'The Met Police are making no

Release time：2024-05-07 18:50:05 Source：Culture Chronicle news portal

A Jewish campaigner who was threatened with being arrested by the police for being near a pro-Palestine march has accused the Met of allowing 'no-go zones for Jews'.

Gideon Falter, the chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, was pulled aside by an officer who said he was 'breaching the peace' because he was 'quite openly Jewish'.

Video of the confrontation, which was shared online, has sparked a furious response after an officer told Mr Falter his presence as he tried to walk around London after going to a synagogue on Saturday was antagonising a large group of people'.

He has now accused the Metropolitan Police failing to address 'the threat of antisemitic violence' and has called for a mass demonstration by Jewish and non-Jewish people to show 'no part of London should be unsafe'.

The Met has apologised to Mr Falter and said the use of the phrase 'openly Jewish' by the office was 'hugely regrettable' and insisted officers were intervening not to stifle free speech, but to 'keep the public, including all those taking part or opposing the protest, safe'.

The Metropolitan Police has been branded 'beyond appalling' after an officer threatened to arrest a Jewish man for 'breaching the peace' as he is stopped from crossing the road 

 This officer was seen blocking the Jewish man, Gideon Falter, from crossing the road amid because he was 'quite openly Jewish'

In a video shared by CAA from Saturday's march, Mr Falter - who was wearing a kippah on his head - was seen telling the officer: 'I don't want to stay here, I want to leave.' 

The officer then replies: 'In that case sir, when the crowd is gone I will happily escort you out.' 

After the defiant man attempts to walk across the road in the Aldwych area, the officer blocks him and says: 'I don't want anybody antagonising anybody... and at the moment sir, you are quite openly Jewish. This is a pro-Palestinian march. 

'I am not accusing you of anything but I am worried about the reaction to your presence.'

EXCLUSIVEREAD MORE: Jewish woman who confronted Met Police officer after he said a swastika banner held at a pro-Palestine rally 'needed to be taken in context' says the force needs 'basic education' 

Later on in the video, another officer says: 'There's a unit of people here now. You will be escorted out of this area so you can go about your business, go where you want freely or if you choose to remain here because you are causing a breach of peace, with all these other people, you will be arrested.'

He clarifies: 'Your presence here is antagonising a large group of people that we can't deal with all of them if they attack you... because your presence is antagonising them.'

Speaking afterwards, Mr Falter said the Met was essentially creating 'no-go zones' in the capital for Jewish people by taking this approach.

He said 'Last Saturday, I walked around London after attending synagogue. I wore my kippah (skullcap) and held a small bag containing my prayer shawl. I was identifiable as a Jew but was otherwise like any other Londoner. 

'I was not part of any protest or counterprotest, and was not wearing any stickers or carrying any signs, flags or the like. I was exercising my right to walk around my home city as a Jewish Londoner. 

'A year ago, that would not have been controversial. But now, it is.

'Despite being told repeatedly that London is safe for Jews when these marches are taking place, my interactions with police officers last Saturday show that the Met believes that being openly Jewish will antagonise the anti-Israel marchers and that Jews need protection, which the police cannot guarantee. Instead of addressing that threat of antisemitic violence, the Met's policy instead seems to be that law-abiding Jewish Londoners should not be in the parts of London where these marches are taking place. In other words, that they are no-go zones for Jews.

'Even as the Met Commissioner apparently refuses to do anything about this, it is time for a change on the ground. Next Saturday, 27th April, we will be walking again, hopefully in larger numbers. No part of London should be unsafe for any of its residents.

'The Met has acknowledged the condemnation of their behaviour. They have pledged to accommodate any protest or march that we wish to arrange. But this shows they still do not get it. 

'We are not organising a march. We are planning to walk through London — any part of London we want - as Jews. Walking around as Jews in London shouldn't have to be a 'cause' that we have to 'march' for. It is a right, and we will exercise it.'

Mr Falter, pictured here on Good Morning Britain in 2018, is the CEO of Campaign Against Antisemitism

Mr Falter was interviewed alongside the footage and accused the Met of failing to make London safe for Jews

Speaking after the video was released, Mr Falter said: 'For months we have been told that when anti-Israel protests course through London it's perfectly safe for Jews.

'Notwithstanding the antisemitic placards, the genocidal slogans, the glorification of Hamas, the Islamist flags, the swastikas, notwithstanding all of that, it's still safe to be openly Jewish on the streets of London during these anti-Israel protests. That's what we're told and yet that's not true in practice.'

Mr Falter said he was not criticising the officers who he spoke to on Saturday, as they are 'put in impossible positions week in, week out'. 

He said: 'They're being asked to police huge protests with few officers where there's all sorts of criminality on display from racism to glorification of terrorism, and even violence.'

Mr Falter said: 'It has been six months now where every single weekend we have to witness the streets of London awash with people, many of whom seem to have no problem at all declaring their full-throated support for Hamas, waving around antisemitic placards, calling for jihad, showing swastikas, waving antisemitic flags. It's enough.

'I'm asking you to join us, whether you're Jewish or not. The next march is on April 27, it's a Saturday. Take a walk with us, the Jewish community, and show that we are not going to be put in a box or told where to go by the Met. 

'That if these marches are truly safe then we will walk wherever we want as Londoners who are free in our home city and if we want to wear a kippah that is exactly what we will do.'

Matt Twist, the Metropolitan Police's assistant commissioner, said the video posted by the Campaign Against Antisemitism will 'further dent the confidence of many Jewish Londoners which is the opposite of what any of us want'.

He said: 'The use of the term 'openly Jewish' by one of our officers is hugely regrettable. It's absolutely not the basis on which we make decisions, it was a poor choice of words and while not intended, we know it will have caused offence to many. We apologise.

'The issues at the heart of these protests are complex, contentious and polarising. When the challenges of public order policing are layered on top it becomes a very difficult environment for frontline officers to work in.

'In recent weeks we've seen a new trend emerge, with those opposed to the main protests appearing along the route to express their views. The fact that those who do this often film themselves while doing so suggests they must know that their presence is provocative, that they're inviting a response and that they're increasing the likelihood of an altercation.

'They are also making it much more likely officers will intervene. They don't do so to stifle free speech or to limit the right to protest, but to keep opposing groups apart, to prevent disorder and keep the public, including all those taking part or opposing the protest, safe. That is, after all, our primary role.

'It is up to us to review these interventions and to determine whether we are getting the balance right, adapting our approach as we do so and making sure officers are supported to make the right decisions, using all the powers available to them. We will continue to do so following this most recent protest and ahead of future events.'

This officer blocks the Jewish man from crossing the road

Another clip from the protest was also shared of a second officer telling the Jewish man: 'I am trying to make sure you are safe and that no one attacks you or your group or anyone else, that's all.' 

Mr Falter has been the head of Campaign Against Antisemitism since 2014 and is also vice chairman of the Jewish National Fund UK, a charity which supports 'Zionist pioneers' in Israel.

The 39-year-old previously worked in commercial real estate and management consultancy before building CAA, having gained a Law degree from the University of Warwick in 2005.

He was named as one of the 'top 100 people positively influencing Jewish life' by the Algemeiner Journal, a US-based newspaper which coves Jewish and Israel-related issues.

READ MORE: Met Police arrest nine as Palestine and Israel demonstrators trade insults as thousands march through London to protest about Gaza conflict  

The Simon Wiesenthal Center has described him as a 'Jewish hero who proves that there are still powerful ways to leverage democratic rules to serve justice and protect Jewish community'.

A prominent member of the Jewish community, he involved in a number of non-profit organisations, including CAA, Jewish National Fund and Together Against Antisemitism.

He is also listed as a director in a property management firm and property development company, as well as a book and ancient manuscript publishing business set up by his parents.

The video in which he appeared has sparked another backlash for the Met who have been accused of failing to make London safe for Jews. Robert Largan, the MP for High Peak, Derbyshire, shared the video and wrote: 'This is beyond appalling'.

Another clip from the protest was also shared of a second officer telling the Mr Falter: 'I am trying to make sure you are safe and that no one attacks you or your group or anyone else, that's all.

The Jewish man, who asks him why there is no-one surrounding any of the pro-Palestine protesters, adds: 'I'd like that too but your sergeant here has told me that because I'm Jewish, it's antagonistic to the crowd and it's dangerous for me.'

The officer replies: 'I'm not saying that.'

But the man interrupts, saying: 'But he's just said that. Do you have any idea what it's like being a Jew in London at the moment?'

When the officer says no, he adds: 'Let me tell you, this goes on every Saturday, you probably know it, your colleagues know it. You guys are on the front line. The route changes every single week, you never have any idea where it's going to be. 

'Because you're Jewish in London, you now have to cross these huge groups of people. It's intimidating enough and now look at the number of police that are around her... I'm just a Jew in London trying to cross the road.

'I've been told repeatedly by the Met that these are completely safe for Jews, that I should have nothing to worry about and yet here I find myself in this bubble. This guy has just been shouting at me and shoving me because I want to cross the road.'

Campaign Against Antisemitism also shared shocking footage from the march of protesters shouting 'scum' at the Jewish man. Another pro-Palestine protester was heard shouting 'Nazi' in front of an officer. 

A third protester told Mr Falter: 'I'm watching your movement... that's right. We're all going to watch your movements and record you. The police ain't gonna help you in this scenario.'

Pro-Palestine protesters are seen waving banners at the march on London 

People hold a variety of flags and placards at the protests in London on Saturday, including Palestine and Israel national flags

Pro-Palestinian supporters speak with a police officer during a protest organised by Turning Point UK in London on Saturday

The Met also sparked backlash when they told a Jewish woman a 'swastika was not necessarily anti-Semitic'

Jocelin Weiss, 30, told MailOnline at the time that the Metropolitan police needs 'basic education'

Mr Falter said: 'After months of being gaslit by the Met, it's not safe for Jews to be walking in the presence of these protests.  And was there anything so crazy about what we were trying to do? Just walking around our home city on a Saturday.'

He added: 'Is this something that we are willing to accept? That now the police have to keep Jews away. We mustn't accept it.'

The Met Police arrested nine people at Saturday's march for public order offences. It came hours before Iran launched an unprecedented Iranian strike on Israel that has raised fears of the war in the Middle East escalating.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'We are aware of this video and fully acknowledge the worry it has caused, not only to those featured, but also anyone who watches it, and will review the circumstances.

'We have always said that we recognise the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to be an issue of concern for many Londoners, and this includes the regular protests and marches in central London.

'Everyone has the right to travel throughout the capital in safety.

'We will meet with anyone who wishes to organise a march or protest ahead of 27 April.'

At another protest last month, an officer told a Jewish woman that swastikas 'need to be taken into context' when she reported seeing the Nazi logo on posters at a pro-Palestine march. 

At the time, Jocelin Weiss, 30, told MailOnline: 'I think there's a problem with a lack of basic education for this police force.'

Campaign groups have condemned the Met for the spike in anti-Semitism.

A poster of a baby kidnapped by Hamas was defaced with two swastikas in an incident in London at the end of last year, including a swastika drawn on the infant's forehead.

And in October a synagogue in Sussex was daubed with 'SS IDF' in red paint, with 'SS' depicted as the emblem of the Nazi's genocidal elite guard, and 'IDF' referring to the Israeli Defence Forces.

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