Israel has sharply condemned what it called a “barbaric” attack outside a synagogue in Manchester, urging Britain to do more to confront antisemitism.
The assault, which took place near Heaton Park Synagogue on Thursday morning, coincided with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Details of the incident remain under investigation by British police, but it has already stirred diplomatic tension.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as “barbaric terror” and said Israel stood in solidarity with British Jews.
“Israel grieves with the Jewish community in the UK after the barbaric terror attack in Manchester,” he said in a statement. “As I warned at the UN: weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it.”
His foreign minister, Gideon Saar, went further, accusing British authorities of failing to curb a surge in antisemitic sentiment.
“I am appalled by the murderous attack near the Heaton Park Synagogue on the morning of Yom Kippur,” Saar wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Blatant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement has become widespread in London, across British cities, and on its campuses. The authorities in Britain have failed to take the necessary action.”
He added that Israel expected “more than words” from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government in addressing the issue.
Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, also weighed in, calling the incident a “brutal reminder” of the threats facing Jewish communities abroad.
British officials have yet to respond directly to Israel’s remarks. The police in Manchester confirmed they were investigating the attack and said patrols around local synagogues had been stepped up.
Jewish groups in Britain have long voiced concern about antisemitic incidents, particularly during times of conflict in the Middle East. The Community Security Trust, which monitors such threats, has reported a steady rise in cases over recent years.
The attack comes at a moment of heightened sensitivity, not just for British Jews marking a sacred holiday, but also for Israel, which has sought to draw global attention to what it views as an alarming growth in antisemitism across Europe.
For now, the synagogue in Manchester remains under heavy guard. But the debate over how to balance security, free speech, and social cohesion in Britain is unlikely to end soon.
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