Brighton Jewish group calls for support after Israel attacks

Fiona Sharpe told The Argus that now was a time to “check in on your Jewish friends, neighbours and colleagues” after a vigil to mark the lives lost in the attacks by Hamas.

She also criticised “disgusting” demonstrations and remarks from Palestinian supporters as “a stain on our city”.

Fiona, a communities consultant for the Sussex Jewish Representative Council, said: “Let’s be quite honest – the Jewish community in England is under threat of attack as well. This is not hyperbole, this is not scaremongering, already the amount of antisemitism has risen since Saturday.

The vigil held at Hove Town Hall on Monday (Image: Sussex Jewish Representative Council)

“The demonstration at the Clock Tower was disgusting and a stain on our city which is called a City of Sanctuary. There were two Jewish women in the city centre on the weekend and heard this woman bragging and screaming this hate and they came home in tears.

“This is a time for people in Brighton and Hove to check in on their Jewish neighbours, friends and colleagues and ask them if they are OK.”

Fiona added that a vigil held at Hove Town Hall served as a “focal point” for the Jewish community to grieve after terrorists attacked Israel on Saturday.

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Hundreds of people attended the vigil to mourn and remember friends with Fiona adding: “There were very few people there who don’t have loved ones there.”

The criticism of the Clock Tower demonstrations comes after an officer at the University of Sussex’s Student Union appeared to celebrate the attack.

Hanin Barghouti speaks at the protest (Image: Heidi Bachram)

Hanin Barghouthi, who is an elected officer at the University of Sussex Students’ Union, was filmed telling the crowd that the attacks were “beautiful and inspiring to see”.

She said: “It shows us as Palestinians and it shows the world that we will always fight and we will always resist, and we need to celebrate these acts of violence because this is a success.

“Revolutionary violence initiated by Palestinians is not terrorism, it is self-defence.”

A spokeswoman for the University of Sussex said: “We have received a complaint about a Sussex student expressing views on the recent attacks by Hamas in Israel.

“The university is currently seeking to establish the facts and, if necessary, will take action in line with our policies and the law.”

Sussex Jewish Representative Council have set up a Community Renewal Fund to help those affected by events in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Email info@sussexjewishrepresentativecouncil.org for details.