1,000 police on duty ahead of Gaza demo and counter protest
AROUND 1,000 police officers will be deployed in central London tomorrow as a pro-Palestinian march and counter-protest are staged.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s march will set off from Parliament Square to Hyde Park at midday demanding that the British Government stops arms sales to Israel in what it describes as “the biggest demonstration for Palestine in UK history”.
At the same time, more than 1,500 people are set to attend a “walk together” organised by an antisemitism campaigner, who was referred to as “openly Jewish” by an officer at a previous march and threatened with arrest.
Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, is encouraging people to follow the route of the march to “force the police to make sure that these things are safe for Jewish people”.
He met Home Secretary James Cleverly last night to discuss what more the Met and London Mayor Sadiq Khan should be doing to ensure Jewish people are safe in the capital. Shortly afterwards Mr Cleverly posted on X: “It will never be right for anyone of any religion to feel the need to stay away from anywhere in the public realm.”
Deputy Assistant Met Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who is in charge of policing central London this weekend, said: “We recognise the conflict between Israel and Hamas is continuing to be an issue of concern for many Londoners.
“As we have done over the past six months, we will continue to police without fear or favour, intervening swiftly where we see criminal behaviour, while also ensuring that disruption to Londoners is minimised. My team and I have met with the organisers to manage the continued impact of these demonstrations. Our officers will be supported by officers from other forces and I am once again thankful for their support.”
Mr Falter was threatened with arrest at a pro-Palestinian event two weeks ago. An officer told Mr Falter, who had been wearing a kippah, that his “openly Jewish” appearance risked antagonising marchers calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
An edited video of the encounter posted to social media sparked anger and calls for Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to resign. Earlier this week Sir Mark defended how officers handled the incident, describing their actions as “professional”. Although words exchanged were “clumsy and offensive”, no one involved would be sanctioned, he said. Baroness Louise Casey, who led a scathing review of the Met after Sarah Everard’s murder by a serving officer, said her “heart sank”. She told The Times: “Can it get any worse if you’re Jewish and live in London? A Jewish man is told he can’t walk down the street and I thought, ‘Oh my God’.”
Mr Falter said since the incident he had suffered “victim blaming”, adding: “Some individuals have also been wheeled out to suggest that I provoked the crowd, or that there is somehow more to the story than it appears from the footage. These tactics are desperate, but they reveal the Met’s priorities.”
Jewish safety group, the Community Security Trust, said it would continue to push for a reduction in the number of pro-Palestine rallies permitted.
SATURDAY will see what is billed as the largest-ever march supporting Palestinians in Gaza and calling for an end to arms sales to Israel. There will also be a counter-event by the Campaign Against Antisemitism.
It would be a challenge for the police in any circumstances, but it is especially so given the repercussions of the exchange two weeks ago between police and Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism. That featured the now-notorious phrase “openly Jewish”. It seemed to many Jewish people to sum up the hostile atmosphere for the community during these marches. But there must not be no-go areas for any faith in London, and that should also be true tomorrow.
The onus is on the organisers of the main march — and also the counter-protest — to ensure that calm prevails. The police will be out in force, at considerable cost to the public, with more than 1,000 officers policing the march, but it is for those taking part to show restraint.
The point of the march is to draw attention to the situation in Gaza, not to be an occasion of lawlessness and intolerance. Those taking part must give short shrift to anyone using threatening or intimidatory language or resorting to violence. The right to public protest is precious, but it must be exercised with respect for the rights of others.