
Jews have a long history of residence in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, under King Edward I in 1290 CE, England was one of the first countries to expel Jews from its borders -- an event which Oliver Cromwell remedied in 1650, after nearly 400 years.
Since 1650, after a relatively undisturbed period in the UK of nearly another 400 years, publicly expressed animosity toward the Jews is escalating. Towards the end of April 2025, a British journalist who frequently appeared on the BBC's Arabic channel commenting on Gaza events, reportedly called for "Jews to be burned 'as Hitler did.'" The BBC lamely explained that the person was not "a member of staff nor part of the BBC's reporting team." Even so, the BBC – Britain's official broadcaster – has frequently allowed pro-Palestinian content and, by implication, anti-Jewish sentiment to be promoted.
A prominent campaigner against antisemitism, David Collier, expressed his frustration with UK authorities blatantly permitting such pervasive Jew-hatred:
"[T]he police are lost, the education system is turning our children into progressive, dumbed-down clones, the government is acting like a band playing music on a sinking ship, and much of legacy media has been overrun by naïve, bloated, arrogant and decadent supremacists — or ex al Jazeera staffers — who together are spinning lies daily to their British audience..."
It does not help matters when Jewish academics, such as UK professor Avi Shlaim, opines, "Zionists bombed Iraq to frighten Iraqi Jews into fleeing to Israel." He added that "Zionism is an Ashkenazi thing, nothing to do with us." It also indirectly feeds into Jew-hatred when the Church of England's official Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, the English monarch King Charles III, who is head of the commonwealth group of countries, included Islam in his Easter message:
"The love He showed when He walked the Earth reflected the Jewish ethic of caring for the stranger and those in need, a deep human instinct echoed in Islam and other religious traditions, and in the hearts of all who seek the good of others."
Easter is a period regarded as holy and exclusive – pertaining to Christians alone.
The English monarch's Easter message on Holy Thursday 2025 looks "more like multicultural slop than it does a fierce protection of Christianity in the lead up to the sacred Easter holiday" wrote Teri Christoph, who added, "Christians around the world, and especially those in the U.K., are outraged that King Charles used this holiest of days to spew this nonsense."
In similar vein, the GB News channel opined that Charles displayed "weak leadership." In all, "Charles faces swathes of criticism after choosing to reflect on Judaism and Islam in his message – on a holiday that celebrates Christianity."
Charles has long been a proponent of inter-faith activities. In March, he arranged for Windsor Castle to open its doors for the Islamic Iftar celebration, when "more than 360 Muslim guests gathered in St George's Hall to break their Ramadan fast."
A public prayer (Azan) to Allah was issued by the Islamic priest (Mu'adhdhin) in charge. Consequently, King Charles's dubious "role as Defender of the Faith was rightly called into question."
Islamist influence in the UK is growing exponentially. It is claimed that about 2,000 mosques or prayer facilities operate in the UK. It has also been claimed that some 130 Sharia Courts or Councils exist, with some public schools teaching Islam in religious education classes.
Hence, as David Collier pointed out, the UK has significantly capitulated to Islamist influence, starting at the top. Weak leadership in the UK falls into a category of cognitive dissonance from reality, as does its cowardly display against vociferous and dangerous Jew-hatred on the streets of London.
Due to the permitted rise of violent Islamism in their midst, Jews in the UK should not be fooled in complacency. The horrendous pogroms against their peaceful community at York, London, and other cities in 1189 and 1190 might be borne in mind. It can rightly be said that "Some of the worst atrocities committed against European Jews in the Middle Ages took place in England in the late 12th century." History has an uncomfortable habit of repeating itself at will.
Despite strong US support for Israel in its defense against Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other Iranian proxies since October 2023, an April 2025 Pew Research survey revealed the American "public's views of Israel have turned more negative over the past three years."
Western communities, particularly its politicians, have increasingly been turning their backs on their Jewish citizens, as they predominantly did during Europe's fascist era. The future of Israel and its people will therefore rest on Israel's own ability to defend its nation, perhaps with assistance from a diminishing brace of loyal allies.
The history of Israel, and the Jews themselves, emphasizes the need for self-reliance from the masses of evil forces determined to seek their downfall. Israel's history also assures that strong leaders will rise up at a time of need to protect the nation, starting with Moses and King David. The land covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob remains immutable. Israelis will live, and thrive, in their homeland despite ill-intent by their enemies. After all, the Jews are sacred custodians of eternal truths and morality – as the Torah makes clear. The world needs them.
For all those antisemites and anti-Zionists of the West, perhaps the cutting words of comedian Elon Gold might strike some sense into them:
"Instead of demonizing and vilifying Israel, the world should be thanking Israel for being on the front lines in saving Western civilization and the free world."
As for England and all of Great Britain, the greatest empire of its time is no more -- long gone. Rule Britannia no longer rules anything, not even the streets of London.
Nils A. Haug is an author and columnist. A Lawyer by profession, he is member of the International Bar Association, the National Association of Scholars, the Academy of Philosophy and Letters. Dr. Haug holds a Ph.D. in Apologetical Theology and is author of 'Politics, Law, and Disorder in the Garden of Eden – the Quest for Identity'; and 'Enemies of the Innocent – Life, Truth, and Meaning in a Dark Age.' His work has been published by First Things Journal, The American Mind, Quadrant, Minding the Campus, Gatestone Institute, National Association of Scholars, Jewish Journal, James Wilson Institute (Anchoring Truths), Jewish News Syndicate, Tribune Juive, Document Danmark, and many others.