UK Home Secretary Theresa May: “I never thought I would see that day when members of the Jewish community in the United Kingdom would say they were fearful of remaining here.”
“I know that many Jewish people in this country are feeling vulnerable and fearful and you are saying you are anxious for your families, for your children and yourselves. I never thought I would see that day when members of the Jewish community in the United Kingdom would say they were fearful of remaining here in the United Kingdom, and that means that we must all redouble our efforts to wipe out anti-Semitism here in the United Kingdom,” May said during a British Jewish gathering in London.
Before May gave her speech, a minute of silence was observed to commemorate the victims of the Paris attacks. Audience members also held up signs bearing solidarity messages with the French Jewish victims.
Police officials have been working closely with Jewish organizations in Britain to step up security arrangements for British Jews after growing concerns over potential attacks.
May reassured the Jewish community that they would remain a well-integrated part of British society.
“So I want to say this, Jewish people have long been an important and integral part of this country. We cherish the enormous contribution [they] make, not just in the past but today and every day,” she said.
Islamist gunmen killed 17 people in Paris earlier this month, pushing enhanced anti-terrorism laws up Britain’s political agenda. Britain is on its second-highest threat level, meaning an attack is considered highly likely.
Meanwhile, French and Belgian troops continue to guard Jewish institutions in their respective countries out of fear of additional attacks.
The BBC reported on Sunday that Belgium is seeking the extradition of a terrorist operative arrested in Greece over the weekend. This comes after Greece revealed the arrest of four suspected terrorists in Athens on Saturday, including high-ranking terrorist Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a 27-year-old Brussels resident of Moroccan descent, who was featured in propaganda videos distributed by the Islamic State group.
The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported that Turkish police were concerned that there are as many as 3,000 operatives and supporters of Islamic State throughout the country who posed a threat to national security.
View original Israel Hayom publication at: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=22905