Hamas’s horrific October 7 terror attacks have sent antisemitic shock waves across the globe. Some of the most prominent displays of this rising illiberalism have occurred in the United Kingdom, where innumerable “pro-Palestine,” anti-Israel marches and demonstrations, replete with Nazi and other antisemitic imagery, have filled London streets. Possible hate crimes have drawn police investigations, as Jewish Londoners have felt compelled to hide their identities for safety. Protesters recently depicted Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a pig, called the BBC “an arm of the Zionist propaganda machine,” and alleged Zionist control of the government.
While these marches have drawn extensive coverage, the appalling experiences of Mike Freer should also be a wake-up call for Western policy-makers. Freer, a Conservative member of Parliament, has represented Finchley and Golders Green, a constituency in north London, since 2010. Encompassing much of Margaret Thatcher’s former seat, this is a heavily Jewish district — approximately 21 percent in the 2021 census — and its MP is a staunch supporter of Israel. Why does that matter? On January 28, Freer announced his decision to stand down at the upcoming 2024 general election, not because of illness or a planned retirement, but because of increasing threats to his life.
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