Guardian Edits Column Accused of Antisemitism

The Guardian has edited an opinion column by sports writer Jonathan Liew after it sparked widespread accusations of antisemitism for appearing to downplay vandalism against a new Gails bakery branch in north London's Archway neighborhood. The piece, published on Saturday, described the bakery's opening near a Palestinian-run cafe as an act of "heavyhanded high street aggression" and characterized attacks on the store as "small acts of petty symbolism."

The column focused on tensions in Archway, where Gails opened a location two doors down from Cafe Metro, a small independent Palestinian restaurant. Liew noted that Gails' largest shareholder, the U.S.-based investment firm Bain Capital, invests in Israeli security and defense companies. He highlighted concerns from local campaigners about the chain accelerating gentrification and squeezing out smaller businesses. The article included an interview with Cafe Metro owners Faten and Mahmoud, who stated they compete with Gails legally and denied involvement in the vandalism. The piece also referenced broader activism amid the Israel-Gaza conflict, portraying the local incidents as symbolic but futile gestures.