Solidarity against antisemitism
A statement from UK Friends of Standing Together on recent antisemitic attacks.
From the killings at the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester in October, to more recent arson attacks against Hatzolah ambulances and Kenton synagogue, to yesterday’s stabbings of two Jewish people in Golders Green, the past months and weeks have seen several appalling antisemitic attacks in the UK.
Standing Together fights in Israel to build a society in which everyone, regardless of their national, ethnic, or religious background is safe, free, and equal. UK Friends of Standing Together upholds and fights for those same values in our country.
While statistics show that events in Israel-Palestine are often triggers for spikes in antisemitic attacks, we reject the argument that antisemitism is “caused by” Israel’s actions. Antisemitism has ideological roots which predate the existence of Israel, and the belief that attacking Jewish people or community institutions in the UK can ever be a legitimate response to actions by Israel is itself antisemitic.
These antisemitic attacks also take place in the context of a rising far-right politics, which targets a range of minoritised groups. Countering this, and winning freedom and equality, in the UK, in Israel-Palestine, and everywhere, requires a struggle based on solidarity. True solidarity is not transactional — helping others if we believe they will help us — but an approach to politics based on joint struggle around shared interests.
Antisemitism must be confronted and uprooted. We stand in solidarity with those targeted by antisemitism, and by other forms of bigotry and prejudice.
Posted 30 April 2026