European Union nations have agreed to step up the fight against anti-Semitism and boost security to better protect Jewish communities and institutions across Europe.
The 28-nation EU's interior ministers approved a declaration, Thursday, recognizing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism and acknowledging Jewish concerns given the prevalence of attacks in recent years. The IHRA definition includes a clause that pertains to the negation of the Jews' national right to self-determination and defines certain criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic.
The declaration, a joint initiative of Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose country now holds the rotating presidency of the EU, and the European Jewish Congress, underlines the importance of education about the Holocaust and urges the EU's police agency Europol to point out anti-Semitic terror content online to internet service providers. EU funds are available to improve security.
Due to opposition from some countries, among them Spain, Sweden, France and the Netherlands, the declaration does not explicitly define anti-Zionism as an anti-Semitic phenomenon, nor does it explicitly touch on the issue of anti-Semitism among Muslims, which poses the greatest threat to European Jewry in the past two decades. The statement does, however, make note of anti-Semitism among neo-Nazis.
The statement on Muslim anti-Semitism had been set to include the following wording: "Anti-Semitism from any radical, political, religious, ideological or belief-based direction impacts the security and welfare of Jews, as well as their ability to identify as Jews."
It does note that Jews in a number of European countries "feel particularly vulnerable to terrorist attacks following the increase in violent incidents in recent years."
European coordinator on combating anti-Semitism Katharina von Schnurbein called the declaration "a milestone."
She told Israel Hayom the declaration sent a "clear political message" that Europe wants to act for the future of Europe's Jewry, which helped formulate the wording of the declaration. She welcomed the "historic" process adopted by the EU and noted Kurz's integral role as president in promoting the declaration.
Despite the omission on Muslim anti-Semitism, the World Jewish Congress and European Jewish Congress welcomed the declaration.
WJC President Ronald Lauder said the declaration shows EU countries recognize "that serious action, both politically and practically, is needed to deal with the clear and specific challenges posed by this ancient hatred."
Lauder thanked Kurz for his leadership on the issue, saying the declaration would "serve as an important point of reference in the years to come. I hope that the European Council will now also appoint a coordinator on combating anti-Semitism, to follow up on this important first step. Jewish citizens of Europe have the right to the same sense of security and well-being as any other European citizens."
EJC President Moshe Kantor called the declaration "unprecedented" and said it "provides a positive and concrete road map for the safeguarding of Jewish communities and strengthens the legislative tools for governments to fight hate and intolerance. Now we hope that each EU member state will take the required and appropriate action, and that the European Commission and the European Parliament will monitor the progress made by each state against anti-Semitism.
"Today, we hope that the implementation of the provisions contained in this declaration will severely restrict the space for hate and that our Jewish communities will feel more safe in Europe. Member states have a responsibility to guarantee the security of all their citizens, and today's declaration is a clear signal that Europe has recognized the current threat to its Jewish communities and is ready to take action."
The move by the EU comes days after a CNN poll found alarming anti-Semitic sentiments across the continent.
Meanwhile, Israel has officially called on the German government to stop funding nongovernmental organizations that engage in anti-Israel activity.
In a letter submitted to the office of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Federal Ministry for International Cooperation and seen by journalists at German daily Die Tageszeitung, Jerusalem officials note Germany's support for the Heinrich Boll Foundation, which in turn funds the +972 Magazine, which they say is "identified with the radical Israeli Left." In its request, Israeli officials note that some of the writers for the new site "routinely accuse Israel of apartheid."
According to the report in the German daily, "German support for NGOs that intervene in Israel's internal affairs or support anti-Israel activity is unique" as Germany is one of the largest donors to NGOs inside Israel.
