Anti-Semitic rhetoric and attacks increasing across Europe
“Our country,” said French president Emmanuel Macron, “like Europe as a whole and almost all Western democracies, is facing a resurgence of anti-Semitism not seen since the Second World War.”
(The Christian Science Monitor) As dusk fell over Paris one February evening, 20,000 people gathered around the iconic statue of La République to demonstrate their disgust at anti-Semitism. France had witnessed a wave of anti-Semitic incidents in prior weeks, including the desecration of Jewish graves with swastikas.
“I can’t stand this racist filth,” said Florent Nicoud, a young filmmaker with a placard reading “That’s Enough,” as he showed support for Jewish neighbors. “I don’t know if this changes much, but at least we can say, ‘We’re here; you are not alone.’”
Hate crimes against Jewish targets are rising across the continent, with increases reported last year in almost every country in Europe. Anti-Semitic rhetoric is becoming more open as nationalist and populist movements have grown more powerful and as some Muslim citizens have reinforced centuries-old European prejudices in airing grievances against Israel’s policies.
