In a direct attack on the BBC and Britain's recognition of Palestine, former British prime minister Boris Johnson said it was "strange to see intellectuals supporting Hamas."
During a European Jewish Association conference (EJA) in Krakow, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sharply criticized the lack of political leadership in the West, condemned the BBC’s coverage, and called the Labour Party's decision to recognize a Palestinian state "a mistake driven by internal pressure."
The discussion opened on a somber note by EJA chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin, who declared that "this is the worst time for Jews since World War II." Rabbi Margolin noted that recent surveys show that about 20% of Europeans blame Jews for the war in Gaza. "Jews are afraid to live in Europe," he said.
Rabbi Margolin emphasized that all strategic programs, definitions (such as the IHRA definition), and the appointment of envoys to combat antisemitism have resulted in "zero impact" due to the lack of implemenation.
Johnson, who joined the discussion, agreed with the severity of the situation. "It's very sad to see this rising," he said. "Politicians must show leadership... it's not just a matter of enforcement against people who are violent toward Jews."
Criticism of the left and the BBC
Johnson expressed astonishment at what he called a "strange paradox" in Western politics. "It is sad and surprising to see a large number of middle-class intellectuals wearing keffiyehs, marching in the streets of London, and calling for Israel to be wiped off the map," he said.
His finger was also pointed at the media, particularly the BBC. When one of the participants asked about bias in the British broadcasting corporation, Johnson replied that "they made a corporate decision to cover the Gaza conflict in a certain way. I think it was very sad, and I think it caused huge damage."
Johnson urged political leaders "to tell the truth" about the difference between Israel and Hamas, "an organization that still holds to its charter calling for the destruction of Israel."
'A political mistake'
One of the main issues raised in the discussion was the step taken by the Labour Party in Britain, led by Keir Starmer, to recognize a Palestinian state.
Johnson fiercely criticized the decision, saying, "Israel has always faced an existential threat. Why choose this particular moment?" He argued that the decision does not even meet basic standards of international law. "Under the conditions of the Montevideo Convention of 1933… it doesn't even meet the criteria. You don’t know the borders of this entity, you don't know who will run it."
According to Johnson, the move stemmed not from diplomatic considerations but from internal political pressure. "It was about managing the pressure within the Labour Party… and Muslim constituencies in metropolitan areas," he said.
When Maariv asked the former prime minister whether the recognition step was connected to pressures from France as part of post-Brexit trade agreements, Johnson dismissed the idea outright. "That's news to me," he said firmly. "I love Brexit… that issue, I can assure you, never came up at all [in the 2020 negotiations]. If it had, we would have kicked their backsides."
The solution: Aggressive philosemitism
In response to the question of whether the idea of a Palestinian state is not a threat to Israel given popular support for the October 7 massacre, Johnson acknowledged that "it's not a good idea if they continue with their current manifesto of violence and hatred. I don’t think, frankly, that it's going to happen anytime soon. How can Israel be expected to accept such an entity as a neighbor?"
Johnson called on European leaders to change their approach: "When was the last time you heard a European leader stand up and say what a wonderful thing it is to have a thriving Jewish community… and how much they want to attract more Jews to come and live there?" he asked.
"It's time for a bit of 'aggressive philosemitism,' if I can put it that way."
Rabbi Margolin closed the discussion with a message to leaders: "We are not asking for charity, we are asking for justice… We ask European leaders to decide whether they truly want Jewish life in their countries. If so, real measures must be implemented."