The chairman of North Yorkshire Council says the county is “standing side by side” with the Jewish community following an apparent anti-Semitic incident in London.
Four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity were destroyed in an arson attack in the Golders Green area of the capital early this morning.
The incident has been condemned by the Prime Minister Keir Starmer who called it a “horrific anti-Semitic attack”, adding: “It’s really important that we all stand together at a moment like this”.
North Yorkshire Council chair, Councillor George Jabbour, has also spoken out about the incident.
He said: “It is a horrific assault, not only on our country’s Jewish community, but also on all of us and on the British values and principles that we believe in.
“It was only last Wednesday that we heard at North Yorkshire Council’s meeting that many UK Jews are concerned with swiftly increasing levels of antisemitism.
“I would like to reassure the local Jewish community in North Yorkshire that we are thinking of you as we stand side by side against anti-Semitism.”
A delegation from Harrogate Hebrew Congregation were guests at last week’s full council meeting at County Hall in Northallerton.
Hayden Cohen, the congregation’s representative on the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told councillots that many UK Jews were concerned about increasing levels of anti-Semitism.
He added: “One in five British students don’t want to house-share with anyone Jewish and one in four British students have seen behaviour that targets Jewish students purely for their religion and/or ethnicity. Anti-Semitism is where it starts, but it is never where it ends.
“The next few years are more likely than not to be tough and I hope and pray that you continue to make decisions that demonstrate your commitment to community, society and freedom of religion for all.”
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