UK Prime Minister Pledges Support for Jewish Community, Reaffirms Two-State Solution

On the third anniversary of the October 7th attacks, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the UK's Jewish community with a message of solidarity, stating "We are with you." He vowed to "firmly counter antisemitism" and declared that "insults and violence against Jews in Great Britain will not be tolerated." Burnham commemorated the victims of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, acknowledging the global impact on Jewish communities.

The Prime Minister highlighted the rise of antisemitism in the UK, noting that "insults and violence against you in any form will not be tolerated. Not on our streets, not online, not in our schools or universities." He emphasized government funding for the protection of synagogues, schools, and community buildings, and pledged to combat antisemitism in educational institutions, campuses, and residential areas.

Burnham stated, "Domestically, we are committed to protecting our citizens from vile hatred. Abroad, we continue to work towards a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live side-by-side in peace and security." He asserted that attacks on Jews in Britain are attacks on everyone and that antisemitism has no place in the country.

His remarks come amid a high number of antisemitic incidents in the UK. The Community Security Trust reported 1,926 such cases in the first half of 2026, a 21% increase from the same period in 2025, marking the second-highest figure on record for the first six months of the year.

The Prime Minister also recalled the October 2, 2025, attack near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Manchester, where two people died. The assailant, who drove a car into people before attacking them with a knife, was killed by police. Separately, on October 2, 2026, two Iranian nationals were charged with plotting terrorist acts, allegedly targeting Manchester's Jewish community, with investigations revealing reconnaissance of potential targets.

Concurrently, the British government has adopted a critical stance on certain Israeli actions. In September, the UK joined other nations in measures against trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, citing settlement expansion as a threat to the two-state solution. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on September 22, Burnham condemned Hamas and reaffirmed support for Israel against threats, including from Iran, while sharply criticizing Israeli government actions in Gaza and the West Bank. He reiterated that the two-state solution is "the best hope" for peace and stability.