Israeli officials blame UK government for Manchester synagogue attack after repeated warnings about mounting antisemitism

Multiple Israeli government officials are blaming the current United Kingdom leadership, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for the deadly terrorist attack against a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur after issuing repeated warnings about rising antisemitism.

A rogue terrorist killed two worshippers and injured multiple others outside the packed Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester on Thursday.

The assailant — later identified as 35-year-old British citizen Jihad Al-Shamie — was shot and killed by police while he was trying to break into the synagogue after plowing a car through pedestrians and stabbing a security guard. Frantic officers tried to usher onlookers away as they warned the suspect “has a bomb.”

The feared explosives latched to his belt were deemed “not viable,” authorities later clarified.

Politicians near and far were quick to condemn the vile attack, but Israeli officials took it a step further and pinned blame on the British government for failing to stamp out antisemitic extremism within its borders.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called out Starmer’s leadership directly and asserted that the Jewish community expects “a change of course” away from “anti-Israeli incitement.”

“The truth must be told: blatant and rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement, as well as calls of support for terror, have recently become a widespread phenomenon in the streets of London, in cities across Britain, and on its campuses. The authorities in Britain have failed to take the necessary action to curb this toxic wave of antisemitism and have effectively allowed it to persist,” he wrote on X.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alluded to the UK’s “weakness” against terrorism, which he said invited the massacre.

“As I warned at the UN: weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it,” he wrote on X.

Starmer denounced hatred against Jews and acknowledged the need to stamp out growing antisemitism within the UK.

“Earlier today, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day for the Jewish community, a vile individual committed a terrorist attack that attacked Jews because they are Jews and attacked Britain because of our values,” he said.

“While this is not a new hate, this is something Jews have always lived with. We must be clear, it is a hatred that is rising once again, and Britain must defeat it once again.”

Starmer’s battle cry was echoed in a letter Israeli President Isaac Herzog penned to King Charles III on Monday — just three days before Yom Kippur — imploring His Majesty to take action against the “rise of antisemitism.”

“I would be most grateful if Your Majesty would raise these significant concerns with leaders across the Commonwealth and elsewhere and use your important voice to speak out and encourage public efforts to promote greater awareness and education about antisemitism and the history that informs it,” Herzog wrote in a letter seen by The Daily Mail.

In the UK, the Monarchy no longer has “a political or executive role” and instead operates more as a figurehead that provides “focus for national identity, unity and pride; gives a sense of stability and continuity; officially recognises success and excellence; and supports the ideal of voluntary service,” according to the Royal Family’s website.

In recent months, the UK government has ratified legislation cracking down on anti-Israel protests and free speech, though demonstrations still persisted with scores of arrests.

Anti-terrorism legislation that went into effect in July banned the Palestine Action network and labeled it as an “extremist criminal group.”

Nearly 500 protesters were arrested for supporting the proscribed organization at a single-day demonstration in August.