That the Parliament notes the publication of the study, What’s Changed about Being Jewish in Scotland? by the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities supported by the Scottish Government and following on from the original study on the issue undertaken in 2012; is concerned that the outcomes of the study indicate that much anxiety, discomfort and vulnerability is being experienced by Scotland’s Jewish population and a considerable worsening of the situation since 2012; recognises that four out of every five respondents believe that events in the Middle East have affected how they are treated as Jews in Scotland; is mindful of the long tradition of tolerance and mutual respect that has existed in Scotland with regard to all religious and ethnic minorities; is pleased that the First Minister has made it clear that “there is nothing that happens in Israel or Palestine that can be justification for antisemitism or any racial or religious hatred” and that she “does not want to live in a country where Jewish people want to leave or hide their identity”; welcomes the strong reassurances from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, the Lord Advocate and the Chief Constable regarding zero tolerance of hatred, racism and antisemitism, and expresses the hope that every person in Scotland will also take that approach to all discrimination and intolerance.
Supported by:
Tom Arthur, Jackie Baillie, Jackson Carlaw, John Finnie, Kenneth Gibson, Maurice Golden, Ross Greer, Clare Haughey, Bill Kidd, John Lamont, Richard Lyle, Gillian Martin, John Mason, Joan McAlpine, Margaret Mitchell, Ash Regan, Stewart Stevenson, Ross Thomson, David Torrance, Andy Wightman