Laura van Lerberghe with AFP / Photo credits: Martin Bertrand / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP
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10:19 a.m., November 6, 2023
Vandalization of Jewish monuments and sites, physical and verbal attacks and even death threats… “The resurgence of anti-Semitic incidents across Europe in recent days has reached exceptionally high levels, recalling some of the darkest periods of History,” the European executive said in a statement. “In these difficult times, the EU stands with its Jewish communities. We condemn these despicable acts in the strongest possible terms. They go against everything that Europe stands for, our fundamental values, of our way of life,” he added.
According to the European Jewish Organization, these anti-Semitic acts are up 1,500% compared to the last eight years. Result: many Jews take precautions to protect themselves. “They are installing more cameras, they are replacing their doors, their locks. They are putting bulletproof windows and it is a shame for Europe. European citizens should not live in fear,” says Rabbi Menachem Margolin .
257 anti-Semitic acts over the past month in Paris
They are contrary to “the (European) model of society based on equality, inclusion and full respect for human rights. Jew, Muslim, Christian, no one should live in fear of discrimination or violence because of one’s religion or identity”, insisted the Commission.
She cites Molotov cocktails thrown at a synagogue in Germany, Star of David tags on buildings in France, the desecration of a Jewish cemetery in Austria, attacks on stores and synagogues in Spain, and hostile slogans chanted. during demonstrations.
In France, since October 7, 857 anti-Semitic acts have been recorded, “as many in three weeks” as in “the entire past year”, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Tuesday. Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez, for his part, reported on Sunday 257 anti-Semitic acts over the past month in the Paris metropolitan area.
“We must fight against this rise in anti-Semitism”
A young Jewish woman was stabbed on Saturday at her home in Lyon (central-eastern France), with a possible “anti-Semitic motive” according to the prosecution. Anti-Semitic tags were also discovered on the walls of several schools in Strasbourg (eastern France), a police source said on Friday.
“We must fight against this rise in anti-Semitism, as well as against the rise in anti-Muslim hatred that we have witnessed in recent weeks and which has no place in Europe,” added the Commission.
Brussels recalls having tightened the supervision of internet platforms
“EU law criminalizes public incitement to hatred and violence and defines a common approach to combating hate speech and racist and xenophobic crimes: ensuring its rigorous application is more imperative than ever,” underlines the European executive. In addition to its strategy against anti-Semitism put in place in 2021, Brussels also recalls having tightened the supervision of internet platforms in order to counter hate speech or disinformation online.