Alongside support for a Palestinian state: UK Prime Minister's message to Jews

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham issued a direct statement to the Jewish community marking three years since the October 7 massacre, pledging an uncompromising fight against antisemitism and violence, alongside government funding for security measures in community institutions. At the same time, he reiterated his support for the two-state solution.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham issued a direct statement to the Jewish community in Britain marking three years since the October 7 massacre. In his statement, delivered on Wednesday, Burnham pledged an uncompromising fight against antisemitism and violence on the streets, online, and in educational institutions. He announced broad government funding for security measures in synagogues, schools, and community institutions. Alongside this, he reiterated his support for the two-state solution, in which Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and security. His remarks come against the backdrop of data from the CST organization, according to which 1,926 antisemitic incidents were recorded in the first half of 2026 in Britain – an increase of about 20% compared to the corresponding period last year. Burnham also mentioned the terrorist attack on the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester about a year ago, and the indictments filed last week against two Iranian citizens suspected of involvement in a terror plot against the Jewish community in Manchester. The statement stands out against the backdrop of Burnham's critical political line towards the Israeli government. In the past month, Britain led steps to restrict trade in products from the settlements, and in his UN speech he condemned Hamas alongside sharp criticism of IDF operations in Gaza and Judea and Samaria.