LONDON– London’s police commissioner will meet senior members of the Jewish community on Monday after the force botched its apology by suggesting that the presence of an “openly Jewish” man along the route of a pro-government march -Palestinian risked provoking protesters.
Amid calls for his resignation, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley is also expected to meet London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Home Secretary James Cleverly, who together are responsible for the law. and order in the city.
“We remain focused on doing everything we can to ensure Jewish Londoners feel safe in this city,” the Metropolitan Police Service said in a statement on Sunday. “We are aware of recent events and some of our recent actions have contributed to the concerns of many.”
The meeting comes as London police struggle to manage tensions sparked by the war between Israel and Hamas, and some Jewish residents say they feel threatened by repeated pro-Palestinian marches through the streets of the UK capital.
The marches have been largely peaceful. However, many protesters accuse Israel of genocide and a small number have shown support for Hamas, the group that led the October 1 attack. 7 against Israel and which has been banned by the UK government as a terrorist organisation.
The Metropolitan Police has deployed thousands of officers during each of the dozens of major marches as it seeks to protect the rights of pro-Palestinian protesters and prevent clashes with counter-protesters and Jewish residents.
As well as meeting Jewish community leaders, senior police officers wrote to the man at the center of the latest controversy, offering to meet him to apologize and discuss what more could be done to “ensure London Jews feel safe”.
Gideon Falter, executive director of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, was wearing a traditional Jewish skullcap when he was stopped by police while trying to cross a street in central London as protesters paraded on April 13.
An officer told Falter he was concerned the man’s “overtly Jewish” appearance could provoke a reaction from protesters, according to a video posted on social media by the campaign group. A second officer then told Falter that he would be arrested if he refused to be escorted out of the area, because he would be “causing a breach of the peace.”
The Metropolitan Police initially apologized for the language the officer used when describing Falter’s appearance, but said counter-protesters needed to be aware “that his presence is provocative.”
The department later removed that apology from its social media accounts and issued a second statement.
“In an effort to highlight policing of the protests, we caused further offence,” the force said on Friday. “This was never our intention. …Being Jewish is not a provocation. “Jewish Londoners should be able to feel safe in the city.”