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Tag: antisemitism
January 29, 2026
News
Religion

Car Rams Chabad World Headquarters, Synagogue in Targeted Brooklyn Attack.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Honda sedan repeatedly rammed into the Chabad world headquarters in Brooklyn in an apparent attack.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: A male suspect, who was taken into custody, and law enforcement officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday evening around 8:46 PM at 770 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are deeply disturbed by reports of an incident that occurred tonight in Brooklyn. Just minutes ago, a car repeatedly rammed into 770 Eastern Parkway. This building is not only a synagogue, but also the worldwide @ChabadHeadquarters and a beloved symbol of Judaism around the world.” – Chabad organization in a statement.

🎯IMPACT: No injuries were reported, though the incident is being investigated as a targeted attack against the Jewish community.

IN FULL

A car repeatedly crashed into the Chabad world headquarters in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening in what police believe may have been an intentional act, prompting heightened concern within the Jewish community amid broader national debates over antisemitism. According to law enforcement, a Honda sedan drove onto the sidewalk and struck the building at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights around 8:46 PM, ramming the entrance and double doors multiple times. Video footage circulated online shows the vehicle backing up and slamming into the structure repeatedly.


After the collisions, the driver exited the vehicle and was heard shouting, “I fucking slipped, you asshole.” Police confirmed that one male suspect was taken into custody. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and have not yet released information regarding a possible motive. No injuries were reported.


The Chabad organization, a movement within ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Judaism, issued a statement expressing alarm over the incident and emphasizing the importance of the site. “We are deeply disturbed by reports of an incident that occurred tonight in Brooklyn. Just minutes ago, a car repeatedly rammed into 770 Eastern Parkway. This building is not only a synagogue, but also the worldwide @ChabadHeadquarters and a beloved symbol of Judaism around the world,” the statement read.

The incident comes as antisemitism continues to be a major point of concern nationwide. In recent years, Jewish institutions, synagogues, and schools have reported increased threats and attacks, while political and cultural disputes over antisemitism have intensified. Last year, the Trump administration moved to halt approximately $500 million in federal funding to Brown University, citing concerns over the school’s handling of antisemitism complaints and campus safety for Jewish students.

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January 19, 2026
Politics

Kamala Campaign Demanded to Know If Josh Shapiro Was an Israeli Agent.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Kamala Harris’s team reportedly asked Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) if he was an Israeli double agent during the 2024 vice presidential selection process, as detailed in Shapiro’s new memoir.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Shapiro, Dana Remus (former White House counsel), and Harris’s vetting team.

📍WHEN & WHERE: During the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, as Harris considered her vice presidential running mate options.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Had I been a double agent for Israel?” Shapiro wrote, expressing his surprise at the question from Harris’s team.

🎯IMPACT: The revelations in Shapiro’s book highlight tensions during Harris’s campaign, and likely mark the beginning of jockeying by potential 2028 Democrat presidential primary candidates.

IN FULL

In his new memoir, Where We Keep the Light, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) revealed that Kamala Harris’s team asked if he was an Israeli double agent during the 2024 vice presidential selection process. The question, posed by Dana Remus, a former White House counsel, left Shapiro, who served as an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) volunteer in his twenties, stunned. “Had I been a double agent for Israel?” he wrote, describing his reaction to the inquiry.

Shapiro stated that the vetting team justified the question by saying, “Well, we have to ask.” He also alleged that Harris’s team wanted to know if he had communicated with undercover Israeli agents. Shapiro responded, “If they were undercover, I responded, how the hell would I know?” He later reflected that the question “said a lot about some of the people around the VP.”

Harris ultimately chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) as her running mate, a decision criticized by some at the time, given Shapiro’s status as governor of Pennsylvania, a critical swing state. Shapiro’s memoir also recounts his frustration with other questions from Harris’s team, including whether he would soften his criticisms of student protests against Israeli actions in Gaza. Shapiro maintained his position, stating, “It nagged at me that their questions weren’t really about substance. Rather, they were questioning my ideology, my approach, my worldview.”

Shapiro also suggested that Harris disliked her own role as vice president, citing her complaints about the lack of authority and amenities associated with the position. “I was surprised by how much she seemed to dislike the role,” he wrote. Harris, in her own memoir 107 Days, offered a different perspective, accusing Shapiro of having an ambition for power that exceeded the typical responsibilities of a vice president and expressing concerns about his “lack of discretion.”

The vetting meetings appear to have left the Pennsylvania governor notably disinclined to serve as Harris’s running mate, to the point that the Harris campaign and Remus took a few parting shots in a follow-up conversation. In their final conversation, Remus is alleged to have emphasized the financial burden of the vice presidency and noted Shapiro’s lack of personal wealth. Harris’s team also insisted that Shapiro’s wife, Lori, would need to purchase an entirely new wardrobe, and that the couple would have to pay for “Second Lady-level hair and makeup,” as well as food and entertainment at the Naval Observatory. “Are you trying to convince me not to do this?” Gov. Shapiro claims to have responded.

Image by Tom Wolf.

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January 4, 2026
News

One of Mamdani’s First Moves? Overturning Orders Protecting Synagogues from Attack.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani overturned several executive orders from his predecessor, including measures aimed at protecting the Jewish community from antisemitism.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, former Mayor Eric Adams, the National Jewish Advocacy Center, and critics, including U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and New York City Council Member
Inna Vernikov.

📍WHEN & WHERE: January 2026, New York City.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Hard to overstate how disturbing it is that one of the first acts of the new @NYCMayor was to delete official tweets and EO’s addressing the protection of Jewish New Yorkers.” – Mark Goldfeder, director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center

🎯IMPACT: Mamdani’s actions have sparked criticism and concerns about the safety and support for Jewish New Yorkers, with many questioning the motives behind the repeals.

IN FULL

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) is facing backlash after overturning several executive orders from former Mayor Eric Adams, including measures that aimed to combat antisemitism. Among the rescinded orders was Executive Order 61, which directed the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to enhance security at Jewish places of worship amid rising antisemitic incidents in the city.

Mark Goldfeder, director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, expressed alarm on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Hard to overstate how disturbing it is that one of the first acts of the new @NYCMayor was to delete official tweets and EO’s addressing the protection of Jewish New Yorkers.” The organization has also sent a letter to Mamdani and other city officials demanding answers.

Other actions taken by Mamdani’s administration include deleting tweets from the official mayoral account that had previously promoted efforts to protect Jewish New Yorkers. A Mamdani spokesman claims the posts were being archived, but critics remain skeptical of the mayor’s intentions.

Mamdani’s moves have drawn criticism from several political opponents and leaders. U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) tweeted, “Deeply disturbed to see @NYCMayor Mamdani purposefully undo anything that stands up for the safety of Jewish New Yorkers.” Meanwhile, New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R) also pointed out that Mamdani rescinded Executive Order 61, which had regulated protests near houses of worship and imposed additional restrictions during religious events.

While Mamdani has retained the city office dedicated to combating antisemitism, his actions, including the deletion of tweets and rescinding of orders, have raised concerns about his commitment to protecting Jewish residents.

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December 19, 2025
Politics

NYC Mayor-Elect Mamdani Appointee Resigned Just One Day After Being Named to Top Job, Here’s Why:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani’s (D) newly-hired Director of Appointments, Catherine Almonte Da Costa, resigned after past anti-Semitic social media posts were uncovered.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Catherine Almonte Da Costa, Zohran Mamdani, and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The resignation occurred on Thursday, December 18, 2025, in New York City.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Her social media footprint includes posts from more than a decade ago that echo classic antisemitic tropes and otherwise demean Jewish people.” – Anti-Defamation League

🎯IMPACT: Da Costa stepped down just one day after her appointment, with Mamdani accepting her resignation.

IN FULL

Catherine Almonte Da Costa, newly named as Director of Appointments in New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani‘s (D) socialist administration, resigned on Thursday following the resurfacing of anti-Semitic social media posts she made over a decade ago. Since winning the mayoral race in November, Mamdani has announced a number of concerning appointments, including Da Costa, convicted armed robber Mysonne Linen, and the political left’s favorite terrorism lawyer, Ramzi Kassem.

The resignation came after pressure from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which publicized social media posts by Da Costa that the organization says “echo classic antisemitic tropes and otherwise demean Jewish people.” In a January 2011 post highlighted by the ADL, Da Costa complained, “Money hungry Jews smh [shaking my head].” In another, she referred to a train route as “the Jew train.”

Previously, Da Costa served in various roles—including in the Office of Appointments—in former Mayor Bill de Blasio‘s government.

“As the mother of two Jewish children, I deeply regret and apologize for these tweets from well over a decade ago,” De Costa said in response to her resurfaced social media history. “These comments do not in any way, shape, or form reflect who I am or my views and beliefs today.” Meanwhile, her husband, Ricky Da Costa, also responded to the controversy, calling his wife’s past remarks “dumb,” but insisted her remorse “is deeply genuine.”

Zohran Mamdani, who had announced Da Costa’s appointment just one day prior, accepted her resignation while also stressing her “deep remorse” over the past anti-Semitic comments.

During the 2025 mayoral campaign, Mamdani was scrutinized over his ties to radical Islamists. In October, he shared a photo on social media in which he appeared alongside radical Islamist Imam Siraj Wahhaj, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. In the post, Mamdani praised Wahhaj as one of America’s foremost Muslim religious scholars and a local Brooklyn community leader.

Image by Bingjiefu He.

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December 19, 2025
Education
Lawfare

Trump DOJ Appeals Court Ruling Restoring Harvard’s $2 Billion in Federal Funding.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ has appealed a court ruling that determined the Trump administration unlawfully terminated $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard University.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, attorneys with the DOJ, Harvard University, and U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The appeal was filed on Thursday, December 18, 2019, and will be heard by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston.

🎯IMPACT: With the appeal filed, the case will now move to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed an appeal against a District Court ruling that found the Trump administration’s termination of $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard University to be unlawful. Submitted on Thursday, the appeal filing was made just before the 60-day deadline for the government to act.

In September, U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs—a Barack Obama appointee—ordered that the Trump administration must reverse over $2.2 billion in funding cuts to Harvard. The Boston-based Democrat judge’s ruling found the funding freeze was an act of retaliation against Harvard for rejecting changes the administration sought in the university’s governance and policies.

Notably, Burroughs has made rulings on several cases involving the Trump White House and Harvard, including the issuance of a temporary restraining order in May, which blocked the administration from revoking Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. This would have barred the university from enrolling foreign students. The judge’s latest determination followed a lawsuit filed by Harvard, which argued that the cuts violated its free speech rights under the First Amendment.

The Trump administration moved to cut over $2 billion in federal funding for Harvard University in April after the Ivy League institution rejected a set of government policy conditions aimed at addressing anti-Semitic incidents and pro-Hamas protests on its campus. At the time, the university declared President Donald J. Trump’s proposed policy changes “illegal,” with Harvard officials stating they would not comply with the White House directive.

With the appeal filed, the case will now move to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. Attorneys for the DOJ contend that federal grant funds are “not charitable gratuities,” but rather contractual financial support that the federal government can terminate if officials believe the recipient is in breach of the grant’s terms.

Image by Adam Fagen.

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December 17, 2025
World

Jewish Businesses Are Shutting Down in Australia Following Bondi Beach Massacre.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Jewish bakery in Sydney, Australia, announced its closure following a mass shooting targeting Jews at Bondi Beach, citing concerns for the safety of its staff and customers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Avner’s Bakery, owned by celebrity chef Ed Halmagyi, and the Jewish community in Sydney. The attack was allegedly carried out by Indian immigrant Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on Sunday. Avner’s Bakery announced its closure on Wednesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We have made the only decision available, one that truly breaks our hearts. Avner’s is closed.” – Avner’s Bakery statement.

🎯IMPACT: The attack has prompted members of Sydney’s Jewish community to consider leaving Australia.

IN FULL

Avner’s, a Jewish bakery in Sydney, Australia, owned by celebrity chef Ed Halmagyi, has closed its doors following a mass shooting targeting Jews at Bondi Beach. The bakery cited its inability to ensure the safety of its staff and customers as the reason for the closure.

The attack, which took place during a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, left at least 15 people dead and dozens injured. Indian immigrant Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, were identified as the alleged attackers. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police, while his son was critically injured and is currently in hospital under guard.

In a statement, Avner’s Bakery said it had endured “almost ceaseless antisemitic harassment, vandalism and intimidation” over the last two years. “We have made the only decision available, one that truly breaks our hearts. Avner’s is closed,” the statement read. The bakery had initially closed earlier in the week to process the events at Bondi Beach.

The attack has left Sydney’s Jewish community shaken, with some members now considering emigrating to Israel. Chavi, a 27-year-old mother who was at the event with her baby, described using her body as a shield to protect her child during the attack. “I love Australia, I was born here, and I know [Israel] is in the Middle East… but we were just sitting ducks here,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Image by Sardaka.

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November 27, 2025
Crime
News

Judges Cut Sentence of Muslim Gang Rapist of Jewish Girl, 12, to Aid His ‘Reintegration.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Muslim teenager involved in the gang rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl in France had his sentence reduced by the Versailles Court of Appeal.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Two teenage Muslims, one of whom was 13 at the time, were convicted of the crime; a third boy was too young to face prosecution.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred in Courbevoie, France, on June 15, 2022, with the original trial held in June 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There is no doubt that [the victim] would not have been assaulted or raped if she had not been Jewish,” the original trial judge conceded.

🎯IMPACT: The decision has sparked outrage among those who believe justice for victims is taking a backseat to the supposed needs of offenders.

IN FULL

A French appeals court has reduced the prison sentence of a Muslim teenager convicted in the 2022 gang rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl from nine years to seven, citing the need to aid his future “reintegration” into society. The defendant was 13 at the time of the attack.

The assault took place on June 15, 2022, in Courbevoie, a suburb northwest of Paris. The victim was ambushed by three boys, dragged to a shed, and forced to perform sexual acts on two of them. She was threatened with death, called a “dirty Jew,” ordered to convert to Islam, and had a lighter held to her face in an attempt to burn her.

In the initial June 2025 trial, the two older defendants received seven and nine years for religiously aggravated gang rape of a minor under 15. The youngest boy, under 12 at the time, could not be criminally prosecuted due to his age and was placed in an educational facility for five years.

The presiding judge at the original trial stated: “There is no doubt that [the victim] would not have been assaulted or raped if she had not been Jewish.” The girl’s lawyers praised her courage, saying: “The main thing is that she has managed to bring the perpetrators of her attack to justice and that two of them are imprisoned.”

Speaking to French media after the verdict, the victim explained why she reported the crime: “It’s important for me to speak out because the very fact I spoke out meant he was quickly arrested and imprisoned. By doing this, I protect myself and I protect others; so they cannot do this to others.”

The reduced sentence has reignited accusations of two-tier justice in Europe, with courts and police often treating offenders from ethnic or religious minorities more leniently than native Europeans. Recent examples include new sentencing guidelines in Britain that attempted to urge judges to consider bail more favorably for ethnic minorities, and a suspended sentence handed to a migrant who sexually assaulted a white teenager.

Image by Continentaleurope.

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November 18, 2025
News
UK

Migrant Restaurant Owner Charged in Terror Plot To Kill Jews.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A restaurant owner in England is accused of planning a gun attack targeting Jews.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Walid Saadaoui, a 38-year-old Tunisian national, co-defendant Amar Hussain, 52, and Saadaoui’s brother, Bilel Saadaoui, 36.

📍WHEN & WHERE: An attack was allegedly plotted between December 2023 and May 2024. Saadaoui owned a restaurant in Great Yarmouth before moving to Wigan.

🎯IMPACT: Police intervention reportedly prevented a potential mass casualty event. All defendants are denying the charges.

IN FULL

A Tunisian immigrant restaurant owner, Walid Saadaoui, is on trial at Preston Crown Court in England, accused of plotting a mass shooting targeting Jews. Prosecutors claim he intended to cause “untold harm.” Saadaoui, who denies preparing acts of terrorism, told jurors he arrived in the United Kingdom in 2012, worked in Clacton-on-Sea, and later bought the Albatross restaurant in Great Yarmouth in 2018. “I wanted to progress in life. I wanted to be my own boss,” he said, describing the restaurant as a thriving venue that hosted weddings and birthday parties.

Prosecutors allege that Saadaoui, his brother Bilel, and co-defendant Amar Hussain unknowingly disclosed details of their planned attack to an undercover officer. Saadaoui and Hussain both deny preparing acts of terrorism, while Bilel is accused of failing to disclose information about the alleged plot. Saadaoui is scheduled to give further evidence later this week.

The trial unfolds amid intensifying concerns about the safety and security of Jews in Britain. Jewish organisations have reported rising levels of anti-Semitic incidents in recent years, with community surveys showing that a growing number of British Jews feel less safe in public spaces. Tensions have been especially high following the fatal attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Manchester, carried out by a Syrian migrant, Jihad al-Shamie, during Yom Kippur. Two worshippers were killed in that attack. Authorities later confirmed that al-Shamie had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. It also emerged that al-Shamie had been on bail in a rape investigation at the time of the attack, raising further questions about risk assessment and monitoring.

Concerns have been further heightened by recent policing decisions, including restrictions placed on Israeli Jewish soccer fans attending certain matches in areas with large numbers of Muslims due to security fears. National and local officials have warned that no British city should become a “no-go area” for Jews.

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November 10, 2025
News
UK

Doctor Let Off With a Warning for ‘Holohoax’ Jokes.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A British junior doctor received a formal warning after posting grossly offensive comments on social media, including jokes about Jews being gassed.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Dr. Martin Whyte, the General Medical Council (GMC), and the British Medical Association (BMA).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The offensive posts date back to 2018. Dr. Whyte is employed by Northumbria Healthcare National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This conduct does not meet the standards required of a doctor. It risks bringing the profession into disrepute and must not be repeated.” – GMC Warning

🎯IMPACT: The warning will remain on Dr. Whyte’s record for two years, and he has been barred from representing the BMA in any capacity.

IN FULL

Dr. Martin Whyte, a British junior doctor and former executive member of the British Medical Association (BMA), has been formally warned by the General Medical Council (GMC) after making a series of grossly offensive social media posts, including jokes about Jews being gassed and comments questioning the Holocaust.

The GMC investigation described the posts as “grossly offensive” but said they “fell just short of that which would be considered serious enough to pose a risk to public protection.” Dr. Whyte, who currently works for Northumbria Healthcare National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust as a specialist trainee in paediatrics, has received a formal warning that will remain on his record for two years. The notice states: “This conduct does not meet the standards required of a doctor. It risks bringing the profession into disrepute and must not be repeated.”

Among the posts reviewed by regulators were remarks referring to the “decomposing carcass of the Queen,” and a post describing Conservatives as “b******” and complaining that they should not be allowed to work in medicine. In one particularly shocking message following the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, which killed 11 people, Dr. Whyte wrote: “hahaha zeig hail hahaha gas the jews hahaha just kidding but have you seen these YouTube videos about the holohoax they’re pretty convincing imo [in my opinion].”

The BMA called Dr. Whyte’s comments “totally unacceptable” and confirmed that he had been removed from all association activities as soon as the material came to light. A spokesman said: “Dr. Whyte was immediately removed from any and all BMA business when the social media material came to light. This was followed by our own internal investigation, which made this permanent. The BMA stands opposed to all forms of discrimination.”

The Campaign Against Antisemitism criticised the GMC’s response, arguing that the warning was inadequate. A spokesman said, “Every week, there is some new outrage from the medical regulatory system. Is there any level of racism against Jewish people that the GMC would consider worthy of actual disciplinary action? Antisemitism is at record highs in our society and regulators are totally asleep at the wheel. Another spectacular failure by the medical regulator.”

In the United States, the Trump administration recently froze more than $500 million in federal grants to Brown University over anti-Semitism concerns, and rapper Kanye “Ye” West has apologised to a rabbi for his previous anti-Semitic remarks, blaming them on bipolar disorder.

Meanwhile, reports have highlighted Jewish families leaving supposedly “tolerant” countries like Canada for the United States due to fears over rising hostility.

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November 7, 2025
Sports
UK

Anti-Semitic Agitators Overshadow Aston Villa’s Victory Over Maccabi Tel Aviv.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: English professional soccer team Aston Villa secured a Europa League victory over Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv amidst anti-Semitic demonstrations outside the former’s Villa Park stadium.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Aston Villa, Maccabi Tel Aviv, pro-Israel and anti-Israel demonstrators, and local officials, including Member of Parliament (MP) Ayoub Khan.

📍WHEN & WHERE: November 2025, Villa Park in Birmingham, England.

🎯IMPACT: Police herded protestors against a ban on Maccabi fans attending the game into a fenced basketball court, dubbed a “Jew cage” by observers.

IN FULL

English professional soccer team Aston Villa’s 2-0 Europa League victory over Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv was overshadowed by protests and heightened security outside the former’s Villa Park stadium. The match took place amid growing tensions linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict, with some pro-Israel and many predominantly Muslim anti-Israel demonstrators gathering near the stadium. Law enforcement deployed around 700 officers from ten police forces to prevent unrest.

Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were barred from attending after Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group ruled that their presence could pose security risks. The decision drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum, with even Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying it sent the wrong message about the ability of police to protect all supporters. Notably, Birmingham is a major Muslim population center, with Pakistani-heritage residents being prone to rioting.

Outside the stadium, predominantly Muslim anti-Israel protesters chanted and waved Palestinian flags, with pro-Palestine demonstrators displaying banners reading “Boycott Israel” and accusing Israelis of shooting babies. Independent Muslim Member of Parliament (MP) Ayoub Khan addressed the crowd, arguing that Israeli clubs should face general suspensions similar to those imposed on Russian teams, drawing loud cheers.

Counter-demonstrators against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans being banned from the match were herded by the police into a fenced basketball court, dubbed a “Jew cage” by observers. Inside the stadium, the stands were noticeably empty, with many home fans staying away amid warnings of potential trouble.

The events around the match came against a backdrop of growing concern over anti-Semitism in Britain. Jewish community groups and security organizations have warned that anti-Semitic incidents have surged since the October 7 attacks in 2023. Last month, a terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester, carried out by a man pledging allegiance to the Islamic State, left two people dead and several others injured. The attack renewed fears about the safety of Britain’s Jewish population and prompted calls for greater protection of places of worship.

Critics of the decision to ban Maccabi supporters argued that it highlighted the severity of the problem. Commentators argued that the move effectively told Jewish and Israeli fans they could not be kept safe, rather than addressing the threat posed by potential aggressors. Starmer condemned the decision, saying, “We will not tolerate anti-Semitism on our streets. The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.”

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