An advocate against antisemitism, who faced potential arrest during a pro-Palestine rally, stands accused of deliberately instigating an incident to justify calls for the protest’s prohibition.
Gideon Falter, head of the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), has been vocal in demanding the resignation of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman. This comes in the wake of footage showing a police officer threatening Falter with arrest and referencing his Jewish identity at a recent demonstration.
As the Metropolitan Police issues an apology and faces criticism for its perceived inaction towards pro-Palestine protests, Falter’s attendance at the rally with a film crew is questioned by Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Jamal accuses Falter of intentionally seeking confrontation to advance the CAA’s agenda of banning pro-Palestine marches.
Despite condemnation of the handling of the incident by various figures, including Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Prime Minister Boris Johnson expresses confidence in Sir Mark, provided he rebuilds trust with the Jewish community and the public.
Former Met chief superintendent Dal Babu suggests Falter could have been arrested for alleged assault on a police officer and breach of the peace, following the release of a lengthy video documenting the interaction.
In response to the incident and subsequent statements from the Met, Falter reiterates his call for Sir Mark’s resignation and plans to attend future pro-Palestinian marches. His campaign advocates for increased safety measures for Jewish participants.
While Sir Mark reaffirms the force’s apology and acknowledges heightened concerns, representatives from the Community Security Trust (CST) and London Jewish Forum meet with Met officials to discuss ongoing concerns regarding the impact of pro-Palestine protests on the Jewish community.
