A British minority faces a murderous threat on our streets. Where are the so-called anti-racists? | Jonathan Freedland

As Jews face the deadly menace of antisemitism, they should not be alone. It’s time for their fellow Britons to step up For me, it’s mostly sadness. Among others, the overriding emotion is fear. It was certainly anger that was most vividly on display in Golders Green after the stabbing on Wednesday of two men, both Jews, in the broad daylight of a spring day – much of that fury directed at the government. British Jews are angry because this was just the latest in a spate of attacks that has included, among other incidents, the torching of ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity and the attempt to burn down not one but two synagogues, all in the course of a few weeks.

Jews want those in charge, the government, to make it stop. Jonathan Freedland As Jews face the deadly menace of antisemitism, they should not be alone. Among others, the overriding emotion is fear. It was certainly anger that was most vividly on display in Golders Green after the stabbing on Wednesday of two men, both Jews, in the broad daylight of a spring day – much of that fury directed at the government. British Jews are angry because this was just the latest in a spate of attacks that has included, among other incidents, the torching of ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity and the attempt to burn down not one but two synagogues, all in the course of a few weeks.

Jews want those in charge, the government, to make it stop. There are some indications that these attacks could be orchestrated by Iran , paying local people with a history of violence or criminality to attack Jews. Incidentally, it’s not only Jews who take this view. Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, who this week described the recent attacks on Jews as a “massive national security emergency”, has also said that talk of Jews and Israelis as “if they are demonic, as if they are the source of the world’s problems” has been “very present on the streets” and “it’s painting a target on Jews’ backs”. The silence of those otherwise so noisy is remarkable – and we Jews hear it loud and clear.

Or, as one reader who wrote to me this week suggested, people are “conflicted” because the likes of Benjamin Netanyahu regularly conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism, and so, “by implication, supporting Jews implies support for Israel”. If you’re a supporter of the Palestinians and you don’t like the conflation of opposition to Israel with antisemitism, here’s a really easy way to reject that conflation: take a stand now against antisemitism and in support of British Jews. Jews now are being asked, and asking each other, if they should consider leaving this country. Explore more on these topics Share Reuse this content As Jews face the deadly menace of antisemitism, they should not be alone. Among others, the overriding emotion is fear.

It was certainly anger that was most vividly on display in Golders Green after the stabbing on Wednesday of two men, both Jews, in the broad daylight of a spring day – much of that fury directed at the government. British Jews are angry because this was just the latest in a spate of attacks that has included, among other incidents, the torching of ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity and the attempt to burn down not one but two synagogues, all in the course of a few weeks. Jews want those in charge, the government, to make it stop. A British minority faces a murderous threat on our streets. | Jonathan Freedland