Since 2009, I have been subject to Anti Semitic attacks, I am very obviously,
on sight of the Jewish faith, I wear Kippot (head covering) and Tzitzit
(fringes). Previously, I had not noticed the effects of a Jew in the streets of
Newham because I always traveled by car. In December 2009 I decided that I
could no longer afford a car.
Slowly noticing whilst walking in the streets there was a negative attention on
me I retrained my natural way of living and before long, it started, name
calling (child Killer F*cking Jew, sentences in Arabic with Yahude included).
I am very much aware of my surroundings, periodically there are jibes,
comments, spitting, name calling and intimidating looks. I have consistently
and regularly highlighting to the Head of the Council and Mayor of Newham Sir
Robin Wales regarding my safety as a resident of Newham and have continuously
communicated regarding my personal safety and home security matter which has
been a long drawn out futile request for assistance landing on the ears of
bureaucratic time consuming waffle, or in the mayor's case, complete and
absolute ignorance.
As before, I am periodically subject to verbal / Physical attacks, the police
have not done anything in particular that was visible, one time I was attacking
in Canning Town I was tripped up and kicked to the ground, where the assailants
punched and kicked me, when I got up, I stood in front of them and said Salaamu
Alaykum and walked away, I got on the bus to return to my home, when I got off
the bus at Upper Road in Plaistow and waved down a police car and told them
what happened, they asked "what do you expect us to do about it?" This was and
is a wake up call for me, I cannot go out at night alone, I have not enough
room in my home (due to a waste of effective use of space) to have people here
for dinner and as a result I have absolutely no social life because I am a Jew
in Newham, I have no real "Jewish" community network and my immediate community
have their own lives, albeit they are friendly, we do not socialize.
As I feel vulnerable but "safer" to go out and about in daylight with a
personal alarm I have been doing so, immediately after Nakba protests in Israel
Sunday 15 May, I have experienced hostility in the streets, nothing out of the
usual when Israel defends herself, growling, looks of stone cold death in an
attempt to intimidate me, was spat on a few times, called a terrorist and child
killer. that Friday there was an unsettling air in Plaistow, I could not put my
finger on it really but it was a very obvious tension.
Between the hours of Friday evening - Saturday Morning there was a grafitti
attack at my home, I broke Shabbat and called the police, explaining that I had
to go the Synagogue as I had the keys to allow the community entry, I advised
them I would return to my home by 13:30 and they told me there would be someone
there at that time, the police arrived after 3 PM, The solo police woman
chatted for approximately 10 minutes about how wrong it is and was filled to
the brim with empathy, (very well trained) but alas, nothing really they can do
about it, she spoke to some neighbour's, ascertained no leads and took some
pictures. On Saturday night I had absolutely no sleep and was completely alone
and vulnerable albeit my windows were all locked and my boors double locked, I
felt like a prisoner in my own home, my local councilor Joy Laguda, visited the
house and was in disbelief at what she saw, she hinted again (previously she
has attempted to get me in front of the Mayor) that maybe a meeting would be a
benefit. I am frustrated, devastated, worried sick for my welfare and worse, my
life. I refuse to leave my home as I have a Parrot and would NEVER leave him
alone in my home knowing there may be a danger. On 22 May, I was alone and
suffered many minor panic attacks, I was absolutely petrified as there was a
stabbing in my street earlier in the day (non related) petrified as I know the
family, it was too close to home albeit no involvement the feeling of " oh my
gosh, is this what the street will look like when the perpetrators of hatred
against me, get me?" police, police cars, police vans, neighbours at their
doors, men in handcuffs, a father with a baby worried about his wife, a
helicopter over head and the Virgin sponsored helicopter Ambulance circling
trying to find a space to set down.
The police, The authorities, the council have no idea what hell they are doing,
they can only go on guidelines that are policy and unfortunately, it does not
cover this scale, like the rest of the world, "if this happens we will do that
as a consequence" unfortunately, I am the target for this and I would prefer to
have the Israeli approach of "Prevention is better than cure" something the
world cannot understand!
My MP Lyn Brown has been invaluable to me but, her intervention to the
commander of police and to various agencies involved in safeguarding me have
been relatively ignored.
After many attempts to get Robin Wales to address this hatred (that he says he
will "never allow to breed in Newham", 27 January 2010 Newham Recorder) I met
him in the street and challenged him and his ignorance of me, he walked away
circling his temple with his finger, indicating the Forhad (councillor) that I
was mad! VERY PROFESSIONAL SIR!!