Oliver Dowden says he knows how "vulnerable" his Jewish constituents are feeling following a "vile" video which called for 'Jewish daughters to be raped'.
Police are investigating a report of anti-Semitic abuse after a convoy of cars draped in Palestinian flags was seen travelling through north London on Sunday.
One man is heard blasting through a loudspeaker: "F*** the Jews, f*** the movement, f*** all of them."
He went on to say, in a road with one of the largest Jewish community centres - JW3 - : f*** their mothers, f*** their daughters and show your support for Palestine'.
The man can also clearly be heard saying 'rape their daughters, we have to send a message'.
A loudspeaker can be seen in the window of the grey BMW waiting at the traffic lights in Finchley Road. Credit: Twitter
The Metropolitan Police confirmed a few hours after the video appeared on Twitter on Sunday afternoon that four people had been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offences.
The video has been condemned by senior politicians, including the Prime Minister Boris Johnson who described the incident in Finchley Road as "shameful racism".
One of his senior ministers, Oliver Dowden, who is also MP for Hertsmere - which has some of the largest Jewish populations in the country, said yesterday: "Appalling and scary scenes for the Jewish Community in London today. We must always stand firm against vile antisemitism."
Appalling and scary scenes for the Jewish Community in London today.
— Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) May 16, 2021
We must always stand firm against vile antisemitism. https://t.co/FLH50GFpzk
This morning, the Conservative MP went on to say: "I know how deeply worried and vulnerable Jewish residents in Hertsmere are feeling following the events in north London last night.
"I have discussed the situation overnight with the Policing Minister. Robust action must be taken to defend the community and I’m glad that it is."
The incident comes after thousands of Pro-Palestinian protesters marched through London on Saturday to the gates of the Israeli embassy, while protests took place in other cities across the UK and Ireland,
Thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes after a week of sustained conflict.
Since Monday last week, Palestinian militant group Hamas has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, whose military responded with air strikes into Gaza.
The fighting began after weeks of rising Israeli-Palestinian tension in occupied East Jerusalem that culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas, which controls Gaza, began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes.
Pro-Palestine protesters in London this weekend. Credit: PA
Today, Israel conducted dozens of air strikes on the Gaza Strip on Monday, after Palestinian militants fired barrages of rockets at southern Israeli cities. There have been no reports of casualties in Gaza following today's strikes.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, the overall death toll in the territory now stands at 198, including 58 children and 34 women, with 1,230 injured. Israel says more than 130 militants have died.
Closer to home, a woman posted on Facebook this weekend an anti-Israel sticker which she claims her Israeli father found in Sainsbury's in London Colney.
She posted a photo of the sticker, which said 'Boycott Israeli Apartheid' and was printed onto a Palestine flag, and said it had been left on a pot of hummus in the kosher section of the supermarket.
The sticker on the right was reportedly found stuck to hummus in London Colney Sainsbury's
Following the events in north London, Borehamwood Labour councillor Michelle Vince, posted on Facebook on Sunday night: "After reading and watching the horrific anti-Semitic events that have occurred in London today I want to send solidarity and support to The Jewish community.
"I have tonight spoken to a close Jewish friend who is understandably very frightened. I have this evening spoken to a member of Herts Police who assured me they are always prepared and that no form of racism will be tolerated.
"Our Jewish community is a very valued part of the Borehamwood community we will stand by your side. I will be meeting with the leader of the Labour group Jeremy Newmark directly after Shavuot to discuss these horrendous issues."
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