussels spark backlash

Senior communal figures in the UK and Belgium have criticised Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for remarks about police responses to antisemitic attacks and the state of Jewish life in Brussels.

At a Reform UK press conference, Farage claimed the Community Security Trust (CST), which works to protect British Jews, felt “isolated” from police and received little direct help in addressing rising antisemitic incidents.

He alleged, “There isn’t really very much direct help from the police, and they’re beginning to feel increasingly isolated.”

Farage also asserted that Jews had “fled” Brussels, stating, “I watched as the centre of Brussels became somewhere that Jewish people could not safely live. And they fled that city, and they went to Israel, America or whatever … the only Jews that felt comfortable staying in Brussels were wealthy ones who lived in gated communities with their own direct private security.”

These claims were swiftly rejected by both British and Belgian Jewish leaders.

Communal sources told Jewish News that cooperation between the CST and UK police, especially counter-terror officers, has been extraordinary since a recent spate of arson attacks on synagogues and communal buildings.

“Coordination with the CST has been exemplary,” one Westminster based security source said. “Extra officers had been made available as the police and the CST worked flat out to investigate the attacks, make arrests and secure convictions.”

Andrew Gilbert, CEO of the Cohesion Chemistry organisation, added: “It is simply astonishing that Nigel Farage seeks to undermine the effectiveness of policing, and seeks to cast doubt about their collaboration with the CST at a time when many British Jews are living in fear, and importantly, when serious breakthroughs are being made in finding and arresting and bringing those responsible for these horrendous attacks to face justice.

“Farage has also been a specialist in trying to create division and fear. He should now apologise for the remarks he made this week.”

Responding to Farage’s characterisation of Jewish life in Brussels, Eitan Bergman, Vice-President of the Coordinating Committee of Belgian Jewish Organisations (CCOJB), told Jewish News: “Claiming that Jews in Brussels are forced to live in ‘ghetto-like’ conditions is inaccurate… The Jewish population in the city and across Belgium is actually stable and is composed of secular, Charedim, Israelis and expats working for the EU or NATO.”

He added, “Nigel Farage’s remarks oversimplify a much more complex reality. It is clear that the Jewish community in Belgium faces real challenges, including persistent antisemitism and the need for stronger, more structured public action to address it. In this regard, Belgium would benefit from adopting, like many other European countries, a national strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life and appointing a dedicated coordinator to combat antisemitism.”

Addressing the diversity and demographic trends within Belgium’s Jewish community, Bergman explained: “The Jewish population in Belgium is overall stable and is composed of a complex collection of individuals: secular, haredim, Israelis, expats working with EU or NATO. This complexity makes it difficult to precisely determine how many Jews compose the Belgian Jewish Community. All that we know is that overall the number of Jews increases, because Charedim make more kids.”

He continued: “Claiming that Jews in Brussels are forced to live in ‘ghetto-like’ conditions is inaccurate. We actually don’t know whether the observed residential patterns are more about constraints or more about lifestyle choices. Those are assumptions. As in other countries, some families choose to live in areas that facilitate a more active Jewish life, with access to institutions, kosher food and a vibrant religious environment, which in Belgium is only possible in Brussels and Antwerp.”

“While antisemitism can influence the choice of where to live, it is neither the sole nor necessarily the primary driver. Finally, it is important to emphasise that the authorities, including the police, do maintain a real presence to protect Jewish institutions. Suggesting otherwise is simply incorrect. While efforts should certainly be strengthened, particularly in education and awareness, it is important to avoid generalisations or framing communities in opposition to one another. A careful and nuanced understanding of demographic and social developments is essential.”

Farage also criticised Labour leader Keir Starmer’s response to antisemitism, stating: “It would appear he’s not prepared to lift a finger. First thing I would say is this, especially in North London, it’s kind of like we’re just leaving the CST – now the CST, Gerald Ronson heading it up, does an amazing job of protecting schools and Jewish communities. And yes, whilst it does get some funding from the central government, it has to raise most of it itself.”

Starmer himself has spoken of a “fundamental reset” in counter terror policing leading to significant arrests following the recent antisemitic incidents.

But communal leaders speaking to Jewish News reiterated their appreciation for police efforts and cautioned against generalisations that could misrepresent the real challenges faced by the community.