To think this attack on London Jewish schoolchildren should have been headline news

Can pretty much guarantee the people throwing stones don’t give a shit about either Palestine or Israel. They just care about any reason to be a thug most likely.

Thanks for your perspective. What can those of us who live in areas with Jewish neighbours do to help? I don’t think it can be good for children to grow believing your neighbours hate you, when 99% of your neighbours don’t. If I saw someone being abused verbally or otherwise I would obviously intervene just as I have when I say witnessed Muslim women being verbally abused.

And they didn't use to jump on the bus and shout "Fuck Israel" afterwards either.

I didn't see the deleted post but get the drift.

I grew up in London of an Irish Catholic background at a time when IRA bombing campaigns in the UK were at their peak. I wasn't to blame for them, in the same way these kids aren't responsible for what's happening in Gaza.

Hi,
It’s not the 50’s anymore.

No, I’m not “one of those”. Quite an assumption though. Any other assumptions you want to make?

The security isn’t there because of ‘fear’. It’s there because experience shows it is needed for Jewish schools, synagogues etc.

I know your post was supportive but I really needed to point this out.

No. That's not it at all.

Christ, talk about head in sand

Are you also one of those people who denies male on female violence, saying that violence is not a "gender issue" but a people issue?

It’s really sad. I live in a very multicultural area.
There is a lot of fear amongst the Jewish community. State Jewish schools have extremely heavy security - think massive security guards, 10ft fences and metal detectors. Some of this fear is clearly justified. But I think the level of fear also perpetuates fear too. I try to be friendly to neighbours and they look at me like I am going to attack them. It’s really sad actually.
In my area statistically Muslim women are the most likely to experience hate crime than Jewish women, but they are much happier to interact with neighbours. It’s statistically very few and far between that Jews are attacked in my area, but the fear is clearly through the roof. I’m not sure I think a media storm for every crime against Jewish people is supportive to the Jewish community’s wellbeing. I think it adds to this sense that they are under siege.

This simply isn’t the case. I have very strong views about the state of Israel’s government. I certainly don’t hold Jewish people in the UK responsible for the actions of the state of Israel, anymore than I held Muslims reponsible for 7/7. Even if they were strong supporters of all the actions of Israel, I would want to try to listen and have a conversation if they wanted to (not whilst I pop to the shop! Mainly I want to have neighbourly conversations about the weather!).

I know this would be the vast, vast majority of people in my area’s views, regardless of our politics.

The people who attacked the bus are thugs and I doubt have much real concern for Palestinians.

I’m really sad that the fear is so great there is a very high amount of isolation at the moment. More than in years past.

This thread is appalling to me as a Jewish mother. "Well it happens to everyone?" Really?

this isn't the first time Jewish schoolchildren have been attacked in London. If you read Jewish news sources they report on them.

Also JFS is not a private school.

Everything I would like to say has already been said very well by David Baddiel in Jews Don’t Count.

There is still a lot of latent anti-semitism in this country from the same people who find it expedient only to be anti-Muslim at the moment.

I can't imagine what kind of utter scumbag could justify terrorising children in this country to satisfy their appetite for revenge.

I find it so upsetting how much antisemitism there is on mumsnet and in the UK in general.

It’s depressing to realise that there’s still a lot of latent anti-semitism in this country, all too often from the same people who’d be oh-so-righteously up in arms about the same level of Islamophobia.

Why bring your own racism into it? Kids used to throw stones at random buses when I was in primary school in the 1950s. Doubt if it would make the news whoever was on the bus. The story about "two-tier" policing favouring Muslims is a weak lie however many times you repeat it.

London is not in a War zone.

No one in London is responsible for the horrific sly attacks and kidnapping of people in Israel more than a year ago and no one in London is responsible for the ongoing violent retribution leaving thousands of Palestinians dead, homeless and hungry. The situation is totally terrible but not in London.

No child in the Uk deserves to be attacked. It helps no cause. It helps no one.

The story should be on the front pages. It is disgraceful.

What demographics?

It’s not just tough kids attacking private school-kids or normal antisocial behaviour (still unacceptable) if they are shouting “fuck Israel” at the bloody bus is it? It’s targeted specifically at the bus occupants because they happen to be jewish. Are people being wilfully obtuse or really half witted? It’s right there in the article.

Hmm I can think of examples where it would be if the demographics different.

How on earth did you reach that conclusion from what she said? That’s quite some reach from a comment that doesn’t discriminate in any way…

I am so deeply saddened by some of these comments.

If you read about British Jews 1 children or adults - being attacked and feel the need to respond by talking about Gaza then you need to take a long hard look at yourself as you are absolutely antisemitic.

Why is it relevant to bring up at all? I cannot believe this frequency in which these things are being said in 2024 especially by people on the left who would defend any other minority.

I bet you're also the ones who say "I am not antisemitic. I am antizionist."

This isn't relevant to the topic at hand.

It’s absolutely disgusting what Jewish children are being faced with.
They have my absolute sympathy and support.

What can we do to help?

It’s disgraceful this hasn’t been reported more widely, sadly I suspect @ThatShyRoseViper ’s hope the lack of coverage is to discourage copycat attacks is probably misplaced. I simply do not understand how anyone can justify targeting children (in any circumstance) never mind because they are the same race or religion as ADULTS involved in a conflict on the other side of the world.

This is unacceptable in the UK. It’s flat out bigotry and discrimination. Can you imagine the furore if these kids had been targeted because they were black or muslim? Why is this not exactly the same?