The line, which runs through the north of the British capital, will link two districts with large Jewish communities as the country grapples with a soaring rise in anti-Semitism.
“We must be good allies to our friends and neighbors of Jewish faith”. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched a new trial bus route in north London, between Stamford Hill in Hackney and Golders Green in Barnet, to help Londoners of Jewish faith to feel “safe when traveling”explain the BBC.
The line, which operates daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., was one of President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign promises. Sadiq Khanthe councillor told the British channel. The elected official added that the Jewish communities of Stamford Hill and Golders Green were putting pressure “for 16 years now”so that a direct link can be established between these two districts.
“Massive rise in anti-Semitism”
“I have been struck by the conversations I have had in recent months with the Jewish community. They have been frightened by the massive rise in anti-Semitism since October 7th last year.”he further deplored to the BBC. And the mayor added: “Families have told me stories of how when they change buses from Stamford Hill to Golders Green to Finsbury Park they are frightened by the abuse they have suffered.” Representatives of the London Jewish Forum and the Board of Deputies of British Jews said: “delighted” of the new bus line. “This bus brings a significant improvement to our strictly Orthodox community.”they announced in a statement.
The move comes amid rising anti-Semitism in the UK. The Metropolitan Police recorded 2,065 incidents of anti-Semitic hate crime between October and July, including 390 in Barnet, 277 in Westminster, 250 in Hackney and 190 in Camden, the BBC reports. In its latest report published on August 8,the Community Security Trust (a UK charity that provides security and advice to the Jewish community) reveals that violence against the British Jewish community has never been so significant and so high in the first half of 2024.
