Prince William condemns rise in antisemitism during synagogue visit

Prince William has condemned a rise in antisemitism during a synagogue visit.

The Prince of Wales said it "has no place in society" as he met young people and students in London.

He was told about an increase in antisemitism since the 7 October Hamas attacks and Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza.

It was the prince's first public appearance since pulling out of a memorial service due to a "personal matter".

He had been due to give a reading at Tuesday's memorial for the late former King Constantine of Greece.

While at the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in central London, the 41-year-old met a Holocaust survivor, and Jewish student representatives and young people who told him how they had been affected by antisemitism.

The prince was told of its "dehumanising" effect and said he wanted to "reassure you all that people do care".

Edward Isaacs, the head of the Union of Jewish Students UK and Ireland, told Prince William about "an explosion of antisemitism on campus that we've never seen before.

"We've seen not only the number of incidents increase but the severity too. We've seen Jewish students receive death threats, we've seen Jewish students physically assaulted on campus, we've seen Jewish property desecrated as well on campus."

Even Jewish students who have not faced antisemitism know someone has, he added, creating "a climate of fear that we've never known before".

"It's never been like this before," Emma Levy, the president of Leeds Universities Jewish Society, told him. "Our grandparents and parents say the same."

Condemning the rise in hatred towards the Jewish community, Prince William said: "Well, you've heard it from me, antisemitism has no place in society. I've said that before and I'll say it again."

He added: "Both Catherine and I are extremely concerned about the rise in antisemitism that you guys have talked about so eloquently this morning, and I'm just so sorry you've had to experience that."

The prince also said it was "important" that people "break out" of "boxes" that keep them separate.

"A lot live in their silos, in their echo chamber on social media, they don't have different influences, they don't have anything else, they might not have anyone they know who's Jewish...it's so important we break out of those boxes."

After the visit, Mr Isaacs praised the prince for being an "ally".

The heir to the throne also met Holocaust survivor Renee Salt, who described her fears surrounding antisemitism and he told her: "It must be horrible for all of you worrying about this and I'm sorry it's got to this. It will get better."

The 94-year-old told William how she was moved from "ghetto to ghetto" during World War Two.

The prince expressed his condolences when she said her mother died 12 days after they were liberated from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp by the British Army in 1945.

He suggested it was important those who experienced the Holocaust continued to talk to the next generation, to which Ms Salt replied "some of the young people don't even believe it ever happened".

Ms Salt also said she wished the prince's wife Catherine - who is recovering from abdominal surgery she had last month - had been with him, as she would liked to have met her.

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said Prince William "reminded us that antisemitism is not only a problem for the Jewish community but for all society".

She added that his "visit sends a powerful message that Britain is a country where Jews, whether Holocaust survivors who came to find sanctuary or young Jewish students - are welcome and celebrated. He reminds us that even in the darkest days, the Jewish community is not alone".

Speaking on Tuesday, Kensington Palace said the Princess of Wales is continuing to do well when announcing that Prince William was pulling out of the memorial service.

As King Charles steps back from public duties during his cancer treatment, Prince William is set to take on some of his work.

Last week, the Prince of Wales took part in a video call with Red Cross staff in Gaza, who gave him graphic first-hand accounts of their work.

On the day of the visit to the Red Cross headquarters in London, Prince William released a strongly worded intervention on the Israel-Gaza conflict, calling for an "end to the fighting as soon as possible" and describing the "terrible human cost of the conflict in the Middle East since the Hamas terrorist attack".

He added there is a "desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza" and for the hostages to be released.

The Hamas attack on southern Israel killed about 1,200 people, and more than 240 others were taken hostage.

The Israeli military campaign has killed more than 30,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.