Johnson pledge to protect Jews as ‘top priority’ praised by Jewish Agency head
Isaac Herzog paid tribute to the UK PM in wake of a request made to 30 European political leaders, to make a commitment for Jews' safety in their countries
The head of the Jewish Agency for Israel has applauded Boris Johnson’s claim that protecting Jews is a “top priority” for his Government.
Isaac Herzog, who chairs the organisation, welcomed the British prime minister’s pledge to “do more” to stamp out antisemitism in British society and to “better protect our Jewish friends and neighbours”.
Outlining how Jewish security organisation Community Security Trust (CST) worked with British police forces, Johnson said: “The safety of Jewish people is a top priority for the UK Government.”
It came in response to a request from Herzog, made to 30 European heads of state, that Jews be protected within their countries, “including hard-hitting security and law enforcement measures”.
Herzog later said that Johnson’s statement “must be adopted by political parties and leaders the world over… They must follow the example he has set in committing to fight antisemitism.
If reference to the Labour Party, Herzog added: “This is especially true given the deep-seated concern in rise of antisemitism around the world and especially in Europe and within certain quarters of the British political landscape.”
Last month, a 27-year old far-right sympathiser live-streamed himself trying and failing to enter a synagogue in the German city of Halle on Yom Kippur. He later shot and killed two people, including one woman outside the adjacent Jewish cemetery.
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