Left: Page 30 of Labour’s antisemitism report says measured anti-Jewish attitudes are stable, while negative attitudes towards Israel are rising. Right: The Guardian reports a woman at an Israeli election rally calling for Palestinians to be expelled from Gaza or killed if they refused to leave. She also claimed that Jordan, Lebanon and Syria belonged to Israelis. Antisemitism, Islamophobia and every other form of hatred based on faith or identity are wrong and should be challenged at every turn. A successful society is one where everyone can live freely, safely and in peace. That is the ultimate test of our humanity. One person advocating the expulsion or killing of Palestinians does not represent every Israeli. But the devastation in Gaza—the destruction of homes and infrastructure, and the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children—are the result of the actions and policies of Israel’s current government. Criticism of the current Israeli government and its policies should not be confused with hostility towards Jewish people. The UK government’s guidance says criticism of Israel similar to criticism of any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. There is an important distinction between attitudes and incidents. The report says the anti-Jewish attitudes it measured are stable; that does not mean antisemitic incidents are not rising. Police-recorded religious hate crimes targeting both Jews and Muslims increased in England and Wales in the year ending March 2026. We should take all of those figures seriously. A report focused on antisemitism has a legitimate reason to examine antisemitism in depth. But are we also giving enough attention to Islamophobia and other forms of hate, and to the wider pressures on social cohesion? If communities feel their safety and suffering are overlooked, that can deepen mistrust and feed a sense that some people’s rights matter less than others’. Police-recorded religious hate crimes in England and Wales, year ending March 2026: Anti-Jewish: 3,162 Anti-Muslim: 5,132 These numbers are far too high. We need to challenge hatred in all its forms, strengthen social cohesion, and build a society where every community is treated with equal care and dignity. The report’s finding is that measured anti-Jewish attitudes are stable, while negative attitudes towards Israel are rising. Much of the criticism is directed at the current Israeli government and its actions in Gaza. We must be able to say that clearly while challenging antisemitism, Islamophobia and every form of hatred—and working to keep all our communities safe. And we should be proud that the majority of people in Britain reject racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism. We must never allow the worst people in our society—the people who seek to divide us—to define who we are as a nation, a culture or a community. We should stand together and keep every community safe and valued. Shalom. As-salamu alaykum. Peace and goodwill to everyone.