Downing Street rally asks ‘silent majority’ to fight antisemitism

Political leaders have been invited to a rally opposing antisemitism on Sunday, with British Jews hoping the “silent majority” will join them for a “million mensch march” across central London. The prime minister, Keir Starmer, is considering attending the Standing Strong: Extinguish Antisemitism rally, which is backed by more than 30 Jewish groups, while the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is expected to speak. The Liberal Democrats’ leader, Ed Davey, has also been invited. The Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, and the Liberal Democrats leader, Ed Davey, have also been invited, but the Green party leader, Zack Polanski, has not. The rally has been organised in response to months of antisemitic violence, including multiple arson attacks on Jewish communities and the stabbing of two British Jews in Golders Green on 29 April. Suspected terrorist Essa Suleiman has been charged with attempted murder in relation to the stabbings. Polanski – who is Jewish – was accused of undermining police confidence by the Metropolitan police chief, Mark Rowley, after he shared a critical post of Suleiman’s arrest on social media. He later apologised for acting “in haste”. Organisers of the rally, which will convene outside Downing Street at 1pm, say antisemitism is “out of control in Britain” and are hoping allies of the Jewish community will join British Jews on the march. …