Anti-Semitism on rise in UK

[Fox]

LONDON - Anti-Semitic attacks reached record levels in Britain last year and peaked during the conflict in Lebanon, a study showed.Race hate incidents - ranging from death threats to physical assault - rose by more than 30 percent to almost 600."These are the worst figures we have had in the 23 years since we have been monitoring it," said Mark Gardner of the Community Security Trust, which advises Britain's estimated 300,000 Jews on safety issues."British Jews are stupidly blamed and randomly attacked over international tensions for which they bear no responsibility," Gardner said.British Jewish leaders say attacks have risen steadily since 2000, with British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks warning that "a tsunami of anti-Semitism" was sweeping across Europe.Gardner said last year's incidents peaked during the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, adding the spike then was specifically anti-Semitic and not just anger with Israel.He said the trend was mirrored across Europe. "It happens in diaspora communities throughout Europe with any trigger like the Lebanon conflict," he told Reuters."But it is quite difficult to compare with other countries as the sizes of the Jewish communities are quite different. The situation in France has improved slightly from the days when synagogues were being fire-bombed," he added.Gardner said four of the incidents last year were potentially life-threatening. A Jewish man was stabbed in London, others were beaten with metal bars and broken bottles."I want to kill all Jews and my name is Hitler," one Arab shouted before punching an Orthodox Jew in the face at a London underground railway station and trying to push him off the platform.Gravestones were desecrated, synagogues daubed with slogans and hate mail sent to a Jewish member of parliament.Gardner said: "This is certainly not comparable with the 1930s or anything remotely like that. But anti-Semitism should be judged by the same standards as any other standards that British citizens enjoy."He said anti-Semitism rose when society faced underlying problems. "Britain is an excellent place to be a Jew but questions are being asked about what the future holds for future generations."

 

[Christina]

Between the stories I have read about Christianity on a rapid decline along with the anti semitism is Britain on its way to becoming another Muslim Nation?

 

[Fox]

That's a very interesting question Kriss. You'd think the answer would be very straightforward, too, given the current state of affairs. But there's something that we have to bear in mind about the "English" psyche. It's best illustrated thus: If you step on an Englishman's foot, he will turn and apologise profusely to you. If you do it again, he will turn and apologise again. If you do it a third time, he will turn and wordlessly break your nose.Already this year we are starting to see the "backlash". England is the land of the righteous backlash. The class system still exists, despite the best efforts of social engineers to sabotage it. In general, people are deferential and "don't like to cause a scene". But once roused, this small island nation, which fits multiple times into, say Texas, is the one that conquered two thirds of the world. And the natives are getting restless. It started with a woman who worked for British Airways - Nadia Eweida - being told she couldn't wear a crucifix with her uniform. Schoolgirls being told the same. Suddenly a few voices uttered the unutterable - so how come Sikh children can wear their items of religious jewellry? How come Muslim children can wear hijab and niqab? Our notoriously hysterical press were up in arms, the mood of the nation was one of displeasure, 20 Church of England bishops and the Archbishop of Canterbury called it offensive... In fact the archbishop also threatened to sell the Church of England's $15million holding of BA shares. Just five hours later, the airline backed down. Meantime, a Muslim teaching assistant who was suspended by her school for refusing to take off her veil while in class was fired.England is a nation where the Church is firmly established by the law of the land. In addition, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England is also the Head of State. Christianity is so ingrained into English society that often its people forget that the democracy they are all enjoying has come about to a large extent from its Christian heritage.Multi-cultural Britain over the last few decades has meant becoming "tolerant Britain" - so much so, that a sudden stream of extremism has been allowed to plant itself into society. The line in the sand between cutting off extremism, and putting in place a firmly tolerant society is being drawn.Times they are a-changing, and I think people are starting to realise that they need to stand up for their faith now, or we WILL become a muslim state.I'm intrigued to see how, when and where the third foot-stamp arrives...