Antisemitism in Europe reaching levels unseen in decades, says top Rabbi

euronews (in English)

European Jews are afraid following a spike in antisemitic attacks sparked by the latest Israel-Hamas war despite authorities increasing protection, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the chairman of the European Jewish Association, has told Euronews.

Transcript

00:00 For some people, it might just be a message on the wall, but for others, it means fear.

00:07 This graffiti in front of a Jewish building in Brussels was done after a big pro-Palestinian

00:12 demonstration at the European quarter in the Belgian capital.

00:16 And the message is not so innocent, as one rabbi tells Euronews.

00:22 You know you are here.

00:23 You know this is a synagogue.

00:24 And this is the main message.

00:29 Since the Israeli-Hamas conflict started, there`s been a huge increase in anti-Semitism.

00:34 Attacks against Jews include physical incidents and verbal aggression, but also hate graffiti

00:39 and online threats.

00:42 And even though the authorities are increasing protection levels, European Jews are afraid.

00:49 Rabbi Margolin says it`s something not seen now for decades.

00:55 We do get a lot of information, a lot of calls, a lot of e-mails from Jewish people from Europe,

01:02 both individuals and institutions, synagogues, schools.

01:07 People see in the street, they get much more remarks, many more bad looks, hatred looks,

01:18 and call for death and physical incitements.

01:23 Jews visited this synagogue in the heart of Brussels, but for security reasons, did not

01:27 film outside the building.

01:30 The safety measures are draconian.

01:32 Rabbi Margolin showed us images of hate incidents from all over Europe.

01:36 This is a school in Germany that you could see marked of graffiti.

01:43 This is a demonstration against Jews that took place in Spain.

01:48 This is another graffiti on a Jewish house, which remind us the Kristallnacht, where unfortunately

01:55 people broke windows of synagogues.

01:58 He also says that people are taking extra measures to try to protect their families.

02:04 There are many, many people now who are -- who secure their doors, install cameras, they

02:09 change the windows, they try to have bulletproof windows, they try to have fireproof doors,

02:19 and yet many people know it is not enough.

02:22 According to him, the main tool for hate messages is social media.

02:27 He`s now asking for better oversight of content, as well as greater education against racism.

02:34 The European Commission has raised concerns about the increase in hate speech and hate

02:38 crimes targeting both Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe, saying it`s one of its top priorities.

02:44 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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