UK officials sorry for threat to arrest 'openly Jewish' man at Gaza march

• Published date: 20 April 2024
• Author: MICHAEL STARR
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The Met also apologized to Falter on Friday, but only after criticizing him and CAA for provocation and undermining the Jewish public's sense of confidence in a now-deleted response to the NGO's Thursday video in which they showed Falter's engagements with officers and argued that the weekly protests made Jews unsafe in London

Falter said that he and others were walking after attending synagogue when he was stopped by officers on Aldwych near the Strand and told that he could not go any further because of a pro-Palestinian march. The Jewish man was wearing a kippah and carrying a prayer shawl bag emblazoned with a Star of David. He said he and the group had no placards, signs, or any intention to be part of a protest.

"You are quite openly Jewish, this is a pro-Palestinian march, I'm not accusing you of anything, but I'm worried about the reaction to your presence," said a police sergeant.

When Falter told the sergeant that he simply wanted to cross to the other side of the street, the officer said that he would escort him when the crowd was gone.

"I don't want anybody antagonizing anybody," the sergeant said.

Police threaten Jewish leader

Another officer threatened to escort him away, but if he chose to remain at the protest site "because you are causing a breach of peace with all these other people, you will be arrested."

"Your presence here is antagonizing a large group of people. We can't deal with all of them if they attack you," said the officer.

Some of the protesters verbally accosted Falter. One man in a keffiyeh chanted at him "Scum!" and another person told him "you're a Nazi."

"I'm watching your movement," said another man. "The police ain't gonna help you in this scenario because we ain't broke no law."

Falter contended in the video that despite assurances of the Met that it is safe for Jews in London despite all the protests, "that's not true in practice." He also explained to an officer the frustration of march route changes every week and having to cross paths with such large intimidating groups.

"It's not safe for Jews to be walking in the presence of these protests," said Falter. "Now the police have to keep Jews away."

Falter said that many of the officers have been sympathetic to the situation that the Jews of Britain have found themselves in, and he likewise returned the sentiment.

"I'm just trying to make sure that you're safe and that no one attacks you or your group," said a third Met officer.Falter said that he had not made a...