Survey Reveals Deepening Concerns About Anti-Semitism in the UK

A recent survey conducted by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, commissioned by the NGO Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), has revealed troubling statistics about the future of Jewish communities in the UK. According to the poll, a third of British Jews no longer see a future for themselves in the country, with half of them having recently considered leaving due to the escalating threat of antisemitism.

The survey, conducted in June 2024 with 4,078 participants, highlights the rising fear among British Jews, particularly following the October 7 Massacre. A staggering 76% of participants cited the surge of antisemitism in the UK as the primary reason for their consideration of leaving the country. Younger Jews, especially those between the ages of 18 and 24 (67%) and 25-49 (63%), were notably more likely to contemplate emigration compared to older generations.

Nearly half of British Jews felt unwelcome in the country, with only 43% feeling accepted as Jews in the UK. Alarmingly, 58% of respondents said they have concealed their Jewish identity in public, including hiding items like the Star of David or kippah, out of fear of potential antisemitic attacks.

The survey revealed significant concerns about extremist ideologies, with 76% of participants seeing Islamist extremism as a serious threat, and a further 60% viewing the far-left as similarly dangerous. Additionally, a notable percentage of respondents (92%) believed that authorities were not doing enough to protect Jews from Islamist violence, and 88% shared the same sentiment about the far-left. In contrast, 60% of respondents felt that authorities were inadequately addressing threats from the far-right.

British Jews also expressed dissatisfaction with political leaders and law enforcement's handling of antisemitism. The survey found that a majority of participants felt that politicians, particularly London Mayor Sadiq Khan, were not doing enough to safeguard the Jewish community. A remarkable 82% of respondents believed that politicians in general were failing in their efforts to protect British Jewry. The trust in law enforcement was also low, with 80% of participants saying that the police were not doing enough to protect Jews.

This sentiment extended to the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts, where 66% and 61% of participants, respectively, felt that they were not adequately safeguarding Jewish citizens. Over three-quarters of respondents also expressed dissatisfaction with how local police forces handled anti-Israel marches in major cities like London.

Despite these growing concerns, 34% of respondents still believed that Jews had a future in the UK, though this optimism was overshadowed by the 37% who disagreed, and another 29% who remained uncertain. This highlights a growing sense of unease and insecurity among the British Jewish community, leading many to question whether they have a place in the country going forward.