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Significant rise in both anti-semitism and Islamophobia

(97 Posts)
Whitewavemark2 Mon 20-Apr-26 07:43:02

What is it with all this hatred and division?

Do people prefer to live in a society where mistrust of one’s neighbour is the norm?

It has almost certainly got worse since the Middle East crises in Gaza and now spreading further afield, but it is staggering how people are so willing to “blame” their neighbour.

SueDonim Mon 20-Apr-26 14:58:46

My Jewish family aren’t wealthy and don’t own second homes anywhere. They’re just an ordinary family, working and raising their children. When they bought their house, the previous owners told a neighbour they wouldn’t have sold to them if they’d known they were Jewish.

Wyllow3 Mon 20-Apr-26 14:58:47

barmcake

Right…….I am ready for the onslaught.

You won't get any from me Sago. You forgot to mention beheading, burning people in cages and throwing homosexuals off buildings.

When I lived in Turkey I saw a dog burned alive because it had bitten a man who kicked it. I was told that Mohammed was bitten by a dog and that their saliva would contaminate Muslims. Away from the tourist areas the treatment of animals was heart wrenching.

No onslaught, but I think you have joined the ranks of "well such and such a group of muslims are like that so they all are"

Which is not only not true, but just attempting to tar them all with same racist brush, as we know very well they're are some horrid people in our own culture who would still do that and not so many years ago historically did all kinds of crept things to animals.

It.s a waste of time post as the old "therefore, they must be all like that" is such a well worn cliche it's hardly worth bothering with - and hardly effective, and sorry, somewhat ignorant of the breadth of Muslim culture around the world.

nanna8 Mon 20-Apr-26 14:59:05

I am glad they teach history about the wars in the uk. They don’t much here in Australia. Only about how bad the colonists were unless the older students choose to specialise. They do have Anzac Day and some inkling around that, though.

AGAA4 Mon 20-Apr-26 15:00:34

It is a blight on our society that some Jews have an 'exit plan' presumably for when they feel it is too dangerous to stay in the UK.
On the other hand the Rabbi whose synagogue was attacked in Manchester has said that this is his country and here he will stay. He prays for better times and believes they will come.
I do hope so for all Jews.

Wyllow3 Mon 20-Apr-26 15:06:08

Well, they *don't really, nanna. Not in the sort of detail needed to really understand the situation.

twaddle Mon 20-Apr-26 15:06:39

TerriBull, I think it depends which media people follow. I've read loads about Sudan, Nigeria and other places.

Sago Mon 20-Apr-26 15:08:48

SueDonim

My Jewish family aren’t wealthy and don’t own second homes anywhere. They’re just an ordinary family, working and raising their children. When they bought their house, the previous owners told a neighbour they wouldn’t have sold to them if they’d known they were Jewish.

It’s so sad, my husbands Jewish relation (his Aunt married a Jewish gentleman) changed his name to aid his career.

He escaped Nazi Germany after hearing Hitler speak in 1937, he ended up in India then came to the UK.

How very sad they he couldn’t keep his family name and be proud, he was essentially in hiding his whole life.

barmcake Mon 20-Apr-26 15:08:54

nanna8

I am glad they teach history about the wars in the uk. They don’t much here in Australia. Only about how bad the colonists were unless the older students choose to specialise. They do have Anzac Day and some inkling around that, though.

It's all your fault Sago.

barmcake Mon 20-Apr-26 15:10:08

Error nanna8 - was mean't for Willow3.

ferry23 Mon 20-Apr-26 15:15:52

Caleo

Is there a consortium of religions together that 'worship; together and meet together socially in other ways such as lunches in each others; premises----sort of interfaith organisation?

If there is such an interfaith organisation are there particular sections of society that would not be interested in attending?

There are many interfaith groups, with some working at national level alongside regional and local, more informal groups.

The larger organisations are frequently used by the national press when reporting on faith based issues.

A quick google search demonstrates a considerable number of interfaith groups - one alone lists 27 such groups

www.interfaith.org.uk/involved/groups/national-and-regional-inter-faith

Allsorts Mon 20-Apr-26 15:32:31

The worst treatment I have ever witnessed was a family who having a house renovated (gutted) used labourers from their country of origin, who were little more than slaves , no health and safety, no proper equipment, nowhere to take a break, no toilet facilities. Talking to people I soon found out this was the norm. No one was interested.
Where I live I have never known a Jewish family, thats not to say there are not any, but if they lived here they would be welcomed as everyone is.

Sago Mon 20-Apr-26 15:54:33

barmcake

nanna8

I am glad they teach history about the wars in the uk. They don’t much here in Australia. Only about how bad the colonists were unless the older students choose to specialise. They do have Anzac Day and some inkling around that, though.

It's all your fault Sago.

Please explain?

foxie48 Mon 20-Apr-26 15:56:53

People of all faiths and none do horrible things. There is currently a report on CNN that an IDF soldier in Lebanon was photographed smashing up a Christian statue of the crucifixion in a mainly Christian town in Lebanon which the IDF currently occupies. It is a genuine pic, not fake. This soldier is showing that Christophobia exists within the Israeli Jewish community together with Islamophobia but it doesn't mean that all Jews or all Israelis hold these views. IMO it's the sterotyping of different races and faiths that are the biggest problem.

barmcake Mon 20-Apr-26 16:48:07

Sago: I was responding to your brilliant post but Willow3 read my response (see below). To make matters more confusing I responded to nanna8 my mistake.
(It.s a waste of time post as the old "therefore, they must be all like that" is such a well worn cliche it's hardly worth bothering with)
All I can say to Willow3 is that I have never been in fear of a Jewish person and I will leave it there.

Anniebach Mon 20-Apr-26 17:02:06

I disagree with O/P, Hamas attacked Israel causing Israel to defend itself, yet Israel is condemned

Maremia Mon 20-Apr-26 17:07:21

Hamas caused Israel to defend itself.
But genocide is not defence.

Sago Mon 20-Apr-26 17:13:54

barmcake

Sago: I was responding to your brilliant post but Willow3 read my response (see below). To make matters more confusing I responded to nanna8 my mistake.
(It.s a waste of time post as the old "therefore, they must be all like that" is such a well worn cliche it's hardly worth bothering with)
All I can say to Willow3 is that I have never been in fear of a Jewish person and I will leave it there.

👌

TerriBull Mon 20-Apr-26 17:14:41

I think stereotyping is part of the problem and certainly within religion, because religion is so often a factor where there is intolerance. Fueled sometimes by self serving intransigent patriarchies designed to keep their supplicants compliant and in their place. Always a significant problem and it's men who make up the hierarchy of the three Abrahamic faiths

As with the conflation of Jews and the blame they must bear for all the ills the state of Israel inflicts on the people of Gaza. Similarly the rise in Islamaphobia for the majority of Muslims is an onus they too seemingly have to bear, firstly with terrorism. Since 7/11, 100 people have died in this country alone from such acts, not to mention those who would have been seriously injured and some of those who perished in the London tube bombing would be Muslims themselves. Some of the first responders, such as the umpteen paramedics and doctors who saved lives would be Muslims too, but for those who have the mindset, the whole religion/people are terrorists that vision will be set in stone, murderers all!. They would never acknowledge they could be the life saving doctors, because that's not how a racist brain is wired.

Having a phobia about being caught up in an act of terrorism when such attacks are at their height is not completely irrational, I certainly had such a phobia when I worked up in London when the IRA were at the height of their terrorist campaigns.

Another factor that has cranked up Islamaphobia has undoubtedly been the grooming gangs, and the racism those men directed towards their white victims. I've heard it said that racism can only work one way, and you can't be a victim of it if you happen to be white. Pull the other one! I think that's a complete misnomer, most ethnicities have some form of it. The main failure in alleviating perceptions surrounding prejudice, are the useless successive governments who have skirted around the issue, worrying more about social cohesion, which they've actually made far worse, through not dealing head on with an ongoing problem because they made cultural sensitivities paramount. Not listening to the honest on the ground people such as the late Labour MP Ann Cryer who for her efforts in calling it out was labelled a racist herself, just one example. All of this has fanned the flames of Islamaphobia.

Just to conclude before anyone jumps in, of course it's as unfair to expect Muslim communities to bear the collective culpability of these events as it is to target Jewish people for the worst excesses of the Israeli government.

Maremia Mon 20-Apr-26 17:15:19

Sago, that means people are condemning a whole nation for the actions of an evil minority.
I can see how that could happen. Especially if it is constantly magnified in the MSM.
We could be better than that.

Allira Mon 20-Apr-26 17:46:58

AGAA4

It is a blight on our society that some Jews have an 'exit plan' presumably for when they feel it is too dangerous to stay in the UK.
On the other hand the Rabbi whose synagogue was attacked in Manchester has said that this is his country and here he will stay. He prays for better times and believes they will come.
I do hope so for all Jews.

It is a frightening thought that some British Jews think that Israel would be safer than the UK.

Anniebach Mon 20-Apr-26 18:00:07

Quote Maremia Mon 20-Apr-26 17:07:21
Hamas caused Israel to defend itself.
But genocide is not defence.

Declaring their intention to kill all Jews ?

Oreo Mon 20-Apr-26 18:37:51

Allira

AGAA4

It is a blight on our society that some Jews have an 'exit plan' presumably for when they feel it is too dangerous to stay in the UK.
On the other hand the Rabbi whose synagogue was attacked in Manchester has said that this is his country and here he will stay. He prays for better times and believes they will come.
I do hope so for all Jews.

It is a frightening thought that some British Jews think that Israel would be safer than the UK.

I can see why they would, in Israel they wouldn’t have to be looking over their shoulders all the time and would be living in a country where the majority of the population is Jewish.

sandelf Mon 20-Apr-26 18:57:36

In both cases the ill will is fuelled by Observant Jews and Muslims who do not realise I can strongly object to the current regime in Jerusalem or to any Islamic governments' behaviour while being completely tolerant of them and their religion. The failure to make this separation has done huge harm.

Maremia Mon 20-Apr-26 19:24:09

AnnieB
Hamas declared that.
The children of Gaza did not.
Genocide is not the answer.

Maremia Mon 20-Apr-26 19:25:13

Yes sandelf, conflation is a problem.