THE GUARDIAN: Far-right activist described as ‘thug who represents worst of Britain’ after invitation to Israel sparks outrage
Plans by an Israeli minister to host the British far-right activist Tommy Robinson have been condemned by Jewish bodies in the UK and others.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council described Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, as “a thug” who represented the “very worst of Britain”.
Both organisations spoke out after the Israeli diaspora minister, Amichai Chikli, said on Friday that Robinson would visit Israel this month after the terror attack on a Manchester synagogue. In a post on X, Chikli described Robinson as “a courageous leader on the front line against radical Islam”.
Robinson said he had accepted an invitation by the Israeli government to cover the cost of his flight and hotel stay for a few days, adding that he intended to travel after an appearance in court on 13 October.
He said he would visit the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, to meet government leaders andvisit “Judea and Samaria”, a term typically used by rightwing Israeli politicians for the West Bank.
However, the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council said of Robinson: “His presence undermines those genuinely working to tackle Islamist extremism and foster community cohesion.”
“Minister Chikli has proven himself to be a diaspora minister in name only. In our darkest hour, he has ignored the views of the vast majority of British Jews, who utterly and consistently reject Robinson and everything he stands for,” they added. » | Ben Quinn | Sunday, October 5, 2025
Diaspora minister spars with main UK Jewish groups over his praise and invite for far-right activist: Groups slam Chikli for inviting Tommy Robinson to Israel, say most British Jews abhor him; minister retorts by accusing Board of Deputies, main Jewish representative group, of aligning with ‘left-wing, woke parties’ »
