Hague tells JW3 audience: ‘Jewish community is safe in Britain’
William Hague has reassured the Jewish community that the government will work hard to “keep everybody safe” amid heightened tensions over anti-Semitism in the wake of the Paris terror attacks, writes Justin Cohen.
The Leader of the House of Commons, on a visit to JW3 on Finchley Road, said: “We in the government and security services will work hard to keep everybody safe but that requires the participation of all communities, to give a strong lead and show that terrorism is the wrong way.”
Community members “definitely” don’t need to move, he added. The former foreign secretary was quizzed as more French Jews were considering their future in the country and after Benjamin Netanyahu announced moves to make it easier for French and other European Jews to make aliyah amid rising anti-Semitism.
Get The Jewish News Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
Hague said the unity marches across France showed “hate can be defeated. There is a real will among the population of this country, the people of France and many other European countries to defeat the mindless murderers of innocent people.”
As he toured the centre’s facilities alongside local Tory parliamentary candidate Simon Marcus, he insisted it was “very sad” that such institutions have to spend more on security than non-Jewish equivalents.
On Lib Dem David Ward – who tweeted “je suis Palestinian” and said Netanyahu’s presence at the Paris rally against terror made him “feel sick” – Hague said he finds the MP’s views “distasteful”.
He added: “It’s up to the Liberal Democrats what to do about their internal issues. I deplore any idea it was wrong for Netanyahu to be there. This was nations showing solidarity with each other, many of whom have had their people be victims as terrorism.”
Turning to the upcoming General Election, Hague suggested “people who vote UKIP are really opting out of that choice of who is going to be the Government. If Conservatives vote UKIP they could bring about the very thing they don’t want – a Labour government”.
The veteran politician, who also visited Mathilda Marks School, hailed JW3 as “impressive” and “exciting”, adding: “The way JW3 brings together different parts of the Jewish community but also people from all parts of the local community is tremendous. I applaud the vision behind this centre”.
[polldaddy poll=8579966]
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)