Kevin Maguire says British Jews and Muslims both live in fear as the Middle East conflict spirals out of control, one year on from Hamas’ attack on southern Israel
War has already started in the Middle East and the “vile hatred” against Jews and Muslims in Britain, which Keir Starmer condemns, is already here.
The upsurge in stomach-churning anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, deplored by the Prime Minister, is witnessed on our streets and read on social media. Stopping it spreading then turning the tide is the only principled position yet too many MPs, mostly on the Right, detect gain in whipping up the mob.
Nigel Farage refused to apologise for inflaming conspiracy theorists who falsely claimed the Southport killings were by a Muslim asylum seeker – the suspect is British-born. But it fuelled attacks on police, nurses, taxi drivers, members of the public, mosques, hotels, shops and, in Sunderland, a Citizens Advice Bureau.
He wasn’t alone, however. On the first anniversary of the horrific Hamas pogrom that a year ago slaughtered 1,200 Israelis and seized 250 hostages, the tinderbox tensions are worsening not lessening. British Jews and Muslims both live in fear as the Middle East conflict spirals out of control. Benjamin Netanyahu’s vengeful settler government slaughtering 42,000 in Gaza and now striking Lebanon is killing more civilians than it is Hamas and, very likely, Hezbollah enemies.
The conflict with Tehran’s authoritarian religious rulers will, unless checked, result not only in fresh bloodshed but potentially huge financial mayhem here, when Iran is the world’s seventh largest oil producer and a fifth of the globe’s consumption passes through the narrow Strait of Hormuz. October 7 changed UK politics. Starmer initially backed Israel cutting water, food, power and medical supplies to Gazans – a war crime – resulting in four Muslim independents taking Parliamentary seats from Labour.
Next election it could be more. Starmer isn’t viewed as neutral in Muslim communities, when the RAF will shoot down Iranian drones but not Israeli missiles killing Palestinians and Lebanese. Jewish supporters of Israel and their allies protest that blocking 30 arms licences was unjustified. Calling for calm, protecting all British citizens, prosecuting racists and striving for peace are all legitimate but the Prime Minister taking Israel’s side, which he has, comes at a political cost.
