The Independent website, today:

"Anti-Semitic attacks are on the rise in Britain amid a growing chorus of criticism at Israel’s assault on Gaza.

There have been bomb threats, bricks have been thrown at synagogues, a rabbi attacked and a #HitlerDidNothingWrong hashtag circulated on Twitter.

According to the Sunday Times, more than 100 incidents have been recorded by community organisations and police this month, well above what is normally experienced.

Four teenagers have been charged with racially aggravated common assault after a rabbi was reportedly attacked near a Jewish boarding school in Gateshead on 18 July, while in Belfast, on the same day, bricks were hurled through a synagogue’s window.

On 12 July, following a pro-Palestine rally, a group of men piled into four or five cars and drove through a Jewish area of Greater Manchester crying “Heil Hitler,” while also pelting pedestrians with eggs and drinks cans.

It is unknown whether these attacks are definitively linked to the ongoing crisis in Israel and Gaza, however a spokesman for the Community Security Trust (CST), an organisation that helps to protect Jewish properties and institutions, told the Times that the incidents are “well over double what we could normally expect to see and most of [them] are linked to what’s going on.”

Mark Gardner, Director of Communications at CST, also told The Independent that week-on-week the number of attacks has been increasing, though “what’s particularly important for us is that we’ve not seen the kind of high profile violence that has been occurring in France.

“It’s that kind of high profile violence that causes major panic.”

Tensions have been strained as pro-Palestine and pro-Israel rallies erupt in cities across the globe.

Clashes broke out at a banned pro-Gaza demonstration in Paris on Saturday, with tear gas deployed by riot police after protestors threw stones and other missiles.

France, which has western Europe’s largest Muslims and Jewish populations, had, at the eleventh hour, banned a 3,000-strong protest fearing a wave of anti-Semitic attacks.

France’s Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve pleaded with the public to obey the order after two demonstrations last week descended into violence and synagogue attacks.

An authorised rally on Wednesday with 15,000 people was peaceful.

Mr Gardner also expressed concern that the riotous behaviour during some French protests could be an indication of the “future for British Jews.”

Elsewhere, a BBC journalist has been scolded by his employer after a tweet he wrote appeared to reference the conspiracy that a Jewish elite are puppet masters, gifted with vast control.

Producer Anish Shaikh said: “Attacking David Ward is a strategy to divert focus from real issue #Gaza politicians have no soul as they can be bought & sold by u know who.”

He had also been referring to Liberal Democrat David Ward's tweet, in which the politician said that he would fire rockets to Israel if he lived in Gaza.

Mr Shaikh has since deleted his account and has been reminded “of his responsibility to uphold” BBC guidelines, the broadcaster said.

A rabbi in north London was also reportedly verbally abused by a number of youths who shouted: "free Palestine, f*** the Zionists, f*** the Jews" and "Allahu Akhbar," according to the Jewish Chronicle.

Mr Gardner added: “In recent years, Jewish and Muslim communities have come together on issues of anti-racism, insecurity and it’s very important that such progress is not derailed by overseas conflicts for which none of us bear any responsibility and over which we hold a variety of opinions.”

The conflict in Gaza and Israel has left more than 1,000 Palestinians and 46 Israelis dead, with politicians calling for an end of the bombardment."

Edited by legaleagle (27 Jul 2014 2.48pm)

Spot on.

And on the opposite, it appears that if you support Israel's right to defend itself, you are worse than Hitler.

And the Nazi analogies are then forthcoming, which is very different from the truth.

I find it interesting that most people on here with an opinion have never seen Hebron with their own eyes, let alone explore it and understand its complicated history.

"That was fun and to round off the day, I am off to steal a charity collection box and then desecrate a place of worship.” - Smokey, The Selhurst Arms, 26/02/02

An interesting piece on the background of current situation, written by a Jewish historian in the independent.

Israel claims its most recent incursion into Gaza was a response to Hamas rocket attacks. Here are some facts that do not fit comfortably into the narrative of a peace-loving nation that is up against a fanatical, murderous terrorist organisation. In 2006, Hamas won a fair and free Palestinian election and formed a government, seeking a long-term ceasefire with Israel. Israel refused to negotiate. In 2007, Hamas and Fatah formed a national unity government with the same agenda. Israel resorted to economic warfare to undermine this government and encouraged Fatah to stage a coup to drive Hamas from power. Hamas pre-empted the coup with a violent seizure of power in Gaza.

In flagrant violation of international law, Israel then imposed a blockade (still in force today) on the 1.8 million inhabitants of Gaza. Four months ago, Hamas reached an accord with Fatah, and another national unity government was formed, this time without a single Hamas-affiliated member but with the old agenda of negotiating an end to the conflict with Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hysterically attacked it as a vote for terror, not for peace. He used the abduction of three young Jewish settlers on the West Bank as an excuse for a violent crackdown on Hamas supporters there, although Hamas had nothing to do with it. The Hamas rocket attacks were a response to this provocation.

The last thing Netanyahu and his right-wing colleagues want is a united and moderate Palestinian national leadership. Undermining the unity government is one of the undeclared objectives of the current assault. Israel's spin doctors trumpeted its acceptance and Hamas's rejection of an Egyptian ceasefire proposal. Hamas, however, could not accept this proposal because it left the savage siege in place.

It is difficult to resist the conclusion that Israel's real objective in unleashing this offensive is to bomb Hamas into a humiliating surrender. Israel's ultimate aim seems to be not a just peace but the reimposition of the status quo with a fragmented Palestine and with itself as an imperial overlord.

[Link]

You don't think that Hamas might have been, erm, fibbing in 2006 when it said its objective was a 'ceasefire' with Israel, or wanting a ceasefire when it wanted to re-stock its arms and then unleash rockets upon Israel when it suited it?

It is amazing how so many politicans are 'cunds' in your eyes and you question them regularly, yet don't question those who suit your views.

"That was fun and to round off the day, I am off to steal a charity collection box and then desecrate a place of worship.” - Smokey, The Selhurst Arms, 26/02/02

I don't know Matt. Do you know that they are fibbing?
I'm just posting what I thought was an interesting article.
What I do know is that many innocents are being killed and would rather a peaceful solution to the problem be sought.

Is Hebron just outside Mumbai airport?

Just wondering as you imply you have been there?

"Everything is air-droppable at least once."

"When the going gets tough, the tough call for close air support."