The number of antisemitic incidences in Europe in the first three months of this year exceeds the total number of such occurrences during all of 2008, according to a report issued by the European Jewish Congress.
The findings were announced by EJC President Moshe Kantor during a special session of the European Parliament devoted to the subject of antisemitism on the continent.
The report cites the reaction to January’s Israel Defense Forces operation in Gaza as one of the key triggers of antisemitic attacks against Jewish communities in Europe. In addition, the current financial crisis is giving rise to age-old antisemitic stereotypes suggesting “Jewish control of the global financial system.”
EJC members from all over Europe, who gathered in Brussels for the special session, reported a significant rise in the number of antisemitic incidents. The head of the Jewish community in Finland, Rony Smolar, said its 25,000 members are subject to repeated harassment due to its support for Israel.
“Public opinion links Israel with the local Jewish community, which turns us into enemies,” Smolar said, adding that his country has seen “a dramatic rise” in the number and severity of antisemitic attacks. Smolar said that Molotov cocktails have been thrown into synagogues and that Jewish cemeteries in Sweden and Norway have been vandalized. He also cited a shooting incident in which two Israelis were wounded by a gunman in Denmark during Operation Cast Lead.
“Cartoons likening the Star of David to the Nazi swastika have become commonplace in Scandinavia,” Smolar said.
Richard Prasquier, the head of the umbrella organization representing the Jewish community in France (CRIF), also pointed to a rise in antisemitic incidents. “France is home to the largest Jewish community in Europe and the largest Muslim community in Europe,” Prasquier said, hinting that the sizable immigrant community from North Africa is most responsible for instigating the anti-Jewish violence. European politicians have shied away from blaming Muslim immigrants for attacks against Jews.
The EU’s human rights arm, the FRA, told the gathering that increases in antisemitic incidences have been reported in Holland, Belgium, France and Britain. An organization representative said the reasons for the phenomenon must be studied and examined.
