King Charles III declared Wednesday that the British government would move quickly to confront antisemitism, as Jewish communities across the United Kingdom continue to face a surge in attacks, threats, and acts of violence.

Speaking during the ceremonial opening of Parliament, the King announced, “My government will take urgent action to tackle antisemitism and ensure all communities feel safe.”

Jewish leaders in Britain welcomed the statement, calling it an acknowledgment of the worsening security situation facing the country’s Jewish population.

Adrian Cohen, Acting President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said in a statement, “We welcome the government’s expression of commitment to take steps to tackle antisemitism included in the King’s speech, which reflects the ongoing seriousness and urgency of the situation.”

Cohen also praised the government’s plans to strengthen legislation targeting hostile foreign actors and organizations linked to terrorism.

“We also welcome the confirmation that the government will introduce legislation to tackle the growing threat from foreign state entities and their proxies, in line with recommendations made by the Independent Reviewer of State Threats Legislation Jonathan Hall KC. We call on the government to enact these powers without further delay and use them as quickly as possible to proscribe Iranian-backed threats including the IRGC,” added Cohen.

He further stated, “We outlined other key priorities to tackle threats to our community in our recent joint document Protect, Prosecute, and Partner, and will continue to push for swift and decisive government action on all these priorities, including through legislation where needed.”

The King’s remarks came as antisemitic incidents continue climbing sharply throughout Britain, especially in London. Among the recent attacks was the stabbing of two Jewish men in the heavily Jewish neighborhood of Golders Green two weeks ago.

Following that assault, British authorities elevated the national terrorism threat level from “substantial” to “severe” for the first time in more than four years.

Police last week announced the arrest of a ninth suspect connected to a major arson attack targeting Jewish community ambulances in northwest London.

The investigation focuses on a March 23 incident in Golders Green in which four emergency vehicles operated by the Hatzolah volunteer medical organization were deliberately torched.

Counterterrorism investigators are also probing attempted arson attacks directed at two synagogues in North London, along with a Jewish-owned business.

In a separate case, authorities recently arrested a 19-year-old man in Portsmouth in connection with an attempted firebombing at Finchley Reform Synagogue. He was later released on bail pending further proceedings in July.

Last Thursday, police in London arrested another suspect accused of shouting antisemitic abuse and violent threats at Jewish passengers aboard a city bus, according to the Shomrim security organization.

Earlier this week, a 34-year-old man admitted in court to carrying out multiple violent attacks motivated by hatred against Jews in North London. The defendant, who lives in Hornchurch in East London, pleaded guilty Monday before Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court to three separate religiously aggravated offenses.

A report issued last month by Israel’s Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry found that the United Kingdom recorded the highest per-capita rate of physical antisemitic assaults among countries with major Jewish populations in 2025, documenting 121 violent incidents.

Separate figures published this year by the Community Security Trust watchdog group showed that antisemitic incidents across Britain reached 3,700 cases in 2025, marking a slight increase from the previous year and the second-highest annual total ever recorded by the organization.

{Matzav.com}