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Pro-Palestinian activist accused of blasting ‘Death to the IDF’ chant outside Norwich synagogue
Mireille Abate allegedly drove past the synagogue six times in under ten minutes while worshippers attended a Shabbat service
A pro-Palestinian activist has appeared in court accused of repeatedly driving past a Norwich synagogue while blasting music containing the “Death, death to the IDF” chant.
Mireille Abate, 54, is alleged to have passed Norwich Hebrew Congregation’s Earlham Road site six times in less than ten minutes while worshippers were inside attending a Shabbat service.
Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard she had been playing a pro-Palestinian playlist from her vehicle, including audio from Bob Vylan’s controversial Glastonbury performance, during which the punk-rap duo led crowds in chants of “Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)”.
Abate, of Winter Road in Norwich, pleaded not guilty to religiously aggravated intentional harassment when she appeared in court last Tuesday.
According to Campaign Against Antisemitism, the alleged incident took place shortly after 10am on Saturday, 18 October, with CCTV said to show her vehicle passing the synagogue six times.
Abate has been granted bail ahead of her next court appearance, scheduled for 25 August.
Her bail conditions prohibit her from attending or loitering outside Norwich Hebrew Congregation.
The case comes after a separate allegation of antisemitic chanting at an under-15 schools football match near Norwich earlier this year.
Norfolk Police investigated claims concerning a match between London Jewish school JFS and Thorpe St Andrew School in March, but closed the investigation after finding no evidence to support the allegations.
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