Mick Hartley

See also this comment to Josh Glancy’s article on Britain’s proud record of welcoming Jews since Cromwell – “this country’s first ethnic minority” – and the recent resurgence of antisemitism.

Two decades ago, as callow 14-year olds travelling home from religious school on London public transport, a friend and I were attacked without provocation by a much older, fully bearded youth, who explicitly stated that he was doing so because we were Jews and he was “a Muslim, an Arab.” My friend was quick enough to block the first punch, and we were both lucky that an even bigger passenger stepped in to grab the guy from behind and throw him off the bus. As he was being dragged away, he threatened that he had a knife and would use it on us. This was my first taste of the imported Muslim antisemitism that is increasingly blighting this once tolerant country, and it’s why, although shocked, I wasn’t surprised when I read the news on Thursday. As the UK Muslim population continues to increase, the problem will only get worse; Jews will only grow more uncomfortable, and many will leave. They will be right to.