A prominent anti-Israel placard displayed above the entrance to a public library in Harrow has been removed following complaints by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) and repeated requests from the building’s management.
The placard, displayed in the window of a privately owned flat above Greenhill Library in, Harrow declared in large red letters: “ISRAEL BURNS PEOPLE ALIVE”.
A second placard proclaimed that Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen and Iran “HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES”. A Palestinian flag was also displayed in another nearby window.
The signs were photographed by a Jewish library user who was distressed by their content and prominent location above a library used by children and families.
After the matter was brought to its attention, UKLFI contacted the building’s freeholder and managing agents, raising concerns about the inflammatory wording and the possibility that members of the public might mistakenly associate the display with the council-run library.
UKLFI also reported the placards to the Metropolitan Police as a potential hate crime, asking officers to consider whether they breached the Public Order Act 1986, including provisions concerning racially aggravated public order offences and stirring up racial hatred.
UKLFI argued that the accusation that Israel burns people alive echoed antisemitic blood-libel allegations and that the accompanying wording could be interpreted as justifying armed attacks against Israel.
The building’s managing agents, subsequently confirmed that they had sent the resident three written requests and spoken to her twice, asking her to remove the placard, but she had remained unwilling to comply. The agents were therefore seeking advice about possible action under the terms of her lease.
On 5 November 202, the building management confirmed that the resident had finally taken down the placard, providing photographic evidence of its removal.
Harrow Council had previously told the complainant that it had found no evidence of radicalisation, support for terrorism or activity falling within the Prevent framework. The council also explained that the police, rather than the council, were responsible for determining whether a criminal offence had been committed.
A UKLFI spokesperson said:
“We welcome the removal of this offensive placard, particularly from such a prominent position above a public library used by children and families.
“Freedom of expression does not mean that inflammatory accusations against Israel should go unchallenged, especially where they risk causing distress to Jewish members of the community.
“We are pleased that the building’s management took our concerns seriously and persisted in seeking the removal of the display.”