Prince Harry Warns of Troubling Antisemitism Rise in UK Leading to Violence

The Duke of Sussex has warned of a "deeply troubling" rise in antisemitism in the UK that has led to "lethal violence" against the Jewish community.

Prince Harry acknowledged the importance of "legitimate protest" against the actions of a state. He said people must be more "clear" about where they aim their anger.

"Nothing, whether criticism of a government or the reality of violence and destruction, can ever justify hostility toward an entire people or faith," he wrote in the New Statesman.

Recent months have seen a string of attacks at synagogues and other Jewish sites. That includes the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, on April 29.

Pro-Palestinian marches have drawn renewed scrutiny. The government says antisemitic activity has occurred during the protests as people seek to sow division.

In an opinion piece titled "My Fears for a Divided Kingdom," the duke wrote: "We have seen how legitimate protest against state actions in the Middle East does exist alongside hostility toward Jewish communities at home – just as we have also seen how criticism of those actions can be too easily dismissed or mischaracterised."

He said "hatred directed at people for who they are, or what they believe, is not protest. It is prejudice."

The prince said he felt the need to speak out because saying nothing allows "hate and extremism to flourish unchecked."

Prince Harry referred throughout to the actions of a "state" but did not name Israel.

"We cannot ignore a difficult truth: when states act without accountability, and in ways that raise serious questions under international humanitarian law – criticism is both legitimate, necessary and essential in any democracy," he wrote.

But he said people who speak out and protest against such actions must be clear that the "onus falls squarely on the state – not an entire people."

Part of the problem, the duke wrote, lies with the polarised public debate, which has deepened the confusion that "fuels division."

The duke said he had learned from his own "past mistakes," an apparent reference to an incident when he was 20 years old.

In 2005, Harry drew heavy criticism for wearing a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party with a "Native and Colonial" theme. Harry publicly apologised at the time, saying it was "a poor choice of costume."