Over the past year, CUFI UK has been calling out the bad practices of the UK government, particularly regarding Israel and antisemitism.
Since Keir Starmer’s Labour took office in July 2024, there has been an increasing rift between Israel and the UK, and a seeming lack of action against antisemitic attitudes and anti-Israel hatred on the streets of Britain.
A recent poll of the British Jewish community is deeply troubling. It seems that Labour’s actions are not only damaging the UK-Israel relationship, but the party that promised to stamp out antisemitic hate is instead making Jews feel less safe.
More than half of British Jews (56%) believe that Labour’s actions in government have made the Jewish community less secure. Only 4% of British Jews felt Labour’s actions made Jews more secure in the UK. A tiny amount compared to the majority who see the damaging effects of Starmer’s government’s actions.
Likewise, an even higher percentage of Jews felt that Labour’s stance towards Israel was wrong. 57% said the UK government was too critical of Israel.
We completely agree.
One of Labour’s first actions in government was to restore funding to UNRWA in July last year. Since then, the UK has suspended certain arms sales to Israel, increased funding to the Palestinian Authority, sanctioned Israelis, including government officials, and increased its anti-Israel rhetoric.
Interestingly, the vast majority of those polled (72%) think that Labour’s actions against Israel are because they are too scared of losing Muslim votes. It seems that, regardless of what politicians say, there is a clear divide when it comes to Jews and Muslims on the topic of Israel and the Palestinians: The vast majority of Jews support Israel, and the vast majority of Muslims support the Palestinians.
It also seems that both parties see the topic as an important voting factor, as support for Labour in the Jewish community has nosedived since they took office.
It is clear that Labour is not doing enough to support the Jewish community against hatred, and we feel it is actually part of the problem when it comes to driving incitement against Israel. Some UK ministers have used dangerous language when speaking of Israel.
As Bible believing Christians, we take God at His word when He says: “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse.” (Genesis 12:3)
We believe God when He promises to “gather all nations” and “enter into judgement with them… on account of My people, My heritage Israel.” (Joel 3:1-2)
And we are acutely aware that when the British government condemns Israel and takes actions against Israel, it is touching “the apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8). When this happens, the UK has God’s full attention. He takes note, and that is not a place you want to be.
We love Israel, not through fear, but because we love God. We don’t want to displease God, and we don’t want our nation to be judged because of the actions of our government. Unfortunately, when ungodly men and women who neglect Biblical truth are in power, it has adverse effects.
Sadly, our government is cursing both Israel as a people here at home and Israel as a nation over in the Middle East. And this needs to change.
Christians must stand up and speak out for Israel. We need to hold our government to account. We need to pray that they will honour God with their words and actions. We need the British lion to roar in support of Israel.
