A prominent
Jewish figure has compared anti-Semitism in
Europe to what it was like in the
1930s, saying that
European Jews are living in "fear" once again.
World Jewish Congress (
WJC) president
Ronald Lauder urged the
United States to beware of a surge of anti-Semitism on the continent at congressional committee in
Washington on Tuesday, the
AFP news agency reported.
He said that events such as the recent attacks in
France and
Copenhagen highlighted a new and growing threat driven by radical
Islam sweeping across Europe.
"
Once again, like the 1930s, European Jews live in fear," he said.
“
The United States can and must speak loudly and clearly to condemn this evil for what it is – the radical Islamic hatred of
Jews. To defeat this new flame of radical
Islamic terror and survive… the United States must lead.”
Lauder, whose mother was
Estee Lauder of the cosmetics empire, was joined by
French Jewish leader
Roger Cukierman and
Danish Jewish leader Dan Asmussen at the event.
Asmussen noted February’s attack on a free speech debate and synagogue in Copenhagen but stressed that
Danish society “itself is not and has never been anti-Semitic and many of the threats facing
Danish Jewry – like the rest of Europe – come from marginalised and radicalised Muslims, and these form a small minority of Muslims in
Denmark.”
The
WCJ represents
Jewish communities in
100 countries.
But Jewish organisations in
Britain have stressed that the situation for
Jewish people living in Europe were "very different" from those of the 1930s.
Jonathan Arkush,
Vice President of The
Board of Deputies of
British Jews, which is an affiliate of the WJC, told
The Independent that while Laudner was right in identifying this modern-day anti-Semitism, “it’s important to be clear that the fear currently experienced by Jews in some
European countries, especially in France, is very different from the 1930s.
“In those dark days, anti-Semitism was actively fomented by the
Nazi rulers and their helpers.
Today, anti-Semitism is strongly opposed and condemned by governments across Europe.”
Mark Gardner, director of communications at the
Community Security Trust, which provides security advice to synagogues and
Jewish schools, told The Independent: “Such remarks should not be taken to mean that another
European Holocaust is somehow lurking around the corner.
"The situation today is very different, but the anxiety felt by many European Jews about antisemitism and jihadist terrorism is real and justified.
"
The difference between the 1930s and today is that if Jews today look over their shoulder in fear, they ought to see their governments with them in solidarity. Those governments, and civil society as a whole, need to ensure that
European Jewish life is protected and can be normative.”
In February, figures published by the
CST suggested that anti-Semitic attacks had more than doubled in the UK in the past year against the backdrop of
Israel’s military action in
Gaza.
Overall the trust logged 1,168 anti-Semitic incidents in 2014 – a
118 per cent increase on the previous year.
Scotland Yard has promised a security review of
London’s Jewish community and
Manchester Police said it had stepped up its patrols.
Since the deadly attacks on the
Charlie Hebdo magazine offices and Jewish supermarket in
Paris in January, France has deployed thousands of police troops to sensitive sites, including synagogues.
“While we welcome support from all quarters, including the United States, we
Europeans have the responsibility of leading the fight against antisemitism and racism of every description in our continent, just as we are doing,” Lauder added.
SEE
LINK - Red Ice
Radio -
John Lash -
White Genocide & The Archontic
Infection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcloCMs3Uek
- published: 06 Jun 2016
- views: 286