On the most recent Yom Kippur, when reports of the deadly terrorist attack at Heaton Park in Manchester reached Israel, they were categorized as "foreign news." Two Jews were murdered at the entrance to a synagogue by a radical Islamist, and in Israel it was seen as a terrible tragedy that had happened "over there," across the sea.
The attack that took place in northwest London, in which two Jews were stabbed in broad daylight in the heart of a Jewish neighborhood, also proves that the writing is not merely on the wall. It is burned in blood onto the pavements of all of Europe.
Britain is not alone in its failure to grasp the changing reality, but the real tragedy is Israel's own failure to understand it. We are in the midst of a comprehensive campaign aimed at undermining the legitimacy of Jewish sovereignty. This is a rapid shift from the rhetorical stage to the violent stage against Jews and Israelis abroad, and it is only the tip of the iceberg.
Modern antisemitism is no longer merely religious or racial hatred, but a violent and sophisticated political weapon. For the attackers and inciters, there is no difference between a soldier in Lebanon or a resident of Gush Etzion and a worshipper in Manchester or a passerby in London. They all represent the same Zionist idea that these forces seek to annihilate. Unfortunately, Israel is the only one still insisting on making that distinction.
Israel's response to the recent events in Britain has been limited to words. The president condemned them, the prime minister criticized them and the foreign minister adopted a combative tone. The demand that the British government move from words to action is justified, but above all it exposes Israel's own shame: This expectation of foreign governments must begin with similar action by the Jewish state itself.
As the nation-state of the Jewish people, Israel has a moral and security responsibility toward Jews around the world. It must activate significant levers through channels that go far beyond rhetoric. Political antisemitism, which seeks to erode Israel's right to exist through consciousness-shaping campaigns, diplomacy and violence, cannot be allowed to remain an "external front."
Israel must make clear: An attack on Jews and Israelis opens a direct front against it.
Any country that wants security cooperation, trade or normal diplomatic relations with Jerusalem must know that the security of its Jewish citizens carries a practical price. Instead of hurling accusations from afar, Israel must bring its full diplomatic weight to bear in order to turn the murder of Jews into a genuine diplomatic crisis.
Dramatic steps such as recalling the ambassador for consultations, summoning the British ambassador for a reprimand or freezing cooperation would signal that Israel does not regard the murder of Jews as a second-class injury. This is the opportunity to present operational demands: from armed police protection around Jewish institutions, through changes to school curricula, to active intelligence cooperation to eradicate terrorist cells. A country that allows incitement to run wild in its streets must pay a tangible diplomatic price.
Within this campaign, the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora sometimes resembles the complex bond between a parent and a child. At times the child kicks back and lashes out with criticism, but beneath the rebelliousness lies a desperate signal and a cry for a sense of protection in the face of a hostile world.
At these historic moments, many Zionist Jews are asking: "Do we still have your back? Is the national home still a fortress for us, even from afar?" The Jew in Manchester looking at the pool of blood on the pavement must know that, unlike the reality of 78 years ago, he has someone behind him. Israel must stop making do with feeble condemnations and start acting like the state of the Jewish people. The blood and dignity of Jews are not ownerless, and this front is a war we have no choice but to win.
Isaac Zarfati is the Executive Director of StandWithUs UK.
