Nearly 50,000 people marched Sunday in the center of the British capital London in solidarity with Israel and opposition to anti-Semitism in Britain. Demonstrators packed Parliament Square in the borough of Westminster, the capital's governmental centre, where they marched from the direction of the court complex.
The demonstrators waved Israeli flags and shouted slogans against Hamas and the labeling of Jews. Signs carried by demonstrators read "United Kingdom against anti-Semitism" and "Zero tolerance for Jew-hatred." Also participating in the demonstration was a representative of the British government, Home Office Security Minister Tom Tugendhat.
Tens of thousands march in support of Israel and against anti-Semitism in London
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also attended the march and told local media that "anti-Semitism is like the spore of a virus lurking under the tiles of our society and Western civilization. This is a harmful and chronic phenomenon and it will not go away on its own. Now we see it igniting again and we have to mark it."
"It's very sad that this march has to take place at all. The anti-Semitism in the recent marches we saw in London prove the absolute human need for the existence of the State of Israel. Regardless of whether what Israel has done or is doing is right or not, I think the anti-Semitism that we've seen at some of the marches across Europe confirms that," Johnson said.
Demonstrators march against anti-Semitism in London, Photo: AP
During the march, Tommy Robinson, a well-known far-right activist in Britain, who had come to participate in the demonstration, was arrested. According to London's Metropolitan Police, several people present complained about Robinson's presence and after he refused to leave, he was arrested and escorted away by officers.
Dozens of Jewish organizations from across Britain and Europe participated in the march, but there were also those who boycotted the event. The Jewish organization Na'amud issued a statement saying: "Placing the security of Jews against the freedom of the Palestinians does not contribute to the security of Jews, but only makes the fight against anti-Semitism more difficult. True security lies in supporting marginalized communities."
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