Pro-Palestinian activists in the United Kingdom have been accused of intimidating Jewish residents during a door-to-door campaign promoting a boycott of Israeli goods. Jewish community organisations and several politicians have warned that the tactics risk crossing from political activism into harassment, reports The Jerusalem Post.
The activists are linked to the Apartheid-Free Zone (AFZ) movement, which has been canvassing neighbourhoods in Hackney, Bristol, Sheffield and Brighton. According to reports, campaigners have been knocking on doors, urging residents to refuse to buy products made in Israel.
Jewish groups say the campaign has caused particular concern in Hackney, east London, which is home to one of the largest ultra-Orthodox (haredi) Jewish communities outside New York and Israel.
The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that monitors and combats antisemitism in Britain, criticised the approach. It said that “turning up uninvited at homes in an area with a large Jewish community to push a political agenda of this nature is intimidating and crosses a serious line.”
The controversy intensified following an alleged incident in Sheffield, where a woman claimed she was headbutted by an activist connected to the campaign. According to reports, she and her partner were counter-protesting when the alleged assault occurred. Police confirmed that no arrests have been made so far.
Labour MP Peter Kyle said he had reported the activities to local police and raised concerns about the potential impact on vulnerable residents.
“My immediate thought was for the appalling scenario of a vulnerable Jewish resident being door-knocked by a gang of people wanting to harangue them,” Kyle told Sky News.
Jewish organisations have stressed that while peaceful protest is a democratic right, targeting residential areas with significant Jewish populations can create fear and anxiety, especially amid rising antisemitic incidents in the UK since October 2023.
Despite the criticism, activists in Bristol and Hackney were reportedly preparing for further demonstrations over the weekend.
The situation highlights growing tensions in Britain over activism related to Israel and the Gaza conflict. Jewish community leaders have repeatedly warned that campaigns framed as political boycotts can, in practice, create an atmosphere in which Jewish residents feel singled out or pressured because of their identity.
Police have not announced any formal hate-crime charges, but community groups are continuing to monitor the situation closely.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Jack Taylor
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