UK Prime Minister Advocates Stricter Measures on Pro-Palestinian Protests Amid Rising Antisemitic Incidents
Following recent antisemitic attacks, Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls for potential bans on certain pro-Palestinian protests and stricter actions against specific chants.
In response to a surge in antisemitic incidents, including the recent stabbing of two Jewish men in London, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has suggested implementing stricter measures against certain behaviors at pro-Palestinian protests. While affirming the right to peaceful protest, Starmer indicated that some demonstrations might warrant prohibition due to their potential link to rising antisemitism.
"When you see, when you hear some of those chants—'globalize the intifada' would be one I would pick out—then clearly there should be tougher action in relation to that," Starmer told the BBC. The term 'intifada' is commonly translated as 'uprising.'
The call for action follows the charging of a 45-year-old man with attempted murder after the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, a London neighborhood with a significant Jewish community. Authorities have classified the attack as an act of terrorism. This incident is part of a series of antisemitic acts, including arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites in the capital.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley highlighted the escalating threat to British Jews, attributing it to a combination of hate crimes, terrorism, and the influence of hostile states. He noted that British Jews are now targeted by various extremist groups across the ideological spectrum.
In light of these developments, the UK government has raised the official terror threat level from 'substantial' to 'severe,' indicating that an attack is considered highly likely in the near future. This decision reflects concerns over threats from both Islamist and extreme right-wing individuals and groups within the country.
The Community Security Trust, a charity monitoring antisemitism, reported a significant increase in antisemitic incidents, recording 3,700 cases in 2025, up from 1,662 in 2022. This rise is largely attributed to the conflict in Gaza following the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.