Key Points
- Israel has urged the UK government to act “decisively and urgently” after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north-west London.
- The Israeli Foreign Ministry said attacks on synagogues, Jewish institutions, community ambulances and Jews in Golders Green showed the situation could no longer be claimed to be under control.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned what he described as Britain’s weakness in dealing with antisemitism and said words were not enough.
- Protesters in Golders Green were heard chanting “Keir Starmer, Jew-harmer” and “shame on Sadiq Khan” during a demonstration after the attack.
- The two injured men were identified as 34-year-old Shilome Rand and 76-year-old Moshe Shine, both of whom were taken to hospital.
- Sir Keir Starmer said the attack was “deeply concerning”, described it as not an isolated incident, and chaired an emergency Cobra meeting.
- The Prime Minister said he would visit Golders Green as soon as possible and told the Jewish community the government must help them feel safe and secure.
- Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the recent attacks on the Jewish community a “national emergency” and urged a ban on the marches she said were being used as cover for violence and intimidation.
- Police said the suspect was a 45-year-old Somali-born British national arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation.
London (Britain Today News) April 30, 2026— Israel has demanded that Sir Keir Starmer protect England’s Jewish community after a stabbing attack in Golders Green left two Jewish men injured and triggered fresh accusations that Britain is failing to confront antisemitism.
The appeal from Israeli officials came as the Prime Minister faced mounting pressure over the handling of the incident, the rise in antisemitic threats, and angry protests in north London that saw demonstrators direct abuse at both him and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
What happened in Golders Green?
Israeli officials condemned the stabbing of two Jewish individuals in London and said the UK government must act immediately against antisemitism. The report said the Israeli Foreign Ministry warned that attacks on synagogues, Jewish institutions, community ambulances and now Jews in Golders Green meant Britain could no longer say the situation was under control. It also quoted the ministry as saying Sir Keir Starmer’s statements were no substitute for confronting the roots of antisemitism across the United Kingdom.
The same report said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised Britain’s response and argued that its weakness
“gaslights one antisemitic attack after another in London”.
Netanyahu also said that words were not enough to confront the scourge of antisemitism. The language from both the Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Prime Minister turned the Golders Green stabbing into an international political issue as well as a policing and community-safety concern.
Why is Israel criticising the UK?
Israel’s criticism focused on what it sees as a pattern of repeated attacks, rather than a single isolated incident. The Foreign Ministry said the UK Government could no longer claim the problem was under control, while Netanyahu accused Britain of failing to confront the wider threat. Their remarks framed the stabbing as evidence of a deeper failure to protect Jewish people in public life.
The Israeli response also placed pressure on British ministers to match words with visible action. By explicitly referring to synagogues, Jewish institutions and community ambulance services, Israeli officials broadened the issue beyond one street attack and linked it to a sustained climate of fear. That point was echoed by the Prime Minister’s own acknowledgement that the problem was not isolated.
What did Sir Keir Starmer say?
Sir Keir Starmer’s statement, the Prime Minister said he would visit Golders Green “as soon as possible” after what he called an “appalling attack”. He also said the attack was “not an isolated incident” and promised action on the
“root causes of extremism and antisemitism”.
The report added that he said the Government would meet criminal justice agencies to ensure “effective and swift justice” in such cases.
In the same statement, Starmer said the Jewish community was feeling exposed and vulnerable, including in places such as the health service, schools and on the streets where people live. He said it was the Government’s job to make people feel safe and secure. Starmer describing the Golders Green stabbings as an “appalling attack”, reinforcing the seriousness of his response.
Who was injured?
The report said the two victims were 34-year-old Shilome Rand and 76-year-old Moshe Shine, both rushed to hospital after the attack. Mr Rand told ITV News from hospital that he felt let down by the Labour Government, saying the authorities were responsible for dealing with such problems and were not doing their job. He also said his community had been suffering from similar attacks for months and described surviving the stabbing as a “miracle”.
Those remarks added a personal and human dimension to the wider political row. Rather than focusing only on party politics or diplomatic responses, the victims’ experiences pointed to the fear that has spread through the local Jewish community. The fact that both men were taken to hospital quickly also underlined the seriousness of the incident.
What happened on the streets?
The Golders Green area saw a heavy emotional reaction after the attack, with protesters gathering and waving British and Israeli flags. According to the report, chants included “Keir Starmer, Jew-harmer” and “shame on Sadiq Khan”, alongside calls for Labour to proscribe “IRGC terrorists” in Britain. Those slogans show how quickly the incident became tied to anger over national security, antisemitism and foreign policy.
The demonstration and the stabbing together created a tense atmosphere in north London. For residents and community groups, the concern is no longer only about one violent episode but about whether visible Jewish life can continue without intimidation. Starmer’s own wording about Jewish people feeling forced to hide their identity reflects that same anxiety.
How are police treating the case?
Police have arrested a 45-year-old Somali-born British national on suspicion of attempted murder. The suspect remains in custody while specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing lead the investigation alongside Scotland Yard. That involvement indicates the authorities are treating the case with the highest level of concern.
The classification of the incident and the police response are central to how the case may develop. Counter Terrorism Policing will now work to establish the full circumstances, including the motive and whether the attack formed part of any wider threat. The investigation is also important because it will shape future security decisions around Jewish communities in London and beyond.
Why does this matter politically?
The stabbing has intensified criticism of the Government’s response to antisemitism and public disorder. Starmer has already tried to reassure the Jewish community, but the repeated attacks and the strong language from Israeli leaders show that reassurance alone may not be enough. The issue now sits at the intersection of community safety, counter-terrorism, policing and international relations.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch used her visit to Golders Green to call the situation a “national emergency”. She argued that violent people were seeking out visibly Jewish people and said marches should be banned because, in her view, they have become a cover for intimidation. Her comments add further pressure on ministers to show that the state can protect Jewish citizens in everyday life.
What comes next?
Starmer has said he will visit Golders Green and that the Government will work on the root causes of extremism and antisemitism. He also said the state must ensure swift justice, suggesting further action from police and criminal justice agencies is likely to follow. Israel’s public intervention has made this more than a domestic security story, turning it into a test of whether Britain can reassure a frightened community.
The next stage will depend on the police investigation, the Government’s security response and whether community leaders feel the authorities are acting decisively enough. For now, the Golders Green attack has deepened fears and sharpened the debate over how Britain responds to antisemitism.
