Netanyahu Suggests 'Lack of Firmness on Extremist Violence' Led to UK Assault on Jewish House of Worship.

The Israeli Prime Minister decried the “savage assault” on a British synagogue on Thursday morning, asserting that “weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it.”

Israel’s Foreign Minister Criticizes British Government of Inaction on Anti-Jewish Sentiment

The Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, claimed British officials had not done enough to combat anti-Jewish prejudice in his response to the attack in Manchester, which killed two people.

Sa’ar said he was “appalled” by the murders, asserting that antisemitic incitement had become “commonplace” across Britain.

“The truth must be told: open and widespread hostility toward Jews and Israel, as well as calls of support for terror, have recently become a common occurrence in the streets of London, in urban centers throughout the UK and on its campuses,” Sa’ar said in a post on X on Thursday evening.

Additionally, he blamed UK officials for not implementing required measures to stop the “toxic wave of antisemitism” and allowing it to persist.

“The Starmer administration must go beyond verbal assurances. We expect and demand a change of course, decisive steps, and crackdown on widespread anti-Jewish and anti-Israel rhetoric in the UK,” Sa’ar said.

Netanyahu Shows Support with British Jews

Netanyahu released a statement saying that Israel was standing in solidarity with the Jewish population in the UK.

“The nation of Israel mourns alongside British Jews after the barbaric terror attack in Manchester. Our hearts are with the families of the murdered, and we hope for the rapid healing of those injured,” Netanyahu said in a statement on Thursday.

Netanyahu had fiercely criticised the UK government when it recognised the Palestinian state earlier last month, in coordination with other nations including Australia.

“Referring to his United Nations address: weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism,” Netanyahu reiterated Thursday. “Only strength and unity can defeat it.”

He blamed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and fellow officials who had endorsed Palestinian statehood as “providing significant incentives for violent extremism”. Starmer has maintained that acknowledging Palestine is a crucial move toward a resolution involving two independent states and that the Hamas group would not be included in any prospective Palestinian nation.

Specifics of the Manchester Synagogue Attack

A man attacked the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in the Crumpsall area on Thursday, killing two members of the Jewish community and causing severe harm to four additional attendees who had come to observe the Day of Atonement, the most sacred occasion for Jews.

The assailant, reportedly equipped with what seemed to be an “explosive device”, was shot dead by police after stabbing one person and attempting to run over members of the synagogue with a car. Authorities subsequently confirmed the device was “non-functional” and that they had arrested two suspects in connection with the attack.

Greater Manchester police said they declared Plato – the national codeword used by police when responding to a “marauding terror attack” – in the morning. The British Prime Minister cut short his European summit in Denmark to chair an emergency Cobra meeting to address the incident.

British Leader Responds to Synagogue Attack

Addressing the press post-meeting, the prime minister denounced the “despicable” violence and told British Jews that he would do “everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve”.

“To every Jewish person in this country, I also want to say this: I understand the profound anxiety you are experiencing,” the Prime Minister expressed.

Reports on Antisemitism in the UK

A July study by the Board of Deputies of British Jews revealed widespread failures to address anti-Jewish discrimination in the country including within state institutions.

During August, the Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism, said it had recorded 1,521 antisemitic incidents in the first half of 2025. This figure represented the second-highest tally on record but a 25% decrease from the peak reported the previous year.

Authorities in Israel including the Prime Minister have in the previous months asserted that pro-Palestinian advocacy has fueled rising anti-Jewish sentiment, an allegation that campaigners have disputed.