Businesses on high alert following Israel terror attacks

Jewish businesses in the region are on high alert following the terrorist attacks in Israel at the weekend.

A triumphant pro-Palestinian demonstration in Manchester city centre on Sunday appeared to support the slaughter of as many as 2000 Israeli civilians feared dead as “resistance” following incursions from Hamas-controlled Gaza into Israel by gangs of armed terrorists.

Manchester on Sunday

Previously pro-Palestinian activity in the city centre has been targeted at specific Jewish owned businesses.

The Community Security Trust said that since the beginning of the Hamas terror attack on Israel on Saturday morning to the end of the day yesterday (Tuesday), at least 89 antisemitic incidents across the UK have been recorded, the majority in London, but 12 in Greater Manchester.

“Make no mistake: these are anti-Jewish racist incidents and hate crimes in which Jewish people, property and institutions are singled out for hate, including death threats and abuse. In many cases, the perpetrators of these disgraceful incidents are using the symbols and language of pro-Palestinian politics as rhetorical weapons with which to threaten and abuse Jewish people,” it said.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, and his deputy Mayor Kate Green, who has responsibility for policing, tried to reassure the Jewish community.

“The killing of hundreds of innocent people by acts of terrorism is something that should be denounced and never celebrated on the streets of Manchester. We know many people in our Jewish community will be deeply worried about events in Israel and we will be supporting them at this time.

“We deplore any attempt to threaten Jewish businesses and will ensure the strongest action is taken against those that do or carry out any acts of hate or intimidation aimed at the Jewish community.

“Greater Manchester prides itself on the solidarity between our different communities and we ask everyone to work to bring people together and avoid conflict of any kind.

“We have spoken with the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and the Community Security Trust to convey this message and offer them our full support during this challenging time,” they said.

Also commenting on the horrific acts carried out in Israel by Hamas terrorists in recent days, Nigel Tobias, executive director of the British-Israel Chamber of Commerce, which promotes and strengthens trade and investment links between the North West of England and Israel, said: “The appalling acts of slaughter and destruction in Israel by Hamas terrorists that we have witnessed in recent days have shocked the world. There can be no justification whatsoever for these outrages.

“We at the B-ICC are greatly appreciative of the support shown to the people of Israel, including by the British government, at this time.

“We stand firm with the state of Israel and the rest of the civilised world to defeat terror wherever it rears its head.”

The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region held a vigil on Wednesday afternoon attended by Andy Burnham and Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig.