Thousands rallied in central London on Sunday against surging antisemitic attacks across Britain, with Jewish leaders, politicians, and church figures warning that hatred of Jews has become “normalized” and poses a threat to the country’s democratic values.

Organizers said as many as 20,000 people attended the event outside Downing Street, the location of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s residence, including many non-Jews. Others estimated the crowd at closer to 10,000. Participants held Israeli flags and protest signs, while several held Iranian flags in protest of what speakers said was an insufficient British response to human rights violations by the Islamic regime.

Speakers described a community shaken by attacks on synagogues, schools, and individuals in London and beyond, but determined to stand publicly and demand decisive action.

The rally was organized in response to a series of recent attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions, including the stabbing of two Jews in the heavily Jewish neighborhood of Golders Green, the torching of four Hatzolah ambulances, arson attacks on synagogues, and a deadly shooting on Yom Kippur at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester.

Some 63 percent of Britons say antisemitism is a major or significant problem in British society, according to a YouGov survey published last week in the aftermath of the Golders Green stabbings.

Speaking first, UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis warned that antisemitism has become “normalized” across British society and urged the country to confront the rising tide of hatred.

“It is unacceptable that poisonous antisemitism has become normalized in the UK,” he said, noting its presence in politics, the media, universities, schools, the arts, the National Health Service, and on the streets.

Mirvis condemned social media platforms for allowing “Jew-hatred” to spread and accused Iran of fomenting violence against British citizens.

“Why has the Iranian ambassador not been expelled [from the UK]?” he........

© The Times of Israel