‘Sometimes I feel safer in Israel’: Rabbi Leo Dee speaks to LBC on return to UK to support Jewish Community

21 October 2023, 15:45 | Updated: 21 October 2023, 15:48

Lucy Dee died three days after her daughters were killed in a shooting
Lucy Dee died three days after her daughters were killed in a shooting. Picture: Handout
Charlotte Lynch

By Charlotte Lynch

British-Israeli Rabbi Leo Dee, whose wife and two daughters were killed by terrorists in the West Bank earlier this year, has said he sometimes feels safer in Israel than in the UK, despite the conflict with Hamas.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Rabbi Leo Dee is visiting London from Israel this weekend to support the Jewish community, following a ten-fold increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes reported to police in the capital.

Mr Dee's wife Lucy, 48, and daughters Maia, 20, and Rina, 15, were shot dead by a Palestinian terrorist in the Jordan Valley in April this year.

He said he was concerned by the rise in anti-Semitism in London, and some of the language used during demonstrations held in London.

“It’s frightening for me to come here, strangely I feel more safe sometimes in Israel, despite the fact there is war going on”, Mr Dee said.

Read more: Anti-Semitic hate soars in London as police vow to stop 'celebrations of terrorism or death'

Read more: Glamorous banker sacked after anti-Semitic Instagram post saying 'no wonder Hitler wanted to get rid' of Jewish people

Leo Dee's daughters were killed in a shooting on the West Bank
Leo Dee's daughters and wife were killed in a shooting on the West Bank. Picture: Handout/LinkedIn

He said he believed “there’s a little bit of holding back” in Britain by allowing the controversial chant “from the river to the sea” at demonstrations in support of Palestine.

Rabbi Dee said: “Those people marching – ‘from the river to the sea’, shouting ‘gas the Jews’, holding up swastikas and so forth, I think would not be tolerated in certain societies.

“The question for this country is to what extent are they prepared to tolerate freedom of speech for people who spread hate, and I think this is a very important question each and every one of us has to think about.”

Of the protests, he said: “We’re actually fighting the same battle as those people, because when they say free Palestine, it’s free Palestine from Hamas.

Head of Campaign Against anti-Semitism poses fiery question to Police Federation chief

“Hamas is operating a regime in Gaza where it’s been scored 11% on the freedom house human rights scale, one of the lowest in the world.

“The Hamas government has abused its people, hasn’t given them freedom of speech, hasn’t given them freedom of religion or freedom to vote. Women have very restricted lives... So by ridding Palestinians of Hamas, Israel will be freeing Palestine.”

This Shelagh caller shares 'horrific' anti-semitic act he witnessed

Rabbi Dee also told LBC he believes US President Joe Biden has “excelled” in his response to the conflict, and spoke highly of the British government’s support for Israel.

“Rishi Sunak and James Cleverly have acted like tremendously upright, moral individuals. They have immediately spotted the issue of good vs evil, and they have sided with good”, he said.

“I think Biden has excelled in the way he has taken this forward, in a way I personally would never have predicted, but I am extremely impressed, and so are most of the Jewish community around the world.

“I think at the moment we probably have the upper hand in terms of support of Western nations. But the concern is that as Israel retaliates – not retaliates, but fights in order to remove Hamas – that support might weaken.

"People have to remember this is not a football game where we are scoring goals – this is an existential threat that has to be eliminated completely. There will be casualties sadly on both sides but it is so we can get to a state where we can live in peace with one another, with freedom and tolerance on both sides.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The crash site in Hrabove, Ukraine of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which was shot down over Ukraine.

Russia responsible for downing MH17 flight over Ukraine, UN rules

Andy Murray (right) and Novak Djokovic who will “no longer be working together”, the Scot’s representatives have announced. Issue date: Tuesday May 13, 2025.

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic ‘will no longer be working together’ - as split announced days before French Open

Breaking
French Actor Gérard Depardieu Faces Trial Over Sexual Assault Allegations

French actor Gerard Depardieu found guilty of sexually assaulting two women and handed 18 month suspended jail term

Exclusive
Ms Cooper made the remarks on LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast.

'We need action in waters, not just the coast', says Home Secretary as she slams French response to small boats

Marks and Spencer on Oxford Street in London.

M&S admits customers' personal data was stolen by hackers in cyber attack

Court hears how Sean 'Diddy' Combs forced women into 'freak offs' as sex trafficking trial begins in New York

Court hears how Sean 'Diddy' Combs forced women into 'freak offs' as sex trafficking trial begins in New York

a deadly bacteria has seen several Spar products recalled

Major supermarket urgently recalls chicken after discovering deadly bacteria

Kim Kardashian attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City.

Kim Kardashian to appear in court as witness in $10m 'grandpa robbers' burglary case in Paris

A man has been arrested in connection with fires at properties linked to Keir Starmer

Man arrested in connection with 'arson with intent to endanger life' after fires at sites linked to Keir Starmer

An obese child looking down

Smart scales and special clinics to help thousands of obese children lose weight

Exclusive
.

‘It’s not worth the high’: Ketamine addicts getting younger and showing more severe signs of bladder issues

ROMANIA NATO DACIA SPRING EXERCICE

Three Belgian soldiers injured in training exercise in Scotland

Peter Sullivan was jailed in 1987 but could soon walk free

Man’s murder conviction considered at Court of Appeal after 38 years in prison

EastEnders star Heath Peace revealed her battle with cancer

EastEnders star reveals secret breast cancer battle as she gets wig fitted after chemotherapy

People with mental health problems are waiting days for treatment in busy emergency departments.

Mental health patients waiting days in A&E ‘scandal in plain sight’, warns nursing boss

Models of people on coins

23% of parents with adult children ‘have had them boomerang back home to live’