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Benjamin Netanyahu decried the “barbaric attack” on a UK Jewish temple on Thursday, declaring that “weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it.”

Israeli Top Diplomat Accuses UK Government of Failing to Act on Anti-Jewish Sentiment

The Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, accused the UK of failing to act against antisemitism in his reaction to the attack in Manchester, where two individuals lost their lives.

Sa’ar said he was “appalled” by the murders, claiming that antisemitic incitement had become “commonplace” across the United Kingdom.

“It must be stated clearly: open and widespread hostility toward Jews and Israel, as well as calls of support for terror, have recently become a widespread phenomenon in the capital’s avenues, in cities across Britain and on its campuses,” the minister posted online on Thursday night.

Additionally, he blamed UK officials for not implementing required measures to stop the “toxic wave of antisemitism” and permitting it to continue.

“We expect more than words from the Starmer government. We expect and demand a change of course, decisive steps, and enforcement against the rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement in the UK,” Sa’ar said.

Netanyahu Expresses Solidarity with UK Jewish Community

Netanyahu released a statement saying that Israel was standing in solidarity with the Jewish population in the UK.

“The nation of Israel mourns alongside British Jews after the heinous extremist assault in Manchester. We share the sorrow of the bereaved families, and we hope for the rapid healing of those injured,” Netanyahu said in a statement on Thursday.

The Israeli leader had previously rebuked British authorities when it recognised the Palestinian state earlier last month, alongside several other states such as Australia.

“As I warned at the UN: weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism,” Netanyahu said on Thursday. “A united and resolute stance is essential to overcome it.”

He blamed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and fellow officials who had endorsed Palestinian statehood as “providing significant incentives for violent extremism”. Starmer has maintained that acknowledging Palestine is a crucial move toward a peaceful two-state solution and that the Hamas group would not be included in any future Palestinian state.

Details of the Violent Incident at Jewish Worship Site

A man attacked the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall on Thursday, killing two members of the Jewish community and causing severe harm to four additional attendees who had come to observe the Day of Atonement, the most sacred occasion for Jews.

The man, who police said appeared to be wearing an “explosive device”, was shot dead by police after stabbing one person and attempting to run over members of the synagogue with a car. Police later said the device was “not viable” and that they had arrested two suspects in connection with the attack.

Local law enforcement reported activating the Plato protocol – the official term for a roaming terrorist assault – in the early hours. The British Prime Minister cut short his European summit in Denmark to chair an emergency Cobra meeting to respond to the event.

UK Prime Minister Reacts to Synagogue Attack

Speaking after the meeting, the prime minister condemned the “vile” attack and told British Jews that he would do “everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve”.

“To every Jewish person in this country, I also want to say this: I understand the profound anxiety you are experiencing,” the Prime Minister expressed.

Studies on Anti-Jewish Prejudice in Britain

A July study by the Board of Deputies of British Jews revealed widespread failures to address anti-Jewish discrimination in the nation including within governmental bodies.

In August, the Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism, said it had recorded 1,521 antisemitic incidents in the initial six months of the year. This figure represented the second-highest tally on record but down by a quarter from the record number recorded last year.

Authorities in Israel including the Prime Minister have in the past asserted that pro-Palestinian advocacy has fueled rising anti-Jewish sentiment, an allegation that campaigners have disputed.