Police uncover third arson attack on Jewish sites in London in a week today
JVL Introduction
We are obviously concerned about and oppose all attacks on synagogues and other Jewish premises – and people – and we were pleased to be approached, as JVL, for our comment for this article. The conflation of Jews with Israel’s actions, its treatment of Palestinians over decades continues and, as we have noted on many occasions, is also dangerous, including for Jews. Time and time again the Jewish Establishment tell us that being anti-Zionist is the same as being antisemitic, that you cannot separate Judaism and Zionism or Jews from Israel; this is not a justification for such attacks, but is it surprising that there are times when this conflation is also made by those claiming (erroneously) that they act in support of the Palestinian people? All too often the Establishment (and not only the Jewish Establishment) falsely claim that Jews opposed to Zionism and who do not agree that Israel has been “defending itself” in Gaza are “a tiny fringe” and even sham Jews.
The attacks on Jewish institutions and people need to stop, just as attacks on Muslim institutions and people must stop. To help that it is crucial that the government neither exceptionalises Jews and also stops reporting from an Israeli perspective and conflating Jews with Israel.
LL
This article was originally published by the Morning Star on Sun 19 Apr 2026. Read the original here.
Police uncover third arson attack on Jewish sites in London in a week today
Ministers urged to end ‘extremely dangerous’ conflation of criticism of Israel with anti-semitism
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Problem is that Netanyahu and his cabinet wrap themselves in a Jewish integument in defence of their savagery. Wolves in sheep’s clothing (an image we owe to Aesop), they are almost certainly the world’s most successful and notorious promoters of antisemitism.
It is difficult to think of any reason why the Iranians, who have shown themselves to be pretty savvy in their conduct of the war with Israel and the US, would want to employ some “gig economy terrorists” to carry out a string of mostly rather ineffectual attacks on Jewish property across Europe. All it has achieved is to help to harden public attitudes against Iran and against Islam.
On the other hand, it is easy to see why a Western intelligence agency would do it. (As Avi Shlaim recently showed, it would not be the first time Israeli agents had attacked Jewish concerns in order to promote Israel’s interests.) And the fact that the hitherto unknown organisation that has claimed responsibility refers to Israel not as “the Zionist entity” but as “the Land of Israel” rather casts doubt on its Islamist credentials…
over 80% of UK Jews have visited Israel which indicates strong support for the vile settler-colonial state.
“She [Jenny Manson] added: “Iranians see Israel as the enemy, and they are mistakenly and dangerously — and some people may say wickedly — associating Jews with Israel….” “.
Did Jenny really say this? If so what is the evidence?
The wording is quite unfortunate because it plays into the security state’s eagerly suggested narrative that these attacks are organised by the Iranian state using criminal proxies, a narrative for which there seems to be zero hard evidence, but a good deal of circumstantial evidence to the contrary.
(See e.g. https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2026/03/26/golders-green-attack/ ).
In the absence of clear evidence, the narrative of Iranian state involvement appears to be a convenient oconspiracy theory peddled by the police, politicians and media which is designed to drum up support for the UK’s complicity in the US-Israel illegal attack on Iran. The most obvious reason why it is likely to be false is that it is manifestly not in the political or diplomatic interests of the Iranian régime. Without indulging in conspiracy theories it is perfectly legitimate to point out that these attacks are of far greater propaganda value to the supporters of the US-Israeli aggression.
Whoever may be responsible for these terrorist attacks, the conflation of antisemitism with antizionism, whether deliberate or unconscious, is almost certain to have been a motivating ideological force.
I agree with Huw. I have doubts that the Iranian regime, which is very capable of distinguishing between Jews and Zionists, would sponsor attacks on Jews in this country. It also has a large Jewish population of its own.
It is though in the interests of the British state to associate such attacks with Iran.
I also agree with Huw that these attacks could be false flags for the reasons he gives.
There is nothing Israel desires more than diaspora Jews believe that they are under threat. That is the essence of Zionism – the negation of the diaspora. Israel is perfectly capable of attacking diaspora Jews via proxies. It has after all just gone and bombed a Teheran synagogue, something that was not covered by the mainstream media.
The concentration on attacks on synagogues and the lack of interest in attacks on Mosques show that the Police, especially the Met, is privileging Jews as their colonial pets.
What is clear is that the deliberate association of Israeli atrocities with Jews inevitably increases anti-Semitism. And one should be blunt. The deliberate association by synagogues with Israeli atrocities also endangers Jews.
So sorry to hear of the attacks, it is a worrying time. However it was long ago predicted, mainly because of the conflation of anti-semitism and anti-Zionism. Members of British governments, the media, the BBC, and other organisations are responsible in this.
Visiting Israel does not necessarily indicate support for the Israeli state, in fact it can be an eye opener – it was for me.
I agree, it makes more sense for these attacks to come from a pro Israel paid 3rd force – as happened in South Africa when certain members of the apartheid government tried to sabotage the peace talks.
Keep safe, with love.
There is a bit of a leap in this article to Iran, but no evidence is given for this leap! Is there evidence of Iranian involvement or is the author simply speculating? There are a number of agencies (including Israel!) who might perceive themselves to be “gaining” by these actions. One thing though that would help is for Jews and Jewish communities to disassociate entirely from Israel/Zionism – and to be seen to do so, and to stop lending their legitimacy to the Israel project.
These actions are vandalism designed to create division within society. By calling them antisemitic, doesn’t this help their ’cause’ whoever ‘they’ are and wouldn’t it be better to call it what it is, anarchism.
Ashab al-Yamin – is this the same groups whose own literature refers to Israel as ‘The Land of Israel’ ? How likely is it that pro Iranian or Palestinian groups use that sort of terminology ? Not even the more moderate PLO use it.
I think that it is pitiful that the BBC and other main media does not regularly consult JVL for balanced information about apparent antisemitism in Britain.
As it is, I have read successive articles on the BBC News website which present incidents about damage to Jewish property as if wholly detached from the ongoing persecution, disposession and genocide of the indigenous Palestinian inhabitants by the truly terrorist state of Israel.
BBC News has ‘information’ features exclusively based upon the say of conservative, zionist, establishment and uncritically Israel supporting organisations as if they are representative of all British Jewish opinion.
I find this highly frustrating, indeed insulting. I suspect that the BBC is told to be biased to favour Israel by establishment elements in our government.
It follows that this unrepresentative approach may prompt angry individuals to do evil as unthinking retaliation for the genocide of the Palestininians.
Or indeed for covert Israel supporters to slyly pose as if ‘antisemitic’.