Rising anti-Semitism: ‘The Pianist’ actress considers leaving UK [View all]

[Bonobo]

http://rt.com/uk/227131-maureen-lipman-antisemitism-uk/


Acclaimed actress Maureen Lipman says she could leave Britain because of the growing number of attacks on Jews in recent months.

She says she has spoken about her fears for a “long time,” but recent events have prompted her to think about moving abroad.

Anti-Semitic attacks in the UK reached a record high last year, according to the Jewish charity, Community Security Trust.

Some 304 incidents were recorded in the first six months of 2014, a 36 percent increase on the previous year.

Lipman, who featured in the award winning film The Pianist, rejected the notion that rising anti-Semitism was related to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.

“When the economy dries up, then they turn on the usual scapegoat. The usual suspect. The Jew,” she said.

“There is one school of thought that says it’s because of Israeli policies in the West Bank – it isn’t. There’s been anti-Semitism for the past 4,000 years.”

“When the going gets tough, the Jews get packing ... it's crossed my mind that it's time to have a look around for another place to live.”

BBC’s director of television Danny Cohen voiced similar concerns last December.

“I’ve never felt so uncomfortable being a Jew in the UK as I’ve felt in the last 12 months. And it’s made me think about, you know, is it our long-term home, actually? Because you feel it. I’ve felt it in a way I’ve never felt before,” he said.

Speaking in an interview with LBC radio, Lipman said she had considered going to New York and Israel in recent months.