Conspiracy theories about the West’s collusion with Israel and about ‘’Jewish ‘power’’ are prime examples of myths causing young Muslims to radicalise, British Prime Minister David Cameron said as he presented Monday his 5-year plan to tackle homegrown extremism and radicalism, and help communities integrate in Britain.

“Ideas also based on conspiracy that Jews exercise malevolent power or that Western powers, in concert with Israel, are deliberately humiliating Muslims, because they aim to destroy Islam, are to be challenged’’ he said in a major address in Birmingham in which he set out plans to tackle Islamic extremism.

‘’In this warped worldview, such conclusions are reached – that 9/11 was actually inspired by Mossad to provoke the invasion of Afghanistan; that British security services knew about 7/7, but didn’t do anything about it because they wanted to provoke an anti-Muslim backlash.’’

Cameron acknowledged the “tragic truth” that some British Muslims had failed to integrate and, as such, did not identify with Britain or British values.

Cameron said that as well as terrorists, the UK would target those with an extremist ideology, but who do not advocate violence, citing as an example “those who condemn bomb attacks in London, but say bombs in Israel are a different matter”.

“You don’t have to support violence to subscribe to certain intolerant ideas which create a climate in which extremists can flourish,” the Prime Minister said

He added that ISIS “rally our young people to their poisonous cause, offer them a sense of belonging that they can lack here at home, leaving them more susceptible to radicalisation and violence”.

World Jewish Congress President Ronald S.Lauder hailed the British leader to his plan. “We congratulate Prime Minister Cameron for his strong stand against anti-Semitism and Muslim fanaticism. The resurgence of anti-Semitism and the spread of Islamic extremism across Europe is particularly troubling and Mr. Cameron’s plan takes a vital step toward combating these destructive forces,” he said in a statement.

Lauder urged other European leaders to follow the Prime Minister’s lead, noting: “Once again, we are seeing the rebirth of classic anti-Semitic conspiracy mongering targeting Jews across Europe – and it is vital that Europe act now before the situation deteriorates.”

Source: EJP