The scenes that everyone of us see throughout Europe cannot be obscured. From London, through Paris. From Amsterdam, through Brussels.
The classic symbols of Western European capitals have undergone significant changes in the first two decades of the 21st century. A phenomenon that began mainly in the 1990s of the previous century has been changing in recent years, not only the appearance of streets and neighborhoods, but also the face of politics in Western Europe and, recently, also in the US.
Two years after the most brutal massacre in modern history, many leaders in the Western world have positioned themselves, unfortunately and shockingly, alongside Hamas and against the State of Israel for clear political-partisan reasons in their countries.
The most prominent examples are, of course, France and Britain. Both promoted the proposal to recognize a "Palestinian state" (in their words), mainly due to internal political needs. Despite the fact that the Sykes-Picot agreements were signed 99 and a half years ago, both still believe they can, as then, shape the borders of the Middle East, when they were considered the strongest powers in the world.
This is, of course, a fundamental error. The State of Israel will not allow the establishment of a Palestinian terror state in Judea and Samaria in the model that operated in the Gaza Strip until the morning of October 7.
The pogrom in Amsterdam in November 2024, the fear of Jewish communities in Belgium, and the increase in antisemitic incidents even in a friendly country like Italy, are undoubtedly the result of the demographic change in countries that have allowed for many years, sometimes without any restriction or criterion, massive immigration to them. The basic assumption of Western democracies in Europe was that these populations would integrate into the society to which they came and adopt its way of life. Of course, the complete opposite happened.
Many immigrants have a "desire" to integrate into British, French, or Belgian society, just as the Palestinians want "two states for two peoples." Of course, they only want one state, for themselves – "from the sea to the Jordan river."
The real desire of many immigrants and their political and religious leaders is to impose Sharia law in the countries to which they have immigrated in recent years.
In recent years, this social-political phenomenon has also spilled over the ocean to the United States. Estimates are that the number of Muslims in the US in 2001 was estimated at half a million. Today, the number is estimated at five million. In the New York area alone, the number approaches one million.
Through an orderly plan, mostly financed by Qatar (which finances Hamas and the tunnels in the Gaza Strip), a takeover of universities and campuses began, and faculties were bought, and so were lecturers and protesters. The number of antisemitic incidents multiplied and erupted, with utmost chutzpah, audacity, and shock on October 8, 2023. Instead of condemning and expressing shock at a beastly, barbaric massacre carried out by human monsters, many chose to support and shout, "Death to America, death to Israel."
They do and have done this without shame or distinction at central sites in New York City, such as Grand Central Station, Union Square, and Times Square. Usually, they also use Hamas symbols and burn Israeli and American flags and call for an international intifada ("Globalize The Intifada").
Now, the stage has arrived in the plan where, especially in the Democratic Party and in its strongholds, representatives are gaining strength, usually young, who are identified with extreme progressive positions for a variety of roles in government systems, national or local.
There is no doubt that their election is democratic under the law; there is no argument about that. The attitude toward Israel is in accordance with views – burning hatred, cynical and false use of blood libels ("genocide" and "starvation in Gaza," when the opposite is true), and inflaming spirits among their supporters in the streets.
The violent riot at the entrance to the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan this week is the latest example. In fact, as of this moment, political forces with different positions are losing in confrontations and sometimes do not even issue opposing statements. That's how it is when the political base dictates.
So what do we do? President Trump's announcement of his intention to declare the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organization is an important step in the right direction to curb these phenomena. Of course, given the establishment of forces supporting the ideas of the Islamic movement, another package of measures will be required to curb their spread in international politics; after all, we are already in the 90th minute.
The writer is Israel's Consul General in New York.
