British Jewish leaders are pressing police and other authorities to strengthen security around Jewish institutions ahead of a major pro-Palestinian demonstration planned for November 20 in London’s Trafalgar Square.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews is seeking safeguards against violence and disruption after protest organizers urged young people to mobilize and declared that “now is the time to escalate.”

The demonstration is being promoted by Youth International Strike, which has called on youth organizations and students to join the protest.

Concerns have intensified following violent unrest in France, where approximately 500,000 people reportedly participated in demonstrations accompanied by widespread destruction. Around 2,400 people were arrested, while approximately 3,000 businesses and public buildings were reportedly looted.

Among the sites targeted was the Ohalei Yaakov shul in Paris’s 19th arrondissement. Rioters reportedly broke into the building, threw siddurim, tefillin and other religious items onto the floor, and vandalized the rabbi’s office.

The planned London protest is also being promoted by anti-Israel groups including SOAS Liberated Zone and the Stop the War Coalition.

Organizers have urged young people across Europe to walk out of classes over what they describe as “colonialism, occupation and genocide,” while demanding a complete severing of ties with Israel.

The Board of Deputies emphasized that freedom of expression does not provide a license for mob violence or looting. It also pointed to the continuing impact on British Jews of hateful rhetoric at demonstrations over the past three years.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism similarly warned that the targeting of Jewish institutions in France demonstrated that rioters viewed Jews as a “legitimate target.”

London Conservative leader Susan Hall sharply condemned the violence in France, describing it as criminal disorder and calling for firm action to prevent similar scenes in the British capital.

Hall urged the mayor, police and national government to take an uncompromising approach to ensuring that the destruction and looting witnessed in France are not repeated on London’s streets.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)