Tommy Robinson's visit to Israel, hosted by Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, should be cause for concern. Robinson's attempt to present himself as a supporter of Israel and a defender of British Jews is a manipulative falsehood aimed at sanitizing his extremist image and legitimizing his anti-Muslim agenda. It's worth confronting him seriously, even when he comes here expressing solidarity with Israel.
To begin with, Robinson's claim that the Board of Deputies of British Jews does not represent British Jewry is simply untrue. Established in 1760, the Board is the oldest and most legitimate representative body of the Jewish community in the UK. It functions in a democratic and representative framework, with periodic elections for delegates from across the community – including synagogues, Jewish organizations, and communal groups. Anyone attempting to divide the community into "good Jews" and "bad Jews" is not a friend in any meaningful sense. Suggesting that a so-called Jewish elite is acting out of foreign interests veers dangerously close to antisemitic conspiracy theories. This isn't the first time he's made such insinuations.
Second, advocating for a two-state solution is not "cowardice," as Robinson suggests. Surveys among British Jews, and the broader British public, consistently show broad support for a two-state solution. While one can certainly disagree with the political stance or criticize the Starmer government's recent decision to recognize a Palestinian state, the two-state solution remains a widely accepted position both in Israel and globally, even if it's currently unpopular within Israel itself. Robinson's attack on this position reveals either ignorance or dishonesty. It also conveniently provides another reason for him to lash out at the UK government and Jewish leadership. It's important not to be fooled when the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is exploited to fuel his personal crusade against Islam.
Most importantly, Dave Rich, one of Britain's foremost experts on antisemitism and Director of Policy at the Community Security Trust (a Jewish organization dedicated to protecting the community from physical threats and combating antisemitism), has identified Robinson himself as antisemitic. Both Rich and conservative Jewish journalist Melanie Phillips, a prominent critic of radical Islam, have written pieces denouncing Robinson and, specifically, Minister Chikli's decision to invite him. These are serious figures who are far from progressive or "woke." Robinson's supposed affection for Israel is nothing more than self-serving image laundering, a cynical exploitation of the Jewish community to advance an extreme ethno-nationalist agenda.
Minister Chikli is making a grave error by hosting someone like this. What Israel truly needs is real support from moderate voices in Britain, not awkward displays of solidarity from demagogues who co-opt Israel for their political battles. British Jewry knows how to distinguish true allies from those who use it as a prop for their racist propaganda.
In Robinson's case, the truth is simple: the enemy of your enemy is still just your enemy.
