by Rajnish Singh
Europe’s far left has long presented itself as the continent’s anti-racist conscience. However, the political landscape following the 7 October Hamas attacks, the war in Gaza, and escalating regional tensions reveals a more complex picture — one in which parts of the far left, and increasingly the Greens, are accused by Jewish communities of amplifying rhetoric, coinciding with the sharpest rise in antisemitism in decades.
The data is stark. The UK, Germany and France have all recorded significant increases in anti-Jewish incidents, including violence. In Manchester in October 2025, the murder of Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby outside Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue marked the UK’s first fatal antisemitic terror attack since 1984. The attacker rammed the synagogue gates before stabbing one of the victims, triggering a wave of copycat threats.
In London, volunteer ambulances were set alight outside a synagogue in Golders Green in March 2026, reportedly targeted because they served the Jewish community. Across Europe, synagogues, schools and community centres have faced arson attempts, vandalism and bomb threats.
Even in Brussels, near the EU institutions, synagogues have seen heightened security, including anti-crash barriers and regular armed patrols.
Against this backdrop, the political rhetoric of the far-left is under growing scrutiny. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, founder of La France Insoumise (LFI), has repeatedly faced accusations of failing to draw clear lines. His refusal to label Hamas a terrorist organisation, his characterisation of the 7 October attacks as “resistance”, and his repeated use of the term “genocide” in relation to Israel have alienated parts of France’s Jewish electorate. Jewish organisations say some LFI rallies have featured slogans that blur the line between criticism of Israel and antisemitism — an accusation the party rejects.
The UK has already experienced a similar crisis. Under Jeremy Corbyn, Labour was widely criticised for its handling of antisemitism complaints, including the use of conspiratorial language and disciplinary failures. The result was a collapse in Jewish support and a lasting reputational impact.
Now the Green Party risks entering similar territory. Under its popular leader Zack Polanski, the party has adopted an increasingly strident pro-Palestinian stance. While Polanski himself is Jewish, the party has not been insulated from criticism. Several local representatives have apologised for offensive remarks, and leaked messages from activists have included explicitly antisemitic language. The party has condemned such incidents, but concerns persist.
More broadly, critics argue that rhetoric focused on “Zionist structures”, support for boycotts of Israel, and framing of the conflict in exclusively colonial terms can marginalise Jewish perspectives and security concerns.
This shift appears to have wider social effects. A survey by the Union of Jewish Students found that one in five respondents would be reluctant, or unwilling, to share housing with a Jewish student, and that antisemitism has “become normalised” on some UK campuses. Comparable language directed at other minority groups would likely provoke widespread condemnation.
Some analysts argue that, just as parts of the far right mobilise identity politics to appeal to specific constituencies, segments of the left may be seeking to consolidate support among Muslim voters. Critics warn these risks oversimplifying complex issues and deepening divisions.
At the same time, the weaponisation of the term “Zionism” has shifted in political discourse. Once primarily used by the far right as a coded term, it is now often employed on the left as shorthand for colonialism or oppression and even genocide. In practice, critics argue, this blurs the distinction between opposition to Israeli government policy and hostility towards Jewish identity.
Online, the consequences are immediate. Following the Manchester attack, antisemitic content surged on social media, with conspiracy-driven narratives spreading rapidly. Surveys suggest that a significant proportion of British Jews report experiencing antisemitism regularly or frequently.
Europe’s left and Greens now face a critical test: whether they can advocate for Palestinian rights while maintaining clear boundaries against antisemitism. The challenge is not only political but moral, failure to meet it risks further eroding trust with Jewish communities across the continent, while promoting divisions and hostilities.
By: N. Peter Kramer
