‘European Jews Today Are Again Living in Fear': European Commission

Protesters hold a demonstration in support of a cease fire against the Palestinians in Gaza in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington on Oct. 18, 2023. Alex Wong/Getty Images

Jews in Europe are “living in fear” after anti-Semitic incidents on the continent grew by “extraordinary levels,” according to the European Commission.

“The spike of anti-Semitic incidents across Europe has reached extraordinary levels in the last few days, reminiscent of some of the darkest times in history,” the commission said in a Nov. 5 statement. “We have seen a resurgence of anti-Semitic incidents and rhetoric in the European Union and worldwide: Molotov cocktails thrown on a synagogue in Germany, stars of David sprayed on residential buildings in France, a Jewish cemetery desecrated in Austria, Jewish stores and synagogues attacked in Spain, demonstrators chanting hate slogans against Jews.”

“European Jews today are again living in fear,” it said. “In these difficult times, the EU stands by its Jewish communities. We condemn these despicable acts in the strongest possible terms.”

The European Commission statement insisted that the anti-Semitic incidents go against “everything” that Europe stands for and said that the EU is “determined” to safeguard the well-being of all its communities. Since 2021, the EU has put in place a comprehensive strategy to combat anti-Semitism.

The commission pointed out that the EU has increased funding to protect places of worship and other locations. The organization is also enforcing legislation to make sure that online platforms swiftly react to “anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim content online.”

“Against the model of society we represent: one based on equality, inclusiveness and the full respect of human rights. Jewish, Muslim, Christian—no one should live in fear of discrimination or violence because of their religion or their identity,” it said.

According to a Nov. 6 press release by the Jewish advocacy group Anti-Defamation League (ADL), supporters of Hamas and other anti-Semitic actors have “threatened and targeted Jewish and Israeli individuals and institutions worldwide” following the Oct. 7 attack against Israel that led to the massacre of more than 1,400 citizens.

In Germany, RIAS, the NGO which records anti-Semitic incidents in the country, registered a 240 percent increase in such incidents between Oct. 7 and Oct. 15 compared to the same period last year.

In France, the minister of the interior reported 1,040 anti-Semitic incidents and 486 arrests. Austria has reported a 300 percent increase in incidents between Oct. 7 and Oct. 19.

Following the Oct. 7 attack, the European Commission had initially indicated that it would put all development aid for Palestine under review. However, the organization backtracked after several EU member states opposed the move.

On Oct. 19, the EU MEPs backed stepping up humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip while asking for a thorough review to ensure that none of the funds end up directly or indirectly financing terrorism.

US Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitic incidents have also seen a spike in the United States. According to an Oct. 24 press release by ADL, there were 312 anti-Semitic incidents between Oct. 7 and Oct. 23, up from just 64 incidents during the same period last year.

“It is incumbent on all leaders, from political leaders to CEOs to university presidents, to forcefully and unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism and terrorism,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.

“This isn’t hard. Words matter, and while the war in Gaza escalates, we encourage all those in positions of power to use their platforms to condemn hate and terrorism, wherever it occurs.”

On Nov. 2, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning American colleges and universities for supporting anti-Israel terror groups like Hamas and Hezbollah while allowing anti-Semitism on campuses.

The support given to such terror groups could lead to “the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff,” said the resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah). It passed by a vote of 396–23, with 22 Democrats voting against the measure.

The U.S. House has passed a bill to provide $14.3 billion in funding to Israel, with majority support from Republicans. The bill, which will offset the $14.3 billion by cutting funding for the IRS, is yet to pass the Senate.

US Military Involvement

Since Oct. 7, the United States has redirected or sent over 15,000 military personnel to the Middle East.

This includes 1,200 troops in the region deployed in early October, around 10,000 sailors on the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike groups that are now stationed in the Mediterranean Sea, and 4,000 sailors and Marines deployed along with the Bataan amphibious ready group.

Meanwhile, Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are in the process of creating a bipartisan resolution that recommends the United States to attack Tehran should Iran-backed factions in the Middle East attack Israel or kill American troops in the region.

In an interview with CNN, Mr. Graham said that the resolution “basically says, if the war expands, if Hezbollah opens up a second front in the north against Israel in a substantial way to overwhelm Iron Dome, then we should hit the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Mr. Blumenthal said that the resolution is “absolutely necessary.” He insisted that the resolution is in the interest of other nations in the region.

“We visited Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and believe me, they loathe and fear Iran and Hezbollah and Hamas and the other proxies as much as Israel. So they are in favor of deterring a wider war.”