PM Starmer Promises To Protect The Safety Of Jewish Citizens After Attacks In Manchester

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. (Wikimedia Commons/Kirsty O'Connor/No.10 Downing Street)

JAKARTA - Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised to make every effort to defeat antisemitism and protect Jews in Britain after the murder of two people close to the synagoge in Manchester, northern England.

PM Starmer returned early from the European summit in Copenhagen after the attack on Manchester, which spread fears among people already shaken by the sharp spike in antisemite incidents.

He described the attackers as "descious individuals" motivated by the desire to attack Jews "because they are Jews".

"To every Jew in this country, I want to say this, I know how much fear you will have in you. Really," said PM Starmer.

"So on behalf of our country, I express my solidarity, but also my sadness that you still have to live with this fear. No one should do that. Nobody," he said.

PM Starmer said there would be more police outside the UK's synagoge-sinagoge, saying he would work hard to convince the Jewish community.

"I promise you that I will do everything in my power to ensure the security you deserve," said PM Starmer.

PM Starmer's wife is Jewish and she has previously spoken about her relationship with the religion.

When he became the leader of the center-left Labor Party in 2020, he was forced to overcome antisemitism in his ranks after the party was accused of discrimination and harassment against Jews by Britain's equivalence supervisors.

On the other hand, his government's recognition of the Palestinian State angered Israel, with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar saying Britain failed to curb antisemitism and "effectively allowed it to continue".