“We hear the message many times, never again. Never again has happened.”
Hundreds turned out to the rally on Sunday afternoon(Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News)
A government official has told a crowd of hundreds in Manchester that she no longer feels safe in the UK following Thursday’s synagogue attack.
During a speech at the Manchester Stands with Israel rally, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Israel, Sharron Haskel, demonstrated to the crowd the bulletproof vest she was wearing as she addressed them.
“Here as a Jew I am not safe in your streets,” she said. “I’m threatened with death, for nothing more than my very existence.
“I stand before in a bulletproof vest, a kevlar vest, here on this stage. I am not allowed to be here without it.”
Hundreds of people turned out to the rally to commemorate the victims of October 7 and Manchester’s synagogue attack.
Hordes of Israel flags and Union Jacks were hoisted in the air as participants from the Manchester Jewish community and beyond gathered together for the event at Manchester Cathedral on Sunday (October 5).
Sharron Haskel spoke to the crowd saying she ‘no longer feels safe on your streets'(Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News)
Organised by the North West Friends of Israel, the rally was heavily protected by the Greater Manchester Police and Community Security Trust.
On the day, tributes were paid to 53-year-old Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz, 66, who died in the attack, which happened outside the Heaton Park synagogue on Middleton Road in Crumpsall at 9.30am last Thursday (October 2).
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Addressing the crowd, Marc Levy, from the Jewish Leadership Council, also made special mention to the other three men who are currently in hospital recovering from serious injuries sustained in the incident.
Hundreds of people turned out to the rally to commemorate the victims of October 7 and Manchester’s synagogue attack(Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News)
Speakers at the event included prominent advocates of Israel such as Raphi Bloom, of the Jewish Services, and Labour MP Christian Wakeford.
During his speech, Mr Bloom declared the community as “proud Mancunian Jews”, as well as criticized the Labour government for failing to quell antisemitism in the country and referred to United States president, Donald Trump, as a friend of the Jews.
Before he took to the stage, Marc Levy told the audience that Bury South MP Christian Wakeford was breaking ‘centuries-old protocol’ to speak at the event as a current Government Whip.
Labour MP Christian Wakeford addresses the crowd at the Manchester Rally(Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News)
During his speech, he addressed the crowd about “Jewish hate” but was met with shouts from some hecklers saying “it’s your party.”
“We hear the message many times, never again. Never again has happened,” he said. “I see a banner down here, ‘no more words’, We demand action, I demand action.”
Other speakers who took to the podium were the deputy ambassador of Israel, Daniela Grudsky Ekstein, Carmel Berke, of the United Jewish Israel Appeal and Rob Moss, uncle of Emily Damari, a British-Israeli woman who was held hostage by Hamas for over 15 months.
Armed officers at the Manchester rally(Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News)
Speaking to the M.E.N at the rally, Marc Levy said: “Today was very powerful for two reasons.
“Firstly, the Jewish community was targeted by a deadly terrorist attack a mere 72 hours ago and we needed to demonstrate that we are not going to cower.
“We are not going to shy away from being who we are. Proud British Jews and we came together in our thousands today to celebrate who we are.
Marc Levy at the rally (Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News)
“Secondly, over the last two years have been very lonely to be Jewish in the UK, and the fact that there were so many people from outside our community who came to stand alongside and share solidarity, is something that is appreciated and it has been needed, because it’s been lacking over the last two years.
“We have always championed respectful dialogue and disagreeing, ensuring that a conflict that is incredibly complex and nuanced taking thousands of miles away is not imported into our street.
“Sadly, there are many in other communities who are either unwilling or unable to grasp that hand of friendship and have that civil dialogue. There’s going to be a time and a place to speak about that more openly.
“But this has to be a line in the sand, we cannot be having British Jews murdered on the streets of the UK, merely trying to attend synagogue on Yom Kippur.”