"Why liberals have ended up cheerleading for jihadism
Israelophobia is just the newest version of the oldest hatred – and it’s being perpetuated by Britain’s Left

Protesters during a march for Palestine in London
With its vibrant gay scene, vegan restaurants and Green MP, Brighton is one of the most liberal towns in Britain. It may come as no surprise that it is also a repository of fashionable support for Hamas.

Following the inhuman butchery perpetrated against Jews by the terror group last weekend, Britain has seen a spate of rallies – not in support of the victims but the murderers. As popular as these demonstrations were on the trendy Left, it is no exaggeration to say that they shamed our country. But one example in the seaside town stands out.

Gathering just 24 hours after the start of the barbarism, a speaker declared: “Yesterday was a victory”. Compounding the insult, she went on to describe the butchery as “so beautiful and inspiring to see”. The crowd applauded.

This was more than just a moral outrage. As Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation, it may have been criminal. On Friday, a 22-year-old woman was arrested by counter terror police on suspicion of supporting Hamas at the rally.

In recent days, the extent of the Islamist cruelty has begun to come out. The slaughter of babies, evidenced by a disturbing picture bravely published by The Telegraph this week, has appalled the world.

Children have been abducted, bullied and tortured. In one searing interview, an Irish father said that he was relieved to discover that his eight-year-old daughter had been found dead. He found the alternative unbearable to contemplate.

Different images hit home with different people.

In my position as editor of the Jewish Chronicle, I have been shown footage and images that others have not. One clip in particular, filmed by a terrorist with one hand while he perpetrated his crime with the other, has since been flashing into my mind unbidden. He was using a rod to put out the eyes of a corpse.

These are the acts being celebrated by liberals in Britain."