A task force of Jewish leaders from seven countries met with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on Monday in London to discuss the rising tide of antisemitism and explore coordinated international responses. The J7 group, representing peak Jewish organizations from Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, France, and Argentina, highlighted significant concerns regarding recent UK government measures and rhetoric surrounding counter-terrorism funding, which they fear indirectly affect Jewish communities.
Peter Wertheim, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and a member of the J7 delegation, emphasized the unique role of Australia’s ongoing royal commission into antisemitism. He noted that it offers the most detailed forensic examination to date of the diaspora Jewish experience since the outbreak of violence on October 7, 2023. According to Wertheim, the commission has revealed a widespread and profound deterioration in the lived experience of Jewish Australians across nearly every sector of public life over the past three years. He highlighted that other countries are observing the Australian inquiry with significant interest, considering the shared challenges faced by Western liberal democracies.
Miliband announced that the UK will host a ministerial-level meeting of the seven countries to further address antisemitism, acknowledging a disturbing increase in incidents internationally. He expressed strong condemnation of recent motions by the UK Green Party equating Zionism with racism, affirming his government’s support for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
Wertheim stressed that while criticism of Israel is not inherently antisemitic, many Jewish individuals who support Israel’s right to exist and live in peace are nonetheless subjected to exclusion, cancellation, and sometimes threats or acts of violence solely for their views. He called on governments to consistently affirm protections for Jews holding such opinions, arguing that failing to do so undermines efforts to combat antisemitism.
The J7 statement also expressed serious concern over what it described as the “continued demonisation of Israel,” citing rhetoric from elected officials as a vehicle for antisemitic incitement and behavior. However, Wertheim clarified that the UK sanctions against Israeli settlements were not the primary focus of the meeting.
In addition to discussing online safety and digital hate speech, Wertheim pointed to the amplification of antisemitic messages by social media platforms and their algorithms as a central challenge. He advocated for a multifaceted approach including legislative reform, stricter enforcement of hate speech laws, and educational initiatives to address growing antisemitism.
On the same day as the meeting, the UK government announced a public inquiry into the October 2025 terror attack at Manchester’s Heaton Park Synagogue, which left two people dead and three seriously injured. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the inquiry as a measure to ensure comprehensive examination of evidence, including sensitive national security information not fully disclosed in previous legal proceedings.
Wertheim offered a preliminary assessment that antisemitism in the UK appears more pronounced than in Australia, though he acknowledged his limited time in the country and cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions.