Antisemitic incidents have occurred in Switzerland over the past two weeks. The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (FSCI) recorded 26 cases on the German-speaking side, not counting the online cases, the CICAD 88 on the French-speaking side, with comments made on the internet.
Switzerland’s Jewish community is exposed to hostility due to escalation in the Middle East. On the French side, Johanne Gurfinkiel, of the Intercommunity Coordination against Antisemitism and Defamation (CICAD) reported on Friday to Keystone-ATS of 88 cases recorded since October 7, mainly online (66).
They mainly concern the canton of Geneva, followed by that of Vaud, specified Mr. Gurfinkiel. Online cases relate in particular to comments on media sites, for example justifying the use of terrorism. Off the internet, incidents have been recorded in schools, among other things, with Jewish students being attacked, treated for example as “assassins” or “executioners”.
CICAD also criticizes the wording of certain signs held up during pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Geneva.
Two incidents per day on the German side
On the German side, two incidents per day on average have been reported, declared FSCI general secretary Jonathan Kreutner, interviewed by Keystone-ATS.-
In annual comparison, these more than twenty incidents in less than two weeks represent a strong accumulation, he added, specifying that 57 cases had been recorded over the whole of 2022.
“This trend worries the FSCI,” added Mr. Kreutner, specifying that it was absolutely necessary to ensure that the emotion aroused by this conflict was not transmitted to Switzerland.
Among the 26 incidents reported as of Friday, the FSCI counts three assaults, five insults, six graffiti, eight emails and letters, as well as four posters or statements hostile to Jews in the context of demonstrations.
Islamophobic incident
The Foundation against Racism and Antisemitism (GRA) is also observing an increase in incidents. On the one hand, the number of direct statements to the foundation has increased, on the other hand, there has been a sharp increase thanks to media monitoring.
According to it, seven cases have been recorded since the Hamas attack on Israel – four threats/ill-treatment/insults and three damage to property or graffiti. Among them, an Islamophobic incident: a 16-year-old boy was allegedly called a terrorist in the street, simply because he spoke Arabic.
No place for antisemitism
Faced with this situation, the seven largest Swiss parties, the PS, the UDC, the PLR, the Center, the Vert-es, the Vert’liberaux and the PEV have published a joint press release, where they affirm “with complete clarity that there is no place for antisemitism in Switzerland.”
After the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas against Israel and the country’s subsequent reprisals, the authorities reinforced security measures at Israeli representations in Switzerland. In several German-speaking cantons and towns, demonstrations linked to the situation in the Middle East are currently prohibited.
