Whenever violence erupts between Israel and Hamas, or any other Palestinian organization, anti-Semitic attacks in Europe increase significantly. This year is no different: a car hit a synagogue in France, for instance. When police investigated the matter they found several molotov cocktails in the car and several others in other cars parked nearby.

In the United Kingdom too, anti-Semites are having a field day. They attack synagogues, Jewish shops and organizations and even individual Jews on a daily basis. Several Jewish organizations in Britain have warned the government that anti-Semitic attacks have increased so significantly that many Jews do no longer feel safe in their own neighborhood, let alone in their own country.

When a Jew opens the door of his home to walk to his car to go to work, Arabic anti-Semites walk up to him, start chanting anti-Semitic slogans, pull him out of his car when he finally gets in it, and physically assault him. On other occasions British Jews see angry British Arabs shout angry slogans, walk to Jewish shops, surround them and attack them by throwing stones. Another British Jew wakes up one day, goes to his own restaurant and sees anti-Semitic graffiti on its walls and windows.

The war in Gaza is, to a large degree, terrible. But even if you are pro-Palestinian, it is completely absurd to attack Jews living in Britain for what you consider a crime perpetrated by Israel. If Westerners such as myself would follow the same reasoning, they should attack Arabs and Arab shops everywhere whenever a terrorist blows himself up or whenever an Arabic regime or organization does something we consider a crime and / or unacceptable. If the anger would be directed at Muslims, as Arab Brits do towards Jews now, even I would be assaulted when a Muslim country or organization commits a crime or act against Christians or Jews (for the purpose of this article I follow their reasoning a bit; I don’t agree of course that Israel is committing a crime by attacking Hamas in Gaza).

Furthermore, perhaps these Arabs (because this is what they are; it is always interesting to see that most  Muslims of other races go about their business, attacking no one) should be reminded of the Qur’an and of what it says about attacking innocent people. It repeats in verse after verse that one should only fight when given no other option and that only those fighting against one should be attacked (see for instance) Qur’an 2:190-192, 4:36, 5:32, 25:68, 60:8-9). The last one: “God does not forbid you from being good to those who have not fought you over religion or driven you from your homes, or from being just towards them.” Since British Jews have nothing and I do mean nothing to do with whatever it is the state of Israel does, attacking them or even disliking them is unislamic behavior, not worthy of a Muslim. Qur’an 5:8 adds: “You who believe! Show integrity for the sake of God, bearing witness with justice. Do not let hatred for a people incite you into not being just. Be just. That is closer to heedfulness. Heed God (alone). God is aware of what you do.”

Behave in a just manner. Being just is key to being a good Muslim. “Be good to your parents and relatives and to orphans and the very poor, and to neighbors who are related to you and neighbors who are not related to you, and to companions and travelers and your slaves. God does not love anyone vain or boastful” (Qur’an 4:36). And “a good deed and a bad deed are not the same. Repel the bad with something better and, if there is enmity between you and someone else, he will be like a bosom friend” (Qur’an 41:34).

Lastly three other things Arabic Muslims who attack Jews should keep in mind: “When they are told, ‘Do not cause corruption on the earth,’ they say, ‘We are only putting things right.’ No indeed! They are the corrupters, but they are not aware of it” (Qur’an 2:11-12). “Those who believe, those who are Jews, and the Christians and Sabaeans, all who believe in God and the Last Day and act rightly, will have their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow” (Qur’an 2:62). “The desert Arabs are the worst in disbelief and hypocrisy, and more fitted to be ignorant of the limits which God has sent down to His Messenger. But God is Knowing, Wise” (Qur’an 9:97).

In their attempt to appease these groups, Western governments are making a tragic mistake by rationalizing anti-Semitism. These attacks and clear hatred for an entire people – not caused by this year’s attack on Gaza; it merely functions as an excuse – should be condoned nor tolerated. Zero tolerance should be applied to all those who attack Jews out of anti-Semitism. If Western governments do not act now, the problem will get worse, and we will face serious problems of anti-Semitism in the years and decades ahead.