The North’s Deputy First Minister has urged all political parties in Northern Ireland to show leadership to eradicate anti-Semitism.
Emma Little-Pengelly was speaking after 16 people, including one of two suspected gunmen, died during a terror attack at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday.
Police in Northern Ireland have said they are increasing visibility around locations across the North that represent Jewish communities.
On Sunday evening, First Minister Michelle O’Neill extended her “thoughts, support and solidarity to the families and friends of the victims, to the Jewish community, and to all the people of Sydney”.
RM Block
Ms Little-Pengelly said her thoughts are with all the family and friends of those killed and injured, describing the attack and others on Jewish communities across the globe as “pure evil”.
She described a very small Jewish community in Northern Ireland, and pledged to do “everything I can” to support them and ensure their safety.
Ms Little-Pengelly said she believes there is anti-Semitism in Northern Ireland, and that it needs to be “stamped out”.
“I think that there is anti-Semitism here in Northern Ireland, across Ireland, in the UK, we’ve seen many examples of that in recent years,” she told BBC Radio Ulster.
“It’s something that has to be absolutely stamped out.
“We need very, very strong leadership on this.”
While several parties in Northern Ireland have criticised the government of Israel over the war in Gaza, and expressed their solidarity with the people of Palestine, Ms Little-Pengelly said they should make clear there is no case for anti-Semitism.
“We need to step up, all of the political parties here, all of the MLAs, MPs, must make very clear that there’s no case whatsoever for anti-Semitism,” she said.
“People need to be watching what they say and how they say that.
“Of course, people will criticise governments, but ultimately it is the anti-Semitism we’re seeing globally – seeing these attacks, comments being made to people, abuse and other issues right across the globe, and I’m genuinely, incredibly worried about the trajectory of that.”
She added: “My message this morning is very clear: we stand with our small Jewish community here in Northern Ireland.”
Supt Yvonne McManus said the PSNI acknowledges the “understandable concerns of the local Jewish communities”, and said it has been in contact with them.
“Our thoughts are with them today as they try to process this unfathomable tragedy,” she said in a statement. – PA
