Russbee

Our hearts are shattered. Emerging from the holy fast of Yom Kippur, British Jews are now grasping the full extent of today’s terror attack at the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester. This is the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come. For so long we have witnessed an unrelenting wave of Jew hatred on our streets, on campuses, on social media and elsewhere – this is the tragic result. This not only an assault on the Jewish community, but an attack on the very foundations of humanity and the values of compassion, dignity and respect which we all share. I have spoken this evening to Rabbi Daniel Walker, the spiritual leader of the Heaton Park Synagogue. His courageous leadership, together with the resilience of his congregation, are an inspiration to us all. May the victims’ memories be for a blessing and may the injured be granted a swift recovery. I pray that this tragedy strengthens our collective resolve to confront antisemitism, in all its guises, once and for all.

The unconditional recognition of a Palestinian State by the British Government at the forthcoming annual United Nations General Assembly, will prove to be a historic error of foreign policy, which will only impede the cause of peace. It is a reward for terrorism, while the hostages remain in chains, and has been celebrated by Hamas as “one of the fruits of 7th October.” The intended recognition is not contingent upon a functioning or democratic Palestinian government, nor even upon the most basic commitment to a peaceful future. It does not require an end to the shameful payment of stipends to the families of terrorists, nor the reform of an education system that teaches children to hate Jews. Astonishingly, it is not even conditional upon the release of the 48 hostages who remain in captivity. I call on our Government to pause and reflect on the calamitous impact of this approach for both Israelis and Palestinians. I urge them to act with the moral courage necessary to bring peace nearer, not to push it further away.