“The Jews go into hiding again”

BRUSSELS Oct. 10 () –

The European Commission has warned this Thursday of the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, ensuring that there is an “explosion” after the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023 and the war in Gaza unleashed by Israel.

In a parliamentary debate in Strasbrug, the Community Vice President for Migration, Margaritis Schinas, stressed that hatred of Jews is a growing reality and that the EU faces “the highest levels of anti-Semitism since its founding.”

In front of parliamentarians, he pointed out that 96% of Jews on the European continent have suffered anti-Semitic incidents both online and in real life. “In Europe, as tragic as it may sound, Jews have begun to hide again. This is unacceptable and cannot happen,” he said.

The Greek commissioner has indicated that there is also an increase in hatred of Muslims, a phenomenon that he has pointed out is increasingly common in speeches in the media and political debates.

Thus, he has defended Brussels’ actions to stop the spiral of hatred generated after the Hamas attacks. “We are committed to ensuring the protection of everyone’s right to peacefully practice their faith. It is one of the most European rights,” he noted.

At the same time, he has emphasized the role of large digital platforms in monitoring the hate speech that is expressed on them and has stressed that the instrumentalization of religion in Europe must be rejected.

In the debate, PP MEP Javier Zarzalejos highlighted that freedom of religion is not about religions, but about freedom, after pointing out the “rampant” increase in anti-Semitism, harassment of Muslims and hate crimes against Christians. “Offenses, harassment, high or low intensity violence is a reality of hateful behavior that we have to combat,” he noted.

On the side of the PSOE, Juan Fernando López Aguilar has insisted that it is about addressing the problem of the proliferation of online hate crimes and protecting spaces of worship, but he has insisted that not only the victims but also the victims must be protected. protect European society “as a tolerant, open and plural society”.

Apart from the Spanish representatives, numerous MEPs have defended Europe’s Christian tradition against “mass migration”, as well as a handful of parliamentarians of foreign descent who have pointed out the rise of Islamophobia on the continent.