European Commission: Surge in Antisemitism in Europe Echoes Darkest Times Since 1930

In recent weeks, Europe has witnessed a surge in antisemitic incidents, particularly in Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and other countries, amid the escalating conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. The European Union (EU) firmly stands with the Jewish community, strongly condemning these abhorrent actions, the European Commission stated.

The surge in antisemitic incidents across Europe in the past few days has reached an unprecedented level. European Jews are living in fear once again. This is reminiscent of some of the darkest times in human history, stated the European Commission on November 5th.

In Germany, Molotov cocktails have been thrown at a synagogue; in France, David's stars are painted on buildings; in Austria, a Jewish cemetery was desecrated; in Spain, attacks on Jewish shops have occurred, and demonstrators in various countries chant antisemitic slogans, as stated in the European Commission's announcement.

"In these trying times, the EU stands with its Jewish communities. We strongly condemn these abhorrent actions. They go against everything that Europe stands for, with our core values and our way of life. With the model of a society we represent, based on equality, inclusiveness, and full respect for human rights," the statement emphasized.

Earlier, the French Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, reported that over 800 antisemitic and anti-Israel acts had been registered in the country since October 7th, nearly doubling the total for the entire year of 2022. One of the latest incidents occurred on November 5th in Lyon, France, where a local Jewish woman was stabbed with a knife. According to the 30-year-old victim, an unknown person rang her doorbell, and when she opened it, a masked man struck her twice with a knife before fleeing, leaving a swastika on the entrance door.

Germany has also seen a significant increase in antisemitic and anti-Israel crimes, such as the burning of Israeli flags or antisemitic graffiti. A few days ago, Germany banned the activities of Hamas and the international extremist network "Samidoun," which organized actions in support of Palestinians.

The European Commission emphasizes that no one, whether Jewish, Muslim, Christian, or any other identity, should live in fear of discrimination and violence due to their religion or identity. The EU is determined to protect the well-being of all ethnic, religious, and other groups, as stated in their announcement.

Recall that on Saturday, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, visited Ukraine for key negotiations, marking her sixth visit during the Russian war. The EU is preparing to recommend the start of membership negotiations with Ukraine, ensuring that Kyiv continues to receive military and financial support from its allies.