Suffolk based artist deeply concerned by antisemitism rise

Monica Petzal, whose family members were killed in the holocaust, expressed her concern as the organisation that monitors antisemitism in the UK said that more than 1,500 incidents were reported in the first half of this year. 

This is the second-highest total ever reported to the organisation in the first six months of any year but is down by a quarter from the record high of 2,019 incidents recorded between January and June last year, according to the Community Security Trust.

Monica Petzal, an artist based outside of Saxmundum (Image: Monica Petzal) As an artist, Monica has produced exhibition celebrating her family’s past in Coventry and Leicester, as well as the persecution of Jews in East Anglia, specifically Norwich. 

She said: “I am deeply concerned about the rise of antisemitism, despite my not receiving it on a personal level except in a very stereotypical way.

“But it is very concerning and we have to keep in mind historical events such as what happened in Norwich in 1144 because we do see antisemitism online nearly everywhere. 

Monica’s family Stolpersteine, which is located in Berlin (Image: Monica Petzal) “I read about protests and riots at an hotel in Diss against people seeking asylum and I think it is so important that we don’t collectivise any one group of people.

“Part of my current exhibition, ‘Dissent and Displacement’ focusses on a Syrian refugee, who is almost a GP now, and if you imagine going to your GP, you wouldn’t have any idea about that, you would just be going to your GP.

“There is a lot people who have a certain mindset and there is a tremendous amount of ignorance that goes on in regards to people of certain backgrounds.

Monica’s grandmother Selma, who was murdered at Auschwitz (Image: Monica Petzal) “That is why in my work, I focus on individual stories so we don’t collectivise anyone but see the person and their story.”

According to the Community Security Trust, the organisation that monitors antisemitism in the UK, there were at least 200 incidents every month in the first half of 2025, with the highest daily total at 26 incidents reported on June 29.

This was a day after a performance by punk duo Bob Vylan, who originally hail from Ipswich, at the world-renowned Glastonbury music festival in Somerset.

Behind the duo a banner read: ‘Free Palestine, United Nation have called it a Genocide. The BBC call it a conflict’ (Image: Supplied) During the set, which was livestreamed on BBC, rapper Bobby Vylan chanted “Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces).”

The CST said the incidents reported to the charity involved anti-Jewish responses to events at Glastonbury as well as to the CST’s subsequent statement on X which had branded the chants “utterly chilling”.

Avon and Somerset Police said last month that inquiries were continuing in relation to the comments made onstage during Bob Vylan’s performance.

The comments were condemned by the Prime Minister, Sir Kier Starmer (Image: Shikhar Talwar) The rapper defended the chant saying that it was against the actions of the IDF, not Israel or members of the Jewish community, in support of Palestine.

In recent weeks, France and the UK announced that it would move to recognise the state of Palestine if the conflict continued. 

Taking to social media, Bobby Vylan said: “Watching politicians and mainstream media suddenly change their rhetoric on the genocide makes me feel like I’ve truly gone crazy.

“Can someone please confirm that a few weeks ago they villainized us on the front pages for being against this while they were very much pro-genocide.”

Dr Peter Prinsley, who has worked with Monica in her work as a trustee of Jurnet’s House (Image: Roger Harris/Houses of Parliament) Dr Peter Prinsley, the first Jewish MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket said that there was a clear difference between support for Palestine and anti-Jewish racism.

He said: “Antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism, have no place in our society.

“Racist hate continues to spread, too often peddled by toxic social media.

“I agree with the Culture Secretary that the chants at the Vylan set at Glasonbury were appalling and unacceptable. I can’t comment further since the investigation is still ongoing.

“The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza breaks our hearts, as does the torturous suffering of the hostages.

“But let me be clear – there is a clear difference between speaking out for Palestine, which is the right of everybody in our country, and anti-Jewish racism, which is never okay”.