The majority of Britons are worried about the rise in antisemitism, with nearly half of people believing the UK is no longer safe for Jewish people, a new study has found.
Research performed by the think tank More in Common revealed an increasing polarisation of the country’s opinions on topics surrounding the war in Gaza.
This is the highest figure ever recorded by the think tank.
Similarly, it found that Jewish people were increasingly altering their behaviour and not wearing religious symbols in order to feel safe.
The study also revealed the British public’s patience for protests is diminishing, with two thirds of those asked saying the most disruptive should be banned.
Researchers said: “Public patience for protest is wearing thin. Two-thirds of Britons now believe some protests are too disruptive to be allowed, with sustained demonstrations over Gaza contributing to broader backlash against activist movements.”
In comparison to October 2023, more people are concerned about the risk of radical Islamist extremism growing in Britain.
The research also revealed that the public does not appreciate musicians and celebrities discussing Israel and Palestine.
The majority of Britons, some 64 per cent, disagreed with a musician saying “death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]’ as Bob Vylan infamously did at Glastonbury on, June 28.
Reports of antisemitic incidents spiked across the country the day after the controversial festival performance which was livestreamed by the BBC.
ANTISEMITISM IN THE UK – READ MORE:
Pro-Palestine protesters camped outside the Aston Villa football ground while the team played Maccabi Tel Aviv
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Jewish people are increasingly changing their behaviour and hiding religious symbols to feel safe
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The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which monitors antisemitism in Britain, recorded the highest daily number of incidents in the first half of this year on June 29.
In a similar vein, the CST found the second-worst day for “Jewish hate” in the first six months of 2025 to be May 17, the day after Israel announced the expansion of their military operation into Gaza.
The CST said: “Both of these cases illustrate how sentiment and rhetoric towards Israel and Zionism influence, shape and drive contemporary anti-Jewish discourse, online and offline, often around totemic events that grab mainstream public attention.”
The charity also noted that just over half (51 per cent) of all antisemitic incidents in the first half of this year “referenced or were linked to Israel, Palestine, the [October 7] Hamas terror attack or the subsequent outbreak of conflict”.
Nearly half of those asked believe the UK is not longer safe for Jewish people
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Most people asked in More In Common’s survey wanted music and politics to be kept separate.
Luke Tryl, director of More In Common UK, said that “divisions over the conflict have seriously strained trust in Britain’s media organisations, institutions and politicians.”
He added: “The Government, civil society and those most engaged in the conflict need to do more to find ways out of the growing cycle of polarisation that risks inflicting lasting scars on social cohesion in the UK.”
The think tank carried out three surveys, each of around 2,000 Britons, in October.