The president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) on Sunday warned of a growing tide of hatred and terror targeted against Jews and others, including in Britain.
Ronald S. Lauder told an event of the Board of Deputies of British Jews in London: “There is a deep and well-founded concern over statements by leaders of the Labour Party. The anti-Zionism and BDS movement on various campuses is more active here than in most other countries. Earlier this year, the School of Oriental and African Studies at London University voted to boycott Israel, and this was sanctioned by the university. Would London University, or any other school, tolerate the same sanctions against blacks, Muslims, or gay people?
“If it's not ok to sanction these groups, why is it ok to sanction Israel? Why is it ok to sanction Jews? Because make no mistake, these people are not just sanctioning a country, they are sanctioning a people. And that is not alright.” Lauder commended the Board of Deputies for challenging anti-Semitism in what he called “pockets of mainstream politics.” 
Referring to growing concerns about the future of European Jewry, the WJC president said: “Some have suggested that all the Jews should leave Europe for Israel. Let me make one thing clear. If all the Jews left Europe tomorrow, this would be sad for the Jews, but it would be a disaster for Europe.”
In his address, Lauder also paid tribute to the recent victims of terrorism. He said: “All of Great Britain is in shock over the assassination of a member of Parliament, Jo Cox, a mother of two with a brilliant future in front of her. The perpetrator seems to have ties to the far right.
“And I come from a country also in mourning over the deaths of 49, and more than 50 critically injured, innocent human beings in Orlando, Florida by a radical Islamic terrorist.
“In Israel, the most recent attack took the lives of four victims who were simply having dinner at a popular restaurant in Tel Aviv. What do these tragic events have in common? Terror. Intolerance. And Hate. Three things that Jews have known all too well throughout time.”
