‘Anti-Semitism had become a major problem in the everyday lives for Jews in some European countries, to the point were larger numbers of Jews were considering emigrating.’

 

BRUSSELS—‘’The new anti-Semitism of the far-Left is just as dangerous as classical anti-Semitism of the far-right,’’ Elan Carr, the U.S. Special Envoy for Combating Anti-Semitism said thi week.

Carr, who was appointed last year by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, spoke at a conference organised by the European Jewish Association in the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday, alongside Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan, said that contemporary anti-Semitism could be divided into three different categories: far-right, far-left, and radical Islamic.

“In the last six months, we have confronted all forms of anti-Semitism: the anti-Semitism of the ethnic-supremacist far-right; the anti-Semitism of militant Islam; and the anti-Semitism of the radical, Israel-hating left,” he said.

The “new anti-Semitism of the far-left is no less dangerous, relentless, and pernicious than classical anti-Semitism,” he added.

“This is my charge, on behalf of the President of the United States, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who are committed in an unprecedented fashion to the fight against anti-Semitism throughout the world, the protection of the Jewish people, and to support the State of Israel.”

He stressed that the official policy of the U.S. is that ‘’anti-Zionism is antisemitism.’’ He also said : ‘’We will win the fight if we work together,’’ adding that ‘’antisemitism is not only about the Jews, it’s about the fight for our collective future.’’

Carr added that anti-Semitism had become a major problem in the everyday lives for Jews in some European countries, to the point were larger numbers of Jews were considering emigrating.

“There was recently a survey done by the Fundamental Rights Agency [FRA] of the EU that published extremely disturbing polling results.”

“In some countries in Europe, nearly 90% of the Jewish community identified anti-Semitism as a serious problem and a rising one in their country. And a significant portion of those were considering emigrating – literally leaving the country over anti-Semitism. That is just heartbreaking.”

‘’These numbers should be disturbing to absolutely everybody. Not just to Jews. This isn’t Right or Left, Jews or non-Jews. No normal person should think this is acceptable. That is why we have to come together and say ‘enough is enough,’’ Carr said.

“In Western Europe, a lot of these incidents are motivated by Israel-hatred, or dressed-up as Israel-hatred. That’s just appalling,” he said.

During the conference, attended by MEPs and leaders of Jewish organisations, Israeli Minister Gilad Erdan presented a report titled ‘’Behind the Mask” which exposes the antisemitic nature of the anti-Israel BDS (Boycott-Disinvestment, Sanctions) movement and how it generates antisemitism worldwide.

He called on EU member states ‘’not to take part in the discriminatory and antisemitic BDS campaign the goals of which include the destruction of the Jewish State.

Promoting BDS is illegal in France and Spain. Earlier this year, the German Bundestag passed a motion defining the movement as anti-Semitic.

MEP Traian Băsescu (EPP, Romania)Traian Basescu, a Romanian Member of the European Parliament for the EPP group, believes that the European Parliament ‘’is the good place to fight anti-Semitism, a global threat to our democracy that reminds us about our obligation to protect the diversity of Jewish culture and its contribution to our Europe. ‘’

He added: ‘’In June 2017 the European Parliament adopted a resolution endorsing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-Semitism. The European Parliament called on the Member States to endorse and apply this definition. I am proud to say that Romania has legally adopted this definition.”

Greek MEP Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou, also from the EPP, emphasized that  in an era where anti-Semitism acts are increasing all over Europe at alarming rates, ‘’we share the urgent responsibility of uniting against discrimination, racism, and xenophobia, ’’ while Polish MEP Anna Fotyga from the ECT group called Israel ‘’the EU’s strategic partner and the only democracy in the Middle East, something we forget too often in Europe.’’