Antisemitic Offences — [Valerie Vaz in the Chair]

Asked if the Minister would give way.

Sobel highlighted concerns about antisemitism on university campuses, citing an incident involving Moazzam Begg at Leeds University. He warned that the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 may have unintended consequences, potentially unleashing more antisemitic incidents.

Mr. Percy thanked those working on antisemitism issues and expressed concern about the findings of a survey showing that up to 30% of the public hold antisemitic views. He highlighted the distressing impact of recent marches and focused on what he termed 'institutionalised Israelophobia' in parts of the media, citing examples from university lecturers, football pundits, and media coverage which he believes fuels Jew hate.

Nichols discussed the impact of recent antisemitic attacks and online hate speech. She praised CST for providing support to the Jewish community and called for better accountability from tech companies like X, previously known as Twitter. She also mentioned a personal encounter with an individual who expressed conspiracy theories about her. Asked if the Minister would give way.

She congratulated the hon. Lady on securing the debate, shared her concern that work by CST and Tell MAMA to build bridges is being undermined, and expressed fear about people living in fear across the country. The MP highlighted a student's experience at the University of Glasgow where he faced antisemitic comments during a meeting about Gaza, making him feel under threat. She suggested that public awareness is lacking and the media should better highlight the danger of growing antisemitism in Britain.

He congratulated the hon. Member on the timeliness of the debate and expressed confusion about why far-right and hard-left groups both have an innate hatred for Jewish people. Mr Campbell highlighted the importance of providing correct information to counter misinformation on social media, noting that Israel has hundreds of mosques and freedom of religion for Muslims. He emphasized the contrast with the low number of synagogues in Arab nations.

Acknowledged the significant increase in antisemitic incidents reported since October 7, including arson attacks on synagogues globally. Highlighted the importance of community support and efforts to counteract these trends.

Mr Shannon expressed sadness over the rise of antisemitic attacks across the UK, particularly during the Israel-Palestine conflict. He cited specific incidents and called for accountability through legal action. Mr Shannon also emphasized the importance of religious freedom and highlighted the need for strong punishment against racially motivated crimes.

He thanked the hon. Lady for introducing the debate and questioned whether universities and public authorities should take determined action against hate speech while upholding free speech.

Ms Oswald expressed concern about the rise in antisemitism and the impact it has on diverse communities, particularly Jewish communities. She highlighted East Renfrewshire's diversity and its significant Jewish population. She mentioned the importance of respecting different faiths and standing against hate crime, citing the need for zero tolerance towards antisemitism. Ms Oswald also noted the concern over individuals feeling unsafe to express their identity, which is unacceptable.

She highlighted the rise in antisemitic incidents following the Hamas attacks, noting more than 2,000 recorded by CST from October to December, including 95 assaults. She expressed concern over unreported hate crimes, international repercussions, and the downgrading of monitoring by the Government.

Noted a 1,350% increase in antisemitic incidents since October, highlighted abuse on university campuses with a 500% rise reported by the Union of Jewish Students, expressed concern over intimidation and harassment faced by Jewish students and primary school children.

The MP expressed concern over the recent rise in antisemitic incidents across Britain, including hate speech at protests, vandalism of Jewish schools, harassment, intimidation, and assault. She cited an increase in antisemitism during conflicts involving Israel compared to previous periods, noting unprecedented statistics currently being reported. The Community Security Trust suggests that Jewish venues need extra security measures due to the ongoing threat.