Prince Harry's lengthy piece about antisemitism has drawn mixed reception from supporters and critics.
Prince Harry addressed the concerning rise of antisemitism in the UK, including a surge of violence targeting local Jewish communities. In his extensive piece inThe New Statesman, the Duke of Sussex also admitted that he is 'acutely aware' of 'past mistakes.'
He was referring to aphotograph of him in a Nazi uniform and swastika armbandin 2005, a costume he wore at a party thrown by Olympic show jumper Richard Meade. The photo made the rounds across publications including The Sun, causing controversy and public outcry. Prince Harry was 20 at the time.
'I am acutely aware of my own past mistakes – thoughtless actions for which I have apologised, taken responsibility and learned from,' he wrote. 'That experience informs my conviction that clarity matters now more than ever, at a time when confusion and the distortion of truth are doing real harm – even when speaking plainly is not without consequence.'
'It requires responsibility from all of us,' he asserted. 'We cannot answer injustice with more injustice. If we do, we don't end the cycle, we extend it. The only way to break it is to refuse to pass it on.'
Prince Harry's statements drew mixed reception, some criticising his attempt to link previous Royal controversies to his current advocacy.
'He is aware of his own mistakes? Of wearing a certain uniform then in his book blaming his brother and sister in law? That mistake?' one user commented viaExpress. 'I don't know who wrote this however it wasn't him, and I think this had been done to try and make him look like he cares when I don't think that he does.'
The UK raised the national terror threat level to 'severe' in light of recent events. In his article, Prince Harry noted the recent attacks against Jews in Manchester and London as evidence. He also called on those criticising the events in the Middle East to be unequivocal in their protest.
'Across the country, we are seeing a deeply troubling rise in anti-Semitism. Jewish communities – families, children, ordinary people – are being made to feel unsafe in the very places they call home,' he stated. 'That should alarm us, but also unite us. Because hatred directed at people for who they are, or what they believe, is not protest. It is prejudice.'
Prince Harry did not mention Israel by name in his piece, emphasising the importance of 'legitimate' criticism of an unnamed government instead. 'Nothing, whether criticism of a government or the reality of violence and destruction, can ever justify hostility toward an entire people or faith,' he said.
Source: International Business Times UK
