He was an advisory editor of Engage , a web-based campaign that emerged from opposition to the AUT boycott . In his words Engage was " careful to stress that criticism of Israel 's Government or Israeli society is not a priori anti-Semitic . What Engage objects to is the demonisation of Israel , the application of double standards intended to criminalise one state and those who support it , and the unique denial to the Jews of any right to nationhood . " Cesarani decried anti-Semitic incidents and expressions in relation to the boycotts in British universities as well as the " apathy " of student bodies such as the National Union of Students . Cesarani concluded " It should not be like this . It is possible to support the Palestinian struggle against the occupation and for a viable state without endorsing the murder of innocents or conspiracy theories about Jews . British universities are a meeting place of different nationalities and ethnic and faith groups . The boycott campaign , anti-Israel motions , double standards and violent rhetoric poison this precious environment . " Cesarani rejected suggestions that incidents such as the attack on a Kosher shop in Paris following the Charlie Hebdo shooting in January 2015 were a sign of universal anti-Semitism . He wrote that " The current hysteria about the ' rise of anti-semitism ' and the flight of Jews from Europe is deeply regrettable . There is no ' wave ' of anti-semitism . " The basis of his argument was that Jews were not socially or legally isolated " as they were in the 1930s and 1940s , but find themselves enjoying unprecedented solidarity . " He further emphasised that Jewish communities " on both sides of the English Channel rallied and continued to thrive " following targeted attacks by Palestinian Arab terrorists in the 1970s and 1980s and wrote that the " current press hyperbole shows not only ignorance about what the situation was like 70 – 80 years ago , but what it was like just 20 – 30 years before now . " He also attacked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for " fear mongering " and asserted that Jews , non-Jews and Muslims were standing " shoulder to shoulder " against a common terrorist threat
Charlie Hebdo shooting
Charlie Hebdo shooting
David Cesarani