UK Prime Minister calls for stronger police response to anti-Israel protesters
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a rare Downing Street statement to the media in which he strongly criticises "Islamist extremists and far-right groups" who he says are "spreading a poison" of extremism. His statement comes after the issue of the Gaza war upended a by-election in Rochdale, with the Labour candidate withdrawing due to anti-Israel comments and the winning politician, leftwing firebrand George Galloway, pledging full support for the Palestinian people.
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00:00 [SIDE CONVERSATION]
00:14 You can freely criticize the actions of this government,
00:17 or indeed any government.
00:19 That is a fundamental democratic right.
00:21 But no, you cannot use that as an excuse
00:24 to call for the eradication of a state,
00:27 or any kind of hatred or anti-Semitism.
00:31 This week, I've met with senior police officers
00:34 and made clear it is the public's expectation
00:38 that they will not merely manage these protests,
00:41 but police them.
00:42 And I say this to the police, we will back you
00:46 when you take action.