UK’s Sunak pledges £3m for Jewish security

On Oct 12, 2023

New Conservative Party leader and incoming prime minister Rishi Sunak waves as he leaves from Conservative Party Headquarters in central London having been announced as the winner of the Conservative Party leadership contest, on October 24, 2022. Britain's next prime minister, former finance chief Rishi Sunak, inherits a UK economy that was headed for recession even before the recent turmoil triggered by Liz Truss. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday announced extra funding to protect Jewish schools and synagogues in the country after an increase in anti-Semitic incidents following the outbreak of war in Israel.

Daily Mail reported the Community Security Trust (CST), a British charity that provides security at synagogues and other Jewish institutions, will receive 3 million pounds ($3.7 million) in funding, Sunak’s office said in a statement.

“At moments like this, when the Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe,” Sunak said, reiterating Britain’s solidarity with Israel following last week’s attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“If anything is standing in the way of keeping the Jewish community safe, we will fix it. You have our complete backing,” he added.

The CST has recorded 139 antisemitic incidents in the last four days, an increase of 400% over the same period last year.