British Jewish Leaders Criticise Israeli Minister's Tommy Robinson Invitation Amid Community Backlash

Israeli Minister Amichai Chikli invited far-right activist Tommy Robinson to visit Israel, praising him as a "courageous leader on the front line against radical Islam." This invitation sparked widespread criticism from Britain's Jewish community leaders, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council, who described Robinson as a "thug" representing "the very worst of Britain." They expressed that the invitation came at a sensitive time following a terror attack at a Manchester synagogue and accused Chikli of ignoring the views of British Jews who reject Robinson's ideology. Former Tory cabinet minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi also condemned the invitation as "irresponsible and deeply dangerous," highlighting Robinson's criminal convictions and the divisive impact of his presence. While British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called Robinson a "corrosive force" and said most people reject him, she declined to criticize the Israeli government's decision, stating it was not her place to dictate foreign ministers' invitations. The controversy underscores tensions between efforts to combat antisemitism and concerns over promoting figures associated with hate and division.