A police officer has been accused of ‘two-tier policing’ after appearing to reprimand a dog walker for swearing at pro-Palestinian demonstrators while appearing to ignore similar behaviour from activists.
Protesters swarmed outside a Jewish community centre where Israel-critical voices were speaking on Sunday morning.
Demonstrators gathered at JW3, a cultural centre in the heart of north London’s large Jewish community, while it was hosting a conference discussing the future of Israel and the Middle East.
An officer appeared to tell off a passer by for making the raising a middle finger at the activists, with a clip showing him putting his hand on the dog walker’s shoulder.
But police appeared to take a more lenient stance against a protester who made a similar rude gesture at a group of Jewish people standing nearby.
Protesters were heard shouting ‘Palestine is not your home’, as people trying to use the facility were seen attempting to navigate the large crowd with Palestinian flags and placards.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside Jewish community centre JW3 on Sunday morning while the venue was hosting a conference on the future of Israel and the Middle East
Protesters at the entrance to the centre holding a large banner with the message ‘Stop arming Israel, stop the genocide, save Palestine
Demonstrators outside the cultural centre, which is located in the heart of north London’s Jewish community
Police watch on as activists hold placards reading ‘Israel is ethnic cleansing Palestine’ and “Israel burns Gazan kids alive’
One protester appeared to raise a middle finger at passers by – in full view of a police officer
Speakers at the event, hosted by left-leaning Israeli newspaper Haaretz, included two members of the Knesset, a Labour MP and former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert.
Activists reportedly covered all entrances to the centre, chanting slogans including ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’.
On one clip, a protester can be heard shouting: ‘We will continue to occupy these streets every day of the week, no matter how many police… until Zionism no longer exists in the Middle East because Zionism is a racist ideology.’
The demonstrators seemed unaware that the event inside the venue was being fronted by a variety of speakers, some who had previously been critical of Israel’s actions.
Another video posted on X showed angry protesters screaming at an elderly woman as she attempted to walk through the crowd.
One person was arrested for causing criminal damage, Metropolitan Police confirmed.
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘At approximately 08:55hrs on Sunday, 27 October we were made aware by staff at a venue in Finchley Road, NW3 of a number of protesters gathering at the location. Officers attended and remain on scene monitoring the situation. We are also in liaison with staff at the venue to ensure they feel supported.
‘Conditions under section 14 of the Public Order Act have been imposed on those protesting.
‘One person has been arrested for criminal damage.’
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the protest was evidence of Pro-Palestinian activism targeting Jewish community spaces and called for more active policing of the demonstrations.
In a statement it said: ‘The conditions which have led to this are clear; far too many people have decided to turn a blind eye to the hideous behaviour regularly exhibited at such protests. We also need to see policing which is more active in protecting the community and the general public going about their lawful business.
‘This is part of an ongoing effort in this country, carried out under the guise of humanitarian concern, to harass and intimidate British Jews.
‘The latest egregious display of harassment should act as a wake up call to encourage allies to make their voices heard and their support known.’
Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters gathered by Nelson’s column in Trafalgar Square on October 19
Some pro-Palestinian activists formed a blockade on Tower Bridge on October 19
The latest action comes just a week after pro-Palestinian activists blocked Tower Bridge. The blockade was formed on Saturday October 19, while a major protest against events in the Middle East got underway in Trafalgar Square.
Tempers flared at the demonstrations, which took place days after Israel eliminated Hamas leader and mastermind of the October 7 attacks last year Yahya Sinwar.
It comes as praise for Sinwar could be seen on British campuses, with some student groups sharing messages of condolence for the dead chief.
Student Federation for a Liberated Palestine (SFLP), which claims to represent 21 different student societies across Britain urged its supporters to buy Sinwar’s book The Thorn and The Carnation, in which the former leader calls himself the ‘architect’ for the attacks in October 2023.
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