Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has issued a stark warning that recent antisemitic violence stems from the Left’s refusal to challenge an “unholy alliance” between progressive movements and hardline Islamist groups.
Sir Tony’s intervention follows last week’s arson attack in Golders Green, north London, which destroyed four Jewish community ambulances and prompted evacuations when gas canisters exploded inside the vehicles.
Writing for The Free Press blog run by CBS chief executive Bari Weiss, the former Labour leader argued that whilst many progressive politicians genuinely reject antisemitism, they are failing to confront extremists who view all Jews as legitimate targets due to their perceived support for Israel.
“The problem is that, under pressure from party activists and parts of the Muslim community, many progressive politicians who do sincerely reject anti-Semitism are not making these arguments,” Sir Tony stated. He warned against failing to challenge “this literally ‘unholy alliance’ between parts of the Left and Islamists in our own societies whose ideology leads inexorably to anti-Semitism.”
He cautioned that without addressing the underlying ideology, “even if anti-Semitism is not explicitly condoned, it flourishes,” adding that incidents similar to the ambulance attack “will continue to the shame of our society.”
Sir Tony, now involved with President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative, criticised figures who condemn Israeli actions in Gaza whilst failing to challenge Hamas’s October terror attack that triggered the conflict or the group’s conduct during hostilities.
Last month, he described Mr Trump’s Gaza peace vision as the region’s “best” and “only hope” whilst speaking at the inaugural meeting of the US president’s peace board, where he serves on the Gaza Executive Board operational arm.
The former Prime Minister outlined Mr Trump’s plan requiring Hamas and affiliated factions to relinquish any governance role in Gaza. “For decades Gaza’s governance has been characterised by extremism, corruption, ineffective institutions and the complete absence of a route to prosperity for the Gazan people,” Sir Tony stated, highlighting the territory’s potential with 25 miles of Mediterranean coastline and a young population.
Two British men, aged 47 and 45, have been detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life over the Hatzola ambulance attack and released on bail until April pending investigation.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner has confirmed officers are examining whether an Islamist organisation with potential Iranian state connections orchestrated the attack. Hatzola, established in 1979, provides volunteer-run emergency medical response services at no cost to north London residents.
