A justice minister has said pro-Palestinian marches in British cities have been “hijacked” by people seeking to sow division, as the government’s approach to the demonstrations comes under renewed scrutiny.
Alex Davies-Jones said antisemitic activity had taken place during the marches, and insisted the government was prepared to approve bans where necessary.
But she said protest remained a “fundamental right” – and it was important to stress that not everyone on the marches was antisemitic.
It comes as chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis joined calls for a temporary ban on the marches, after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green on Wednesday.
The attack in the north London suburb, declared a terror incident by police, has renewed political debates about over the protection of British Jews.
The government’s reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, has called for a “moratorium” on pro-Palestinian marches, arguing it was “clearly impossible at the moment” for them not to “incubate” antisemitism.
But Mr Hall’s suggestion has been criticised by the Stop the War Coalition, a campaign group that has helped organise several previous marches.
The group said it condemned “all forms of antisemitism and racism”, but it was “wrong” to connect the marches to any attacks on Jews.
