Nigel Farage Blames Muslims For Anti-Semitism

Ukip leader Nigel Farage says that Muslims are to blame for the “sharp rise in anti-Semitism” in Britain and Europe, according to The Jewish Chronicle Online.

In a recent London call-in show, he told a caller, “I have detected quite a sharp rise in anti-Semitism, not just in this country but across the rest of Europe, too.”

Further, he says that the increase in anti-Semitism is from the growing community of immigrants, which consists of the “many more Muslim voices” that are “deeply, deeply critical of Israel” and “question the right of Israel to exist as a nation.”

At a recent Ukip Friends of Israel event in Westminster, he criticized politicians for “not standing-up for Jews because of Israel.” The report went on to say that he accused the British government of being “always frightened to say something for fear of causing offense to someone else.” He said that Israel and Jews “often get conflated, and that’s really the point.” He went on to say that he feels that the government is “not being strong enough at times in defending the rights of the Jewish people to have a homeland because we worry that we’ll offend another group of people in the country.”

The International Business Times reports that Schmuley Boteach, aka “Rabbi of America,” echoes Farage’s concerns. The rabbi says that Britain is suffering from “a tsunami of anti-Semitism and Israel hatred,” pointing to the United Kingdom as “easily the most hostile to Israel in all of Europe.” He goes on to say that his statements are based on the “parliamentary and public facts of non-stop attacks against Israel, which betray the whole British ideal of liberal democracy.”

The report states, “Anti-Semitic incidences in the UK have risen by more than a third in the first six months of this year, before the current conflict in Gaza began.”

Another recent International Business Times article that talks about Farage’s concerns indicates that, according to the Mayor of London’s office, hate crimes against Jews “have rocketed by almost 100 percent over the past year.” It says that the leader adds that “political correctness may also play a role in fueling anti-Semitism.” The report goes on to say Farage believes that “public figures and politicians are reluctant to condemn anti-Jewish actions for fear of offending Muslim sensibilities.”

Last August, the Inquisitr detailed the rise of Anti-Semitism in Europe and its origins. Further, it points out that people are concerned and wondering, “Are we witnessing the beginnings of another Jewish holocaust?”

Why do you think that Anti-Semitism is on the rise in the United Kingdom and Europe? Do you agree with Nigel Farage that it is because of Muslims?

[Image Via The Times]