Isn’t trying to vanquish the oldest and most advanced of hatreds an ambitious goal? Anti-Semitism has existed for centuries in various forms, including theft, abuse, assault, and, as a pinnacle, the mass death of Jews.
However, one should not erroneously think that anti-Semitism simply refers to prejudice against Jews. If left unchecked, this prejudice poses a threat to society at large and is viewed negatively by political ideals.
The battle against anti-Semitism is currently facing a new obstacle. The Israel-Hamas war’s increase has stoked animosity toward Jews at previously unheard-of levels. Anti-Semitic situations occurred after the fight broke out all over the world, and Europe was no exception.
The rising anti-Semitism in some European nations is one significant issue that is already manifesting itself, according to author Dino Krause, a specialist in international terrorism at the Danish Institute for International Studies.
” Antisemitic hate crimes, such as targeting synagogues, Jewish schools, or Jewish people in public ,” have already increased noticeably since the terrorist attack in Hamas on October 7.
During the first 10 weeks of the Israel-Has conflict, police in France alone, which has the largest Jewish population in Europe, recorded more than 300 real acts of anti-Semitism. On some Berlin houses, the Stars of David have been spray-painted, evoking the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany.
In comparison to 14 incidents and 12 acts during the same time next year, the Metropolitan Police of London recorded 105 anti-Semitic happenings in the first half of October.
harmful function of al Qaeda and ISIS
Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State( ISIS) share Hamas’ viewpoints on a number of points, but they all view Israel as an” illegal occupier” of Muslim lands. New terrorist problems in Europe have proven to be yet another example of this.
Mohammed Mogouchkov, who had formerly sworn fealty to the Islamic State, tragically stabbed a professor and injured two other people on October 13 at the Lycée Gambetta-Carnot in Arras, France. There was a connection between the strike and subsequent events in Israel, according to European Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
Three days later, in Brussels, a 45-year-old Turkish gun killed two Scandinavian soccer fans. According to French officials, the extremist act may be connected to the ongoing Middle East conflict. The person claimed that he was” inspired by ISIS” in a film that was posted before the strike.
” We have also seen an increase in jihadist advertising, from both Islamic State – and al-Qaeda-affiliated online programs, which have sought to instrumentalize the ongoing civil struggling in Gaza as a result of Jewish air cuts in order to call upon their followers to carry out lone-wolf attacks in Europe ,” Krause noted.
These developments are especially concerning in light of the recent Koran burnings, which have already increased the extremist threat in some European nations, such as Denmark and Sweden.
The expert added that new developments may also increase Islamophobia in Western nations, adding that the new jihadist terrorist attacks in Belgium and France also highlight the ongoing threat of such terrorism in Europe.
What has been accomplished thus much
The European Commission adopted its first-ever standard strategy for combating anti-Semitism on October 5, 2021. The report recommends starting a number of initiatives to track hate speech, create counternarratives, safeguard Jewish sites, and raise awareness of the Holocaust. The European Union also promised to work with Israel more closely in its battle against anti-Semitism.
However, as is evident from current events, significantly has yet to be done. With the Israel-Hamas battle acting as a catalyst, the anti-Semitism issue is much more difficult than one might imagine. The fight against this discrimination requires a multifaceted strategy and should not be restricted to addressing Islamic militancy alone if it is to be effective.
European regulators must create strategies to address the issue of anti-Semitism, which continues to be a big problem not just among parts of Europe’s Sunni populations but also in the wider societies, especially among some adherents of deep – left and far-right social movements, according to Krause, elaborating on the EU response to the threat.
Previously linked to neo-fascists, anti-Israel sentiments are now more and more a left-wing problem in Europe. According to a report from the New York-based Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitism is” making inroads in the pro-independence French and Spanish parties.”
coping with a terrorist risk
Christopher Wray, the chairman of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, recently testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee and made an unsettling speech. According to the US protection service, a number of international extremist businesses have called for attacks against the West in recent weeks.
The FBI producer forewarned that” We assess that the behavior of Hamas and its allies may serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called empire years before.”
Krause advises continuing to work toward better integrating people of Muslim communities into Western societies, taking into account the fact that jihadist stars frequently garner support from disillusioned children.
In order to combat the greatest immediate threat posed by now radicalized individuals who may be considering carrying out terrorist attacks, European police and intelligence services must remain vigilant, he continued.
Israeli societies are more exposed the greater the terrorist threat. Ignoring this reality is nothing less than giving violent radicals the upper hand. At the same time, it’s important to realize that anti-Semitism is deaf. History has consistently demonstrated that this prejudice harms people, whether they are Jews or not.