Building a strategic response to antisemitism in the UK in a changing threat landscape

The policy brief argues that the UK's current response to antisemitism is fractured and overly focused on physical security, failing to address the complex interplay between online ecosystems and offline violence. It calls for a holistic strategy led by the Prime Minister's Office that integrates the Online Safety Act, updated counter-terrorism frameworks focused on behaviors rather than just formal groups, and scaled-up prevention and education efforts to combat the 'national emergency' of rising antisemitism.

• The UK Jewish community has experienced a severe escalation in violence, including five arson attacks on synagogues and Jewish buildings, and a stabbing attack in Golders Green. This follows a sustained rise in activity since October 7, 2023, with the Community Security Trust recording 3,700 antisemitic incidents in 2025.
• A new group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI) has claimed responsibility for recent arson and stabbing attacks, and is suspected to be a cover for Iran or its proxies. The UK government's terrorism advisor has described the current state of antisemitism as a 'national emergency'.
• The Online Safety Act (OSA) is identified as a central pillar for countering antisemitism, but it requires stricter enforcement by Ofcom to change platform incentives. There is a specific need to address 'legal but harmful' content and the role of recommender algorithms, as children have been served content glorifying the IRGC within 90 minutes of account creation.
• Current counter-terrorism frameworks are deemed outdated because they focus on banning formal groups, whereas modern threats often emerge from decentralised online networks and state-backed militias. The brief recommends shifting toward a violence prevention system focused on behaviours rather than narrow ideological definitions.
• There is a significant imbalance between funding for protection and prevention; new protection measures following attacks in Manchester and Golders Green received seven times the funding allocated to prevention measures.
• The document argues for a comprehensive cross-government strategy led by the Prime Minister's Office to integrate digital regulation, violence prevention, hate crime strategies, and social cohesion efforts.

APA

Institute for Strategic Dialogue (2026). Building a strategic response to antisemitism in the UK in a changing threat landscape. https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/building-a-strategic-response-to-antisemitism-in-the-uk-in-a-changing-threat-landscape/

Chicago

Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Building a strategic response to antisemitism in the UK in a changing threat landscape. 2026. https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/building-a-strategic-response-to-antisemitism-in-the-uk-in-a-changing-threat-landscape/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Strategic Dialogue |title=Building a strategic response to antisemitism in the UK in a changing threat landscape |date=13 May 2026 |url=https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/building-a-strategic-response-to-antisemitism-in-the-uk-in-a-changing-threat-landscape/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforstrategicdialogue2026building, author = {{Institute for Strategic Dialogue}}, title = {{Building a strategic response to antisemitism in the UK in a changing threat landscape}}, institution = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/building-a-strategic-response-to-antisemitism-in-the-uk-in-a-changing-threat-landscape/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }