Remembrance Day offers a profound moment for us all to reflect on the losses suffered through war and to honour the ultimate sacrifice of those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. People of all religions – Christians, Jews, Muslims and others – gave their lives to defend us from the forces of fascism. Others suffered life-changing injuries in the line of duty.
We owe it to these heroes to remember their sacrifice with respect. That is why it is tragic that some rabid Left-wing activists want to hijack the solemn occasion for their own ends.
Anti-Israel protesters plan to hold a rally this Saturday in Trafalgar Square to show their continued outrage about Israeli forces entering Gaza in order to root out the Hamas terrorists who struck last month.
This is only the latest in their series of demonstrations which have blighted our streets in recent weeks. Further protests are in the works next week to coincide with Remembrance Day, with some calling for a “Million March for Palestine”.
However many people turn up on the day, it will be unavoidably chaotic. Previous protests in London have attracted as many as 70,000 people, according to police estimates. They have proven to be a magnet for radical anti-Semites and Israel haters, with notorious chants heard for “Jihad”, shouts of “God’s curse be upon the Jews” and even a Tube driver leading a rallying cry of “from the river to the sea” – which Jewish groups agree amounts to a call for Israel to be wiped off the map.
Each Israeli and Palestinian civilian killed is heartbreaking, especially children. Every reasonable person wants the violence to end, yet Hamas boasts it will not stop until Israel is annihilated.
If attention-hungry protesters think targeting Remembrance Day will win support for their cause, they will be sorely mistaken.
