Preface
(Updated December 2003)
Although we know – and opinion polls show - that
anti-Semitism is permanently present in Europe in a more or less hidden
way, many of us have hoped that manifest forms of anti-Semitism will
not see any revival in Europe again. At present, Jews are rather well
integrated economically, socially and culturally in the Member States
of the European Union (EU). But the attacks in New York and Washington
on September 11 and the conflict in the Middle East have contributed
to an atmosphere in Europe, which gives latent anti-Semitism and hate
and incitement a new strength and power of seduction. Even rumours that
Israel was responsible for 11 September 2001, for the attacks on the
World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, and that Jews bring about a situation
in their interest in order to put the blame on somebody else, found
a receptive audience in some places. Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories
are spreading over the Internet, which provides a cheap vehicle for
the distribution of hate.
Immediately after 11 September our primary concern
was increased Islamophobia in the European Union. Right away the European
Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia implemented a monitoring
process in the Member States. The country-by-country results and a synthesis
report have already been published. But early in 2002 there was additional
concern about open anti-Semitic incidents in several Member States.
The European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia found it necessary
to carry out a more detailed investigation of the prevalence and kinds
of anti-Semitism and to study, how it affects Jewish people living in
Europe. It is the first study of this kind. It provides a flashlight
on anti-Semitism in each of the 15 Member States.
The EUMC, through its RAXEN Information Network of
National Focal Points in the EU Member States, received reports on anti-Semitism
in the 15 Member States. The Center for Research on Anti-Semitism (CRA),
Berlin, supplemented the country reports and brought them into a European
perspective.
The report shows clearly an increase of anti-Semitic
activities since the escalation of the Middle East conflict in 2000
with a peak in early spring 2002. But it reveals also positive developments.
By 2003 the legal basis to fight against any discrimination on ethnic
or religious grounds will be implemented in each of the EU Member States;
all the governments and leading statesmen condemned anti-Semitic events
and attitudes; many leaders of religious communities, political parties
and NGOs are currently cooperating in the fight against anti-Semitism.
On the other hand, the EUMC is aware that more than
only short-term measures have to be done. There is a need to implement
activities on a continuous, long-term basis. For that end the report
offers examples and recommendations to various groups of society on
how to proceed and succeed in the struggle against the shadows of the
European past.
Bob Purkiss, Chair of the EUMC, and Beate Winkler,
Director of the EUMC
Sources:
C.R.I.F. - Released by the European Jewish Congress |